The chefs present four restaurants that offer the best French bread.
French toast is a popular breakfast staple, but when it comes to getting the perfect slice—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfectly sliced—some restaurants do it better than others. For the best, Eat This, Not That! asked chefs to share their favorites, and highlighted four restaurant chains that consistently serve up the most delicious and perfect French toast. Whether you like it classic, stuffed, or loaded with extras, these chains excel at this delicious breakfast.
The First Clock
For a chef-driven, changing and made-to-order seasonal menu, First Watch is the place to go for breakfast and brunch, especially the French toast.
“First Watch uses thick challah bread, which is exactly what I would have access to in my own kitchen — it’s enriched with eggs so it absorbs the cinnamon custard deeply without cracking on the griddle,” says Melanie Portman, chef and recipe developer for Droolrecipes.com.
He loves Floridian French Toast and explains what makes it different from other chains.
“How to take fruit forward: fresh bananas, kiwi, and seasonal berries instead of just soaking them in syrup.” He explains, “That acidity from the berries cuts through the richness in a way that shows someone in their kitchen really understands the taste of flavor.” Chef Melanie adds, “They also close at 2:30 PM, which means everything is made to order at the time of service – nothing is sitting under the heat lamp.”
But he’s not the only culinary expert to be taken aback by First Watch.
“First Watch is a brunch chain that doesn’t feel like a chain, and their French toast proves it,” says Emma Sullivan, home cook and recipe developer at DailyCookingRecipe.com. “Currently, they have a seasonal version of Strawberry Tres Leches with dulce de leche and fresh strawberries that is worth the trip alone.”
HOP
IHOP is famous for its pancakes, but the French Toast should not be overlooked. Thick ‘N Fluffy Classic French Toast is a must-try, according to Sullivan.
“IHOP basically wrote the book on French toast,” he says. “The bread is thick and hand dipped in a vanilla cinnamon batter that soaks the entire surface, so the center stays protected while the outside turns golden.” He says, “I’ve ordered it from many different places over the years and it always comes out the same. That kind of consistency is harder to pull off than people think.”
Denny’s
Denny’s often gets a bad rap, but the diner offers great food at a great price. While the extensive menu is full of tasty items, one item Sullivan raves about is the Strawberry Stuffed French Toast Slam.
“Denny switched to brioche bread and started stuffing it with sweet cream cheese, and that move changed everything,” he explains. “The strawberry version with freshly cut strawberries and strawberry sauce is the perfect dessert for breakfast.” He adds, “They actually took it out once and had to bring it back because customers kept asking. Four slices of stuffed brioche and eggs and bacon for under $13.”
Cracker Barrel
It’s hard to beat Cracker Barrel. The chain is known for its country-style cooking and the breakfast menu is a comforting mix of old favorites like the Fresh Berry French Toast Bake, which is a “comeback favorite.”
“This one is different because Cracker Barrel bakes theirs instead of bagging it,” Sullivan said. “Made with thick sliced ​​bread topped with cream cheese and brown sugar, baked casserole style, topped with fresh berries and whipped cream.” She adds, “It comes out more like bread pudding than French toast. My kids fight for the last piece every time we go.”
Heather Newgen
Heather Newgen has twenty years of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently freelances for several publications. Read more about Heather
