What: Chilaquiles
Where: Breakfast Republic, 44491 Town Center Way, Palm Desert
How much: $16; $24.50 with carne asada and avocado
Contact: 760-690-3550; breakfastrepublic.com
Why: The taste and texture.
Two summers ago, Breakfast Republic arrived in Palm Desert.
The popular Southern California restaurant chain bills itself as an “innovative breakfast destination” that serves “tasty takes on American classics”—and the emphasis here is on “innovative” and “twists.” You may have to scan the menu for a while to find standard breakfast fare; those items are there, but they’re generally listed after offerings like the crab and crawfish cake Benedict ($22); the shrimp and grits breakfast ($21.50); and French toast stuffed with peanut butter and topped with bananas foster and bacon (called “Mr. Presley,” $16).
I’ve been to a San Diego-area Breakfast Republic before, but our recent visit to the Palm Desert location was our first. The hubby ordered the protein lover scramble with “Jurassic pork” (thick-cut, smoked bacon coated with brown sugar and paprika), ham, bacon, cheddar and onion ($16.50), while our friend Tony got the cluck madame benedict, with ham, gruyere cheese and bechamel sauce, in addition to the requisite sourdough English muffin and eggs ($16). Breakfast Republic has a full bar, and the hubby indulged in the Bloody Mary with the Jurassic pork bacon ($14.25), which was decent. Despite an abnormally long wait for Tony’s food, the eats were all top-notch.
However, the star dish at the table was what I ordered—Breakfast Republic’s take on chilaquiles, featuring corn tortilla chips, red salsa, three eggs, queso fresco and sour cream; I did as the menu recommended and added carne asada, as well as avocado. The variety of textures was fantastic—and the concoction was delicious. Next time, I’ll forgo the carne asada, as it surprisingly didn’t add much to the dish.
Due to the fun vibes, the unique offerings and the decent-by-2025-standards prices, Breakfast Republic is in the upper echelon of Coachella Valley breakfast joints, no doubt.
