Rise and Shine — 10 Places to Enjoy Brunch in Tacoma

While brunch is popular on holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day, it’s by no means bound to holiday weekends. In fact, brunch is a meal that’s only on the up-and-up in Tacoma as more and more restaurants are serving up this later morning meal. T-Town has a long love affair with breakfast, and brunch is the logical next step. Who wants to wake up at the crack of dawn anyway? Have some pancakes or go more to the lunch side of the fence and order a sandwich. Whatever you do, don’t forget the bloody Mary or mimosa.

Lobster Shop

For seafood lovers, for those who love to dine with a view, for those for whom a single plate of food just is not enough — there is the Lobster Shop’s legendary Sunday brunch. Sunday mornings and into the early afternoon, the Lobster Shop serves up a brunch buffet that’s second to none filled with breakfast fare, savory items, salads and more. But, of course, the real highlight is the seafood — from smoked salmon to steamed clams to crab legs to shrimp and beyond.

The Lobster Shop
4015 Ruston Way
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-759-2165

Chick-Un and Waffles at Viva
Chick-Un and Waffles at Viva with cornmeal-breaded tofu, a blue corn waffle and a spicy side of apple jalapeno salsa — a great alternative for those with dietary restrictions. Photo credit: Kristin Kendle.

Viva Tacoma

For those who don’t eat meat or wheat, brunch can be a tricky meal. Most brunch menus are filled with meat, eggs and wheat-based bread items. Never fear! Viva is here! Tucked behind the Proctor Starbucks, everything on Viva’s menu is plant-based, organic, gluten-free and dairy-free. Ideal brunch items include the Chick-Un and Waffles (cornmeal breaded tofu on top of a blue corn waffle), buckwheat pancakes, French toast or veggie hash. Cold-pressed juices, Mat Hat Tea, Valhalla Coffee and house-made kombucha make perfect complements.

Viva
2602 N Proctor Street
Tacoma, WA 98407
253-503-6498

Art House Café

If you like your brunch paired with some artwork on the walls and a clean, bright atmosphere, Art House Café is perfect. Its brunch and breakfast menu has just enough twist on traditional favorites to shake them up without making them unfamiliar — pumpkin bread French toast, breakfast pizza with prosciutto, and stuffed buttermilk biscuits are just a few of the highlights.

Art House Café
111 N. Tacoma Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98403
253-212-2011

tacoma breakfast
Not sure what kind of service you want for breakfast? The board at Shakabrah will assist you in an early morning decision.

Shakabrah

Shakabrah Java is a Tacoma institution — a restaurant so heavily ingrained in the Tacoma breakfast and brunch scene that you might just face a bit of a wait for your table (or take a seat in the self-seating area just inside the door). Bustling and busy, Shakabrah specializes in large portions of homestyle food from biscuits and gravy to huevos rancheros. But it’s the Shaka potatoes that often steal the show. These seemingly simple potatoes make a great side if you have a big appetite, but they make an equally fabulous meal as well. Order them plain or top them with any number of items — sausage gravy, avocado, salsa, various cheeses, veggies and more. Choose your own adventure and rest assured that it will be a good one.

 

Shakabrah Java
2618 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406
253-572-2787

Top of Tacoma 

Top of Tacoma gets the Eastside into the brunch game in a big way. Starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, start your day off right with $3 mimosas and house bloody Marys. Once you have your libations in place, look to the brunch menu that’s filled with traditional favorites with a few twists. Top of Tacoma is fairly vegetarian- and vegan-friendly with a delicious tofu scramble and several other veggie-friendly menu items. Don’t let all those veggies scare off you meat lovers either. From pork belly hash to a breakfast burrito, Top of Tacoma is just as meat friendly as it is veggie.

Top of Tacoma
3529 McKinley Avenue E
Tacoma, WA 98404
253-272-1502

Original Pancake House
Pecan pancakes with hot tropical syrup at Original Pancake House — yum! Photo credit: Kristin Kendle.

Original Pancake House

Portland-based Original Pancake House is the ultimate choice for brunch fans who want breakfast food later in the morning. There’s always a wait on weekend mornings, and it’s worth it. The menu is filled with large portions of food that you will swear you can’t finish, but you will anyway because it’s just that good. OPH’s signature pancakes are light and fluffy and come in various forms, but specialties not to miss include the massive apple pancake and the Dutch Baby served the traditional way with butter, lemon and powdered sugar.

Original Pancake House
601 S Pine Street
Tacoma, WA 98405
253-212-0580

Marrow

Marrow is all about local ingredients and food made in house by hand. From making their own pasta and pickles to even crafting their own cheeses, Marrow aims to create a memorable meal from the table up — and brunch is no exception. The menu is small yet finely crafted, featuring both sweet and savory choices. Order individual entrees or the Wakin’ Bacon Brunch, which comes with bottomless mimosa, tea, coffee or juice, as well as coffee cake, fruit and an entrée.

Marrow
2717 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406
253-267-5299

The Table
You’ll always find what’s fresh and in season at the Table, like this banana bread with fresh butter. Photo courtesy: The Table.

The Table

The Table keeps its focus on local ingredients and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, including a large central table meant to be shared. Chef Derek Bray aims to offer flavor over tradition on his brunch menu, so if all you want is some bacon, eggs and pancakes, look elsewhere. If what you seek is creativity and uniqueness, then The Table is your kind of place. From bacon to biscuits, everything on the menu is made in-house. The brunch menu changes seasonally (as does The Table’s normal menu) to keep in step with the freshest ingredients any time of year. There’s a tempting list of brunch cocktails, too, all based on wine and beer instead of spirits — try a Mary’s Beer (bloody Mary made with IPA!). Families are also welcome and there’s a kids’ menu, too.

The Table
2715 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406
253-327-1862

Dirty Oscar’s Annex

Dirty Oscar’s Annex has an intriguing mix of traditional breakfast fare and creatively inspired bites — but come here for the creativity. Whether you try the candied bacon or Cap’n Crunch French Toast, you won’t likely leave disappointed…or hungry. Dirty Oscar’s is also one of the best spots in town for unusual brunch cocktails, including a mimosa made with strawberry moonshine and a spicy bloody Mary made with St. George Green Chili Vodka!

Dirty Oscar’s Annex
2309 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98403
253-572-0588

Pacific Grill's Bloody Mary comes with house-pickled green been, meat candy and smoked gouda cheese. Photo courtesy: Pacific Grill.
Pacific Grill’s Bloody Mary comes with house-pickled green been, meat candy and smoked gouda cheese. Photo courtesy: Pacific Grill.

Pacific Grill

Headed up by local chef Gordon Naccarato, Pacific Grill is relatively new to brunch and yet has some of the most mouth-watering menu items in town. Menu items range from granola and oatmeal to the “Croque” Omelet with cage-free eggs, kurobuta ham, Jarlsberg cheese, and hashed browns to salads, but expect high-quality food with unique and creative ingredients. This is also the place to find some of the best brunch booze in town — a bloody Mary with house-pickled green bean, meat candy and smoked Gouda, bottomless bloody Marys and mimosas galore! There’s a clear reason why they’ve dubbed this the Weekend Boozy Brunch.

Pacific Grill
1502 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-627-3535