5 /5 Terry Sung: When I travel, I make a point of seeking out the city’s most storied breakfast institutions. In Monterey, First Awakenings more than lived up to its reputation.
Step through the door and you’re greeted by bright white walls and soaring ceilings—an airy, urban-clean space where chalkboard menus add just enough contrast to feel fresh rather than fussy. It’s the kind of room that puts you in a good mood before the coffee even arrives.
I skipped the printed menu and went straight for a special posted at the entrance: the Crab Cake Benedict. As a Benedict devotee, I order some version of it almost everywhere I go, and this one impressed—crab-forward and well-seasoned, with cakes that held their shape yet stayed tender. It’s a rich plate, and those who are sensitive to oil might find it a touch indulgent, but never to a distracting degree.
My daughter’s Chicken Apple Sausage Omelet was a standout in its own right. The gentle sweetness of the apple sausage, nicely browned, played beautifully against fresh vegetables for a bright, balanced bite. My wife and son opted for skillets, where the freshness of local produce really shone; the ingredients tasted clean and vivid, letting their natural flavors do the talking.
By the end, it was easy to understand why First Awakenings remains one of the area’s most talked-about breakfast spots: a breezy, uplifting room; well-executed classics; and a few specials that feel genuinely worth the detour. A thoroughly enjoyable start to the day—and a worthy entry on any breakfast lovers itinerary
