Brunch is a Vancouver institution. Not restricted to the weekend — or traditional morning hours, for that matter — Vancouver’s brunch game has become a way of life. Between the crushing waits at overly hyped spots and a plethora of under-the-radar neighborhood gems that you’ll have to beg locals to divulge, figuring out which restaurant to visit can be tricky. Fortunately, when it comes to morning meals in Vancity, there are a few places where you can’t go wrong.

Yolks

Formerly a roaming food truck and modest supporting commissary based in a remote industrial area of East Hastings Street, the popular Yolks has become such a notorious breakfast spot that they’ve expanded to an additional restaurant location in the heart of West Broadway.

The success is well-deserved. Yolks’ simple “choose your own adventure” eggs Benedict menu features accents like double-smoked bacon, house-made Dijon, Okanagan Valley goat cheese and side dishes of fresh fruit or their famous truffle-lemon hash browns. Not feeling like eggs? Try their take on chicken and waffles, smothered with chicken gravy and Canadian maple syrup. Pair with a brunch-friendly “breakfast sangria” or chipotle-infused vodka caesar.

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays / 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekends.

Medina Cafe

Add some international flavor to your morning meal with the carefully constructed, Mediterranean-inspired dishes of Medina Cafe. Nestled a block away from the Coliseum-esque central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, brunch at Medina is a great way to start a day of downtown exploration.

Dishes feature locally sourced West Coast ingredients such as wild salmon, applewood smoked cheddar and seasonal greens, prepared with an old-world Mediterranean flair. For something hearty and refreshingly different, check out the Harissa “burger” — two fried eggs coupled with Harissa-spiced beef and wrapped up in a grilled pita, accompanied by spiced hummus and baba ganoush.

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays / 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekends.

Tangent Cafe

Head to Vancouver’s ultra-hip Commercial Drive area for a laid-back, delicious brunch at Tangent Café. A fusion of North American and Malaysian flavors, the breakfast menu is a celebration of all things egg. With seven different Benny options and a whole page of classic breakfast platters, omelettes and scrambles, Tangent has impressive an array of dishes that are sure to please everyone at your table.

Check out the avocado and bacon Benny if you’re in the mood for something traditional and delicious (add cheddar for extra foodie points), or the Malaysian tofu scramble with tomato, spinach, green onions and the cafe’s signature savory Malaysian spices to expand your culinary horizons. With a generous tap list, the muddiest, spiciest caesar on the block and a sunny patio locale, Tangent is one spot where you’ll want to stay awhile.

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday / 8:00 a.m. to late every other day.

Havana

Take your brunch game to the next level at Havana, which is currently celebrating its 20 year anniversary on the Drive. The huge patio space — one of the largest in the neighborhood — is perfect for summery brunch adventures. The breakfast menu takes the tastiest aspects of North American brunch and infuses them with Latin flair (the pulled pork breakfast taco and huevos rancheros are great options if you dig traditional Latin flavors).

One of our favorites is the fried chicken and waffles, a crispy Caribbean-spiced chicken breast on a Belgian waffle. It’s available in both savory, with coconut gravy and seasonal veggies, or sweet, with fruit compote and maple syrup.

Hours: Breakfast is served every day until 2:00 p.m.

In Vancouver, brunch is kind of a big deal. Actually, it’s a really big deal. Take advantage of what the city has to offer by dining at any of these mouth-watering spots. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.