Specialty Foods BEST DONUT Red’s Donuts 433 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 372-9761 1646 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. (831) 394-3444 redsdonutsinc.com The early bird gets the donut at Red’s Donuts, but don’t worry—they’ll keep churning them out every day. Since 1950, Red’s has been a cherished local’s treasure for those who love to start their day sweet; that’s 75 years of perfecting the best donut in the county. They have all the classics and more, like maple bacon donuts, lemon jelly filling and chocolate with peanuts, plus rolls, twists and bars galore in a carnival of colors. BEST BAGEL Bagel Bakery Multiple locations thebagelbakery.com A bagel almost seems like an afterthought at many a morning stop, kind of like tagging along with the coffee as a way to keep full until lunch—the one reluctant family member dragged to the circus. But at the Bagel Bakery, bagels are putting on a full show. They range from your standard seedy options all the way to chocolate fudge or pesto cheese, with equally intriguing cream cheese choices like jalapeño or olive walnut. There are plenty of options for building your own bagel sandwich with meats and veggies and a full menu of bagel and omelette options. And the best part? All bagels are made fresh in-house all day, every day. BEST OMELETTE BEST BISCUITS AND GRAVY From Scratch 3626 The Barnyard, Carmel (831) 625-2448, fromscratchrestaurant. com Charles Blondin, the famous tightrope walker who crossed divides spanning thousands of feet walking on a twoinch-thick rope, had one particularly special stunt, and it involved a chef’s hat and a popular breakfast item. Blondin would occasionally cross the rope with utensils strapped to his back, mixing ingredients and seasoning the pan, and cook and flip an omelette while balancing high above the ground, sometimes even feeding the crowd. Some people can just do it all, and when it comes to breakfast, From Scratch in the Barnyard may be our local Blondin. Their famous omelettes, along with their biscuits and gravy, show off the same kind of flair and versatility. Guy Fieri of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives even calls the place “old school in hyperdrive,” in the way the menu infuses homemade classics with spices that bring the flavors to life. BEST HUEVOS RANCHEROS Hatch 3658 The Barnyard, Carmel (831) 330-2332, hatchcarmel.com Explosions are part of many a show to add drama or mask a trick. Cuisine also offers its own explosions with less fanfare: a pop of flavor that targets people’s taste buds and creates an unforgettable experience. At Hatch, the senses are brought to the edge of their seats every time a person takes a bite—particularly when it comes to huevos rancheros, a tostada with refried beans, sunny-side-up eggs garnished with salty cotija cheese, sour cream, onion and pico de gallo with either green or red sauce—that’s a lot of action, even before we mention country potatoes on the side. BEST SALAD Salad Shoppe 1138 S. Main St., Salinas (831) 422-9600, saladshoppe.com. Being dubbed the best salad in the Salad Bowl of the World is like trying to be the funniest clown of them all. There are so many clowns. They are all trying to be funny. But Salad Shoppe has reclaimed its 2024 Best Salad title, managing to stand out for its fresh produce from the Salinas Valley and its huge salad bar offerings. Check out their soups and sandwiches for more variety. Like a circus, Salad Shoppe is all about variety. 104 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof OPEN Mon-Thurs at 4pm, Fri at 3pm, Sat & Sun at 12pm 725 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 INDOOR DINING, Takeout & Delivery! Voted Monterey County’s Best Pizza Place Grazie mille! We are honored that since 2008, you’ve voted us as Best Pizza in Monterey County. We are truly overwhelmed! These awards wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication from our staff and managers. Since we opened in 1974, the community has welcomed us with open arms and has continued to support our familyowned business. We hope to continue to serve delicious pizza, pasta, gelato, breadsticks and everything in between for years to come. Thank you again! - Gianni BEST PIZZA ’26 ’25 2008– 2024
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