Over-the-Top Breakfasts

By Food & Wine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains that eating breakfast may help you lose weight and keep it off, but we've found some breakfast dishes served across the country that will seriously derail a diet. While some of these extravagant orders look, and let's face it, taste delicious, a couple have more calories than one should consume in a few days, according to nutritional calculations by the Food & Wine Test Kitchen. The ultra-rich offerings get gradually more outrageous, concluding with a breakfast that contains approximately 8,700 calories on one plate.

Courtesy of Hash House A Go Go
Courtesy of Hash House A Go Go

Hash House A Go Go, Las Vegas
In the "Flapjacks and Waffles" section of the menu, just below the "Tractor Driver Combo," you'll find the pièce de résistance of breakfast architecture: The Sage Fried Chicken and Bacon Waffle Tower, constructed with two skin-on fried chicken breasts, four buttermilk waffles made with four strips of hardwood-smoked bacon, and topped with fried leeks and a hot maple syrup reduction.

Approximate Total Calories: 1,066

Slideshow: Best Breakfast Sandwiches in the U.S.

David Lanthan Reamer Photography
David Lanthan Reamer Photography

Pine State Biscuits, Portland, OR
Three North Carolina transplants are responsible for bringing the Southern breakfast tradition of chicken and biscuits to Portland. At Pine State, you'll find the mouthwatering "Reggie Deluxe," breakfast biscuit sandwich filled with fried chicken, bacon and cheese, and topped with a fried egg and gravy.

Approximate Total Calories: 1,370


Courtesy of That Breakfast Place
Courtesy of That Breakfast Place


That Breakfast Place, Willimantic, CT

Connecticut is home to the Five Pound Breakfast Challenge: a 16-inch pancake topped with a dozen eggs, a half pound of home fries, four pieces of toast, four pieces of bacon, a two-ounce slice of ham, a two-ounce sausage patty, and a three-inch long kielbasa. If you can eat it in 30 minutes, it's free. Otherwise, the beast costs $34.99.

Approximate Total Calories: 3,600


Courtesy of Jack-n-Grill
Courtesy of Jack-n-Grill


Jack-n-Grill, Denver, CO
This Seven Pound Breakfast Burrito at Jack-n-Grill in Denver includes five pounds of grilled potatoes, a dozen eggs, a half-pound of ham, a half-pound of cheese, onions and a choice of chili.

Approximate
Total Calories: 6,020

Courtesy of Shelby's Kitchen and Deli
Courtesy of Shelby's Kitchen and Deli


Shelby's Kitchen and Deli, Deerfield Beach, FL
The Terminator challenge is a 24-inch pancake, four fried eggs, six pork sausages, one pound of bacon, two pounds of home fries and two slices of toast. If you can eat the whole thing between opening and closing hours (the best bet is Sunday, when it's open the longest from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), you can get back your $19.99. It has reportedly only been done once, in May 2011, in over 400 attempts.

Approximate Total Calories: 8,700

More from Food & Wine:
Best Breakfast Sandwiches in the U.S.
Best Fried Chicken in the U.S.
Best Burgers in the U.S.
Best Grilled Cheese in the U.S.
America's Best Doughnuts