After a recent refresh, The Lakeview is back, with shorter hours (until 3 a.m., Monday to Thursday, and 4 a.m., Fridays and weekends) but no shortage of diner classics. Upgrades to your usual breakfast routine, such as velvety milkshakes, golden fried chicken and tender waffles confirm The Lakeview's status as one of Dundas West's essential greasy spoons.

With a selection of its all-day menu devoted to breakfast classics, this spot is the perennially-open cafe you need in your life. Located at 7 Charles Street, near Yonge and Bloor, it's a spot that's literally always open — 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Whether your night demands Steak & Eggs or a classic combo of eggs, fries, sausage, bacon and toast to sop up every morsel, is your call. 

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this brand of no-frills, all-day breakfast is exactly what you want when the 3 a.m. cravings hit. Among the options at both downtown locations (one by the Eaton Centre, the other at College and Yonge), you'll find Fran's Energy Breakfast and a variety of three-egg omelettes, assorted Benedicts and spicy chicken with freshly-made waffles.

Whether you want to dine in or order delivery and eat at home, this Scarborough spot has you covered, 24 hours a day. A lengthy menu ranges from yogurt with berries and four-egg omelettes, to the Super — an invigorating plate of eggs, pancakes, bacon and sausage with home fries, rice or roasted potatoes. 

With a single row of vinyl-topped stools, open kitchen, and properly prickly service, this throwback Dupont Street diner is as quaint as they come. Linger over simple plates of eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes and toast, and feel like you've travelled back in time.  Open from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday to Wednesday, and 24 hours a day the rest of the week.

Sizzling steaks and burgers may be advertised outside this 24-hour spot on Eglinton Ave East, but peruse T-Bones' menu and you'll find the breakfast faves you crave. Omelettes and a variety of breakfast sandwiches are cheap and cheerful options, with steak and egg combos available between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.

At two Scarborough locations, comfort is delivered via dozens of dishes that sate every type of craving. Until 3 a.m., or 5 a.m., on Fridays and Saturdays, indulge in a late-night menu that includes Steak & Eggs, Pancakes, French Toast, and Churro Funnel Cakes — a dish I'm convinced is the breakfast staple I've been missing all along.

Whether it's the name recognition, the location, the prices or simply the hulking plates of food, this location near Yonge and Dundas is popular around the clock. Greet the new day the Denny's way, with dishes as daring as Bacon Loaded Pancakes, as enticing as Breakfast Poutine, or as nostalgic as the All-American Slam.

All-Day Homestyle Breakfast is a promise I can get behind. At Wimpy's Sheppard Avenue West location, you can go sweet or savoury until 12 a.m., seven days a week. Options include a range of robust dishes, such as breakfast poutine and eggs Benedict, pancakes, waffles, breakfast burritos, and more.