Whether breakfast is of utter importance or a passing thought in the morning, everyone visits breakfast restaurants occasionally. Since specialized breakfast places are sparse in most places, Knoxville is lucky to have so many options. Here are the staff’s favorite breakfast places in town.

Chick-fil-A seems to be the go-to place for a chicken biscuit, but that is only because Colonel’s Cafe is currently undiscovered. It’s a little place down in the Bearden area that serves a nice mix of Southern comfort food, Greek delicacies, and deli sandwiches. Their breakfast menu varies from gyro omelettes to grits and is served all day, so check it out. [Danielle Fannon]

Breakfast isn’t really my cup of tea, so my breakfast restaurant choice is one that has good brunch. And the best brunch out there is, without a doubt, dim sum – even if Knoxville doesn’t have a staple dim sum restaurant. Dim sum is made up of many small dishes, like sweet pork buns, crunchy shrimp dumplings, and custards so that you can try a little bit of everything before you’re full. Although dim sum is best in the bigger cities, Knoxville has had some great dim sum places over the years. So next time you hear of a good Chinese restaurant, check and see if it has dim sum; it will definitely be worth your while.  [Madison Chan]

When I’m running around downtown in the morning and I’m in a hurry with no time for breakfast, Coffee and Chocolate is one of the best coffee places that is conveniently located in Market Square. Their blueberry scones are some of the sweetest, buttery-tasting scones I have ever had, and their coffee is always just the right amount of sharp and sweet flavor contrast.They also have a great atmosphere as well as customer service. [Kira Suerth]

Waffle House is my all time favorite place to go get breakfast. I love the friendly environment, cheap prices, and amazing food. I’m sure many of you have already been, but if you haven’t, be sure to check it out. [Cassidy Bailey]

I’m not the type of person to wake up and immediately go out to eat, so brunch is more my jam. The Apple Cake Tea Room is decidedly quaint, serving delicious food in a homey log-cabin atmosphere. Their chicken salad is some of the best, although they serve heartier meals as well. [Allie Gruszkiewicz]

Best Bagels and Deli is true to its name; they serve the best bagels and sandwiches in town. The local restaurant is conveniently on Kingston Pike and has a drive-through making it accessible on the way to school, but make sure to go before school because they unfortunately close at 2 p.m. The reason to visit Best Bagels is the atmosphere because it feels homey and authentic unlike big food chains, making it a classic Knoxville breakfast staple that everyone should try at least once. [Katie Matthews]

Many of the restaurants on this list are awesome, but one that really sticks out to me is First Watch. First Watch is pretty new to Knoxville and is deep inside of the Turkey Creek shopping area. They offer many different breakfast foods, but my favorite has to be their Trifecta, which comes with two eggs, bacon or sausage, and a Belgian waffle or pancake. First Watch is a great place to have a big brunch when family comes in town. [Tyler Hotz]

Pete’s Coffee Shop downtown is definitely the best breakfast place in Knoxville. It’s obviously a far drive, but it’s well worth it. You might also have a celebrity sighting, as Pete’s is a go to place for UT coaches, with Rick Barnes and Butch Jones often stopping by. [Wyeth Wilson]

Whether you’re in search of a great cup of coffee or an elaborate breakfast creation, The Plaid Apron, located in the heart of Sequoyah Hills is the place for you. Their farm fresh food in combination with the rustic cute atmosphere make it an enjoyable dining experience. [Maggie Kimber]