Matt's Big Breakfast

Matt's Big Breakfast is a Phoenix institution with two small locations — the original in downtown Phoenix and a second in the Uptown neighbourhood — that have built an outsized reputation on the simple promise of doing breakfast right. Every element is made from scratch using locally sourced, humanely raised ingredients: eggs come from small Arizona farms, the pork sausage is hand-formed in-house, and the butter is real. The tiny dining rooms, decorated with vintage diner ephemera, seat fewer than 40 people each, which means queues form long before opening time on weekends. Loyal regulars and visitors alike queue for fluffy buttermilk pancakes, the Chop Chop hash (a chunky potato skillet with peppers and onions), and the eponymous Big Breakfast plate of eggs, sausage, and toast. The menu is reassuringly short and consistent — there is nothing unnecessary on it. Coffee is excellent. Service is fast and friendly even during the busiest periods. Matt's operates cash-preferred at the original location, though cards are accepted. The restaurant closes by 2:30pm daily, making timing important for late risers. Matt's has inspired dozens of copycat concepts across Arizona but remains the original, and the quality of sourcing continues to distinguish it from competitors in the better breakfast category.