Sponsored By

What's the most exciting breakfast chain in America?What's the most exciting breakfast chain in America?

Picking America’s favorite spot for the earliest daypart

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

December 20, 2022

 

Welcome to First Bite, a Nation’s Restaurant News podcast, your daily source of news from NRN.

Today, we’re talking about breakfast.

Nationwide, restaurant chains committed to the earliest daypart are popping up left and right. While stalwarts like IHOP and Denny’s have long thrived in the breakfast/brunch segment, smaller emerging chains are staking their claims — and thriving — in the space. Keke’s Breakfast Café, for example, was purchased by Denny’s this year and is relying on its consistency as it expands. First Watch had arguably one of the industry’s most successful IPOs in 2021. And Toasted Yolk has ambitions to become the largest restaurant brand in the United States — and not just in the breakfast space.

Nation’s Restaurant News talked to leaders at 10 of the most dynamic breakfast chains in America right now, and you can learn about them below. Over the coming weeks, we’ll ask you to choose: Who do you think has the most exciting breakfast/brunch concept? Cast your vote on Instagram and LinkedIn. Here to talk more about the showdown is NRN’s editor-in-chief Sam Oches.

Plus, catch up on all the top news of the day with our daily news recap at the beginning of each episode.

Be sure to subscribe to First Bite wherever you get your podcasts or on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Related:10 restaurant chains making waves in the breakfast space

 

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.