How to Price Breakfast Plate: Food Cost Breakdown & Menu Price Guide
Last reviewed: July 28, 2026
Short answer
Breakfast Plate typically runs a food cost of 26–32%, supporting a menu price of $10–$15 depending on portion size and ingredient quality. A worked example below shows the exact math for one common version.
What Drives Breakfast Plate Cost
Eggs
10–15% of costOne of the cheapest proteins on any menu, though prices can spike seasonally
Breakfast meat (bacon, sausage)
25–35% of costThe main protein cost lever
Potatoes / hash browns
8–12% of costCheap per serving
Toast / pancakes
10–15% of costLow individual cost, easy to underprice as an afterthought
Worked Example
| Ingredient | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs (2) | 2 | $0.50 |
| Bacon (3 strips) | — | $0.75 |
| Hash browns | — | $0.40 |
| Toast (2 slices) + butter | — | $0.30 |
| Total ingredient cost | $1.95 | |
Target Food Cost
28%
Suggested Menu Price
$6.96
Actual food cost: 28.0%
Common Pricing Mistakes
Not adjusting for egg price volatility
Egg prices can spike significantly during supply disruptions (avian flu outbreaks have historically caused 50%+ price swings). A breakfast menu priced once and left alone is exposed to this volatility more than most categories.
Treating toast and butter as a free garnish
Bread and butter included with every breakfast plate carry real, if small, per-serving cost that should be counted rather than assumed negligible.
Pricing all-day breakfast the same as morning-only breakfast
If breakfast is offered all day, consider whether the value proposition and willingness to pay differs enough by daypart to warrant different pricing or portion sizes.
Price Every Breakfast Plate Dish on Your Menu
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