Brekki Brekki–To those of us who were around in the mid 70s, those two words might dredge up recollections of the citizens band (CB) radio vernacular. Maybe even the Chuck Norris movie “Breaker! Breaker!” with its perfunctory butt-kicking. Though I pride myself on having a sesquipedalian vocabulary, I had never heard the term “brekki” used as slang for breakfast” until watching the Irish television series “Jack Taylor.” My research revealed “brekki” is not an Irish term for breakfast, but is in Iceland. Yes, Iceland. Jack Taylor’s backstory didn’t involve a stint in Iceland. So, where did the Irish detective pick up the term. Closer to home, why would a Duke City restaurant specializing in breakfast name itself “Brekki Brekki?”
Paula, our delightful server didn’t know. She believes the term is Italian for breakfast, but verifiable evidence doesn’t seem to exist on the omniscient internet. It’s conceivable the restaurant’s name is meant as a mnemonic, a word pattern designed to help people remember it. At the very least, it’s a cutesy term. Owner Robert Punya, who also founded and owns Poki Poki Cevicheria seems to like duplicated names. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Robert, you’re undoubtedly acquainted with his restaurant empire. In addition to owning Poki Poki Cevicheria, he owns The Sweet Cup (scratch-made desserts, boba tea and espresso) and is the operations manager of Sushi King and Thai Boran. Robert’s mother Kathy Punya has launched several successful restaurant concepts throughout Albuquerque over the past two decades.
Whatever the reason for the name “Brekki Brkeki,” both the name and the concept seems to be working. Our inaugural visit took place on a Saturday at just past 2PM. Both the parking lot and the restaurant were near capacity and so was the expansive patio during an uncharacteristically warm October day. Brekki Brekki is not especially commodious, but such is the cacophanous din that only at a Lobos basketball game is the atmosphere comparable. This is not a restaurant in which normal conversational tones are possible. Okay, maybe I’m just showing my advanced geriatric progression. It’s only loud if you’re old and cranky. Brekki Brekki is a place where you’re practically guaranteed to have fun while enjoying a very good breakfast or lunch. You’ll be well served by a very friendly, energetic (and very attractive) staff.
Contrary to its name, Brekki Brkeki’s motto is “This ain’t just breakfast.” The menu elaborates: “Nestled in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights with a stunning garden patio, Brekki Brekki is the perfect spot to start your day or relax with friends. We offer a cozy blend of breakfast joint and lively bar, ideal for any occasion. Enjoy a light brunch, a hearty meal, or a refreshing drink, including locally brewed beer and cider from Cantina Craftworks. Discover why Brekki Brekki is fast becoming Albuquerque’s favorite brunch spot. Visit us today and elevate your breakfast experience!”
Brekki Brekki offers a comprehensive menu of breakfast, brunch and any-time-of-day favorites. A lucky thirteen categories of items is a delight to peruse: sandwiches, burgers, flat breads, salads, hash, French toast, crepe, waffles, kids, sides, benny, traditional and biscuits. Only the “sides” and “traditional” categories list more than five items. A handful of New Mexican breakfast favorites is also available: green chile cheeseburger, breakfast burrito, brekki chilaquiles, vegan burrito and pozole are available for those of us who like to start the day off with chile.
26 October 2024: In addition to studying the menu and asking Paula for her recommendations (most of which she deemed “awesome,” we asked a young and in-love couple on an adjacent table what they enjoyed most at Breki Breki. Unlike some Generation Alpha youth, they didn’t look at us like we have the “cooties.” Nor were they so immersed in their smart phones that they didn’t even converse with one another. It made us hopeful for America’s future. After we chatted them up, we ordered biscuits with butter and Brekki Brekki’s signature jam, a composite of various berries. The biscuits were neither fluffy nor tall. In fact, they were rather reminiscent of English muffins, both in texture and in flavor. Not that we cared that much. Once slathered with butter and jam, they were quite good.
26 October 2024: Taking my cue from the young lady at the adjacent table, I ordered the pork belly benny from the “Benny” section of the menu. As you’ve undoubtedly deduced, “benny” is a hypocorism, a shortened form of a word or name for “Eggs Benedict.” There are four bennys on the menu: traditional (eggs benedict with poached eggs, pecan wood ham, and hollandaise on an English muffin. Served with pickled kale salad and smash potatoes), crab (chorizo remoulade, celery twist, and old bay), brisket (12 hour smoked brisket) and pork belly. The pork belly benny featured two open-face biscuits, each topped with crispy, fatty pork belly (though not quite enough of it) and a poached egg dusted with mild red chile. The biscuits are slathered with a red pepper glaze which imparts sweet notes and very little (if any) heat. Also on the plate was a pile of skin-on roasted potatoes and a small kale salad. Save for a penurious portion of pork belly, the pork belly benny was a hit.
26 October 2024: My sweet-toothed bride also struck gold with her order, a cinnamon crepe filled with caramel, slathered with caramel and with a side of caramel. Two picture-perfect golden crepes topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon breakfast cereal (which Jerry Seinfeld could probably name) looked almost too good to eat. My Kim could manage only one of the two crepes (with a tiny assist from her husband), but the crepe showed itself just as good the following day. There are four crepes on the menu, all sweet. If they’re all as rich and delicious as the cinnamon crepe, Brekki Brekki may make crepes competitive with New Mexico’s sacrosanct breakfast burrito.
14 April 2025: Eight items adorn the “Traditional” section of the menu. Appropriately most are items New Mexicans would consider traditional breakfast fare: breakfast burrito, vegan burrito, huevos rancheros and brekki chilaquiles. The huevos rancheros (corn tortillas, ranchero beans and corn, 3 eggs, tomato jam, and choice of red or green chile. Served with a side of smashed potatoes) might not be exactly as you may have had them before, but you certainly won’t send them back. As is my usual modus operandi, I asked whether cumin was used in the preparation of the red or green chile. My disappointment was probably palpable when our server told us the kitchen was unable to determine if the red chile included cumin because it wasn’t stated on the packaging. Packaging? The green chile did not have cumin though the chorizo may have had. Among my favorite components of this dish were the cherry tomatoes and pickled onions, essentially two sides.
14 April 2025: My friend Linda Johansen, with whom I had breakfast, ordered the protein hash (choice of: bacon, sausage, pork belly or brisket) with bacon. Bacon was definitely not a token protein. There was plenty of it. Best of all, it was neither overly crisp nor floppy. Linda also asked for sides of red and green chile as well as the sausage gravy. Not finding them to her liking, she enjoyed the hash sans sauce. The skillet in which the hash was served retained heat very well meaning her food didn’t cool down during our two hours of catching up.
On those rare days in which chile-laden breakfast isn’t what you’re craving, Brekki Brekki offers wonderful alternatives that make getting up in the morning (or afternoon) something to look forward to.
Brekki Brekki
8338 Comanche, N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 308-8771
Website | Facebook Page
LATEST VISIT: 14 April 2025
1st VISIT: 26 October 2024
# OF VISITS: 2
RATING: 19
COST: $$
BEST BET: Pork Belly Benny, Cinnamon Crepe, Biscuits with Butter and Jam, Coffee, Huevos Rancheros, Chicken Hash
REVIEW #1429
For what it’s worth, I was under the impression that brekkie originated Down Under. I first heard the term in an Australian sitcom series many moons ago. The series told stories of folks working the land and cattle stations. This was before the ubiquitous availability of closed captioning, and I’ve always wondered whether this call to eat was spelled “brekie,” “breaki” or some other variation. It doesn’t matter as I only use the word to call my cats for their first meal of the day.
I got a chuckle out of “delight to peruse: […] waffles, kids, sides […]” 🤣