However, morning meal items are not much celebrated in Bangladesh, and our gastronomic indulgence essentially focuses on rich and fatty foods such as kachchi biriyani and polao.

Still, we are becoming mindful of our dietary habits and so is the culinary industry of the country. Many fine restaurants in Dhaka city have gained immense popularity for the breakfast delicacies that they are providing.

Allures of continental and English breakfast

The heart of English breakfast is eggs, bacon and beans, but we can also enjoy it with a glass of fresh orange juice or a cup of tea. And if a cup of latte, coffee or cappuccino is added to this mix, the taste buds of any dedicated gourmand will be certainly satisfied.  

Only a few of us will decline the offer of a superbly brewed cup of cappuccino and freshly baked cakes and pastries. Restaurants, namely North End Coffee Roasters and Delifrance, are here to keep us hooked with such delicacies and elegant décor.    

North End Coffee Roasters has become a popular hub for meeting friends and refreshing the tired mind in recent years. Having roots in the famous Italian-American "North End" of Boston, North End Coffee Roasters started their journey in the year 2011.

North End is offering a diversified and delicious breakfast menu to its customers. Whether that be chilli cheese croissant or bagel and bacon, North End is here to keep the enthusiastic gourmands well-fed and satisfied by offering a wonderful English breakfast menu.

Additionally, to have a sweet and delightful day — the Cinnamon Roll, Yoghurt and Granola Parfait will be the perfect choice for anyone. Such sweet delicacies are available for Tk 120-180.

Want to enjoy the ambience of a French café while sitting at Gulshan Avenue? Take a tour of Delifrance Dhaka, and you will not be disappointed. Delifrance is offering all-day breakfast to their regular customers, and the menu comprises delicious treats such as French toast and Sausage with Croissant. One may enjoy a hearty breakfast at Delifrance by spending Tk 400-650.

Moreover, cafés, namely Butlers Chocolate Café, Nerdy Bean Coffee Haus, Crimson Cup Coffee are equally worth exploring.

Traditional Bangladeshi breakfast

From time immemorial, the very familiar rooti and bhaji have satisfied the hunger of Bengalis — be that the hardworking people belonging to the lower strata of the social class or the people who get to enjoy a hearty breakfast sitting in the comfort of their lavish dwellings.

And nehari needs no new introduction as it is a well-known breakfast treat across all of the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh. Be that with beef or mutton, nehari is heartily enjoyed by everyone as a popular breakfast meal.

To enjoy breakfast treats such as tandoori naan, dal puri and bhuna khichuri—one must visit Star Kabab Hotel and Restaurant. The interior of Star Kabab always remains vibrant with their loyal customers—no matter what time of the day—one will always find the hotel staff running here and there with plates of rootis or a cup of chai. Still, it is better to enjoy breakfast at Star Kabab from around 6-9AM.

Also, one cannot miss the treasures found in Old Dhaka. The streets of Old Dhaka vibrate with the tradition and cultural heritage of Bengali cuisine. New Café Corner, located at North Brook Hall Road, offers mouth-watering mutton cutlet, chicken chop and prawn cutlet to their regular customers.

Moreover, one should also look into the restaurants such as Green Sweetmeat and Royal Restaurant for local flavours and enjoyable breakfast items.

Charms of breakfast buffet

With time the concept of a breakfast buffet is becoming more popular among food lovers. The primary reason for this attraction is the diversified menu that the breakfast buffet offers. The menu generally consists of eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, sausage, ham, corned beef hash, southern gravy, biscuits, English muffins, bagels etc.,

Lakeshore Hotel situated at the centre of Gulshan is known for offering such an exquisite and delicious breakfast buffet. One can enjoy more than forty breakfast items—comprising of both Bengali and English breakfast treats—at the cost of Tk 1200. And these items are interchangeable meaning Lakeshore keeps rotating their morning meals so that there is more diversity on the buffet counter.

In addition, the boutique hotel Omni Residency and Café Rio have equally gained popularity among their regular customers for the good environment, pleasant service and scrumptious breakfast items that they offer.

Photo: LS Archive/ Sazzad Ibne Sayed