TIME TO RISE & SHINE
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★
District: Millard
Traditional breakfast with Mexican-inspired dishes
Perfect For: Baked Goods/Desserts; Breakfast/Brunch; Casual Dining; Takeout
Standout Dishes: Churro Delight Pancakes; Blueberry Pancakes
Time to Rise & Shine aspires to bring something to the Omaha breakfast game that the city very much needs: a friendly spot dedicated to Mexican breakfast dishes.
It absolutely hits on the first part of that goal, as this cozy nook would be a fun place to hang out if it served no food at all. But ironically enough, some of its more traditional dishes are outshined by its rendition of one of breakfast’s most simple foods: the pancake.
Located in Elkhorn just off 204th St, Time to Rise and Shine is a long, skinny restaurant with a homey feel. The walls are bright and plastered with puns on breakfast food, not to mention the proudly-displayed artwork created by children visitors. The open kitchen allows you to admire the cooks at work, and a display case full of softball-sized cinnamon rolls beckons you as soon as you enter.
Those welcoming elements, along with a cheery staff and a deep menu of dishes not found at many Omaha breakfast spots, make Time to Rise & Shine worth a visit alone.
The restaurant is owned by Javier Trujillo Villa, who started his restaurant empire with Javi’s Tacos, the popular fast casual Mexican joint with multiple Omaha locations.
Given his background and expertise, it’s no surprise to see the menu is populated with Mexican dishes like Chilaquiles, Huevos Rancheros, Nachos Mi Familia, and omelets and hashbrown skillets stuffed with Latin American offerings like nopales (cactus), chorizo, and charro refried beans.
There are plenty of familiar breakfast dishes too, as the menu includes chicken & waffles, biscuits & gravy, french toast, and pancakes—though even those elements can come with a Latin twist.
But if all Time to Rise & Shine served were pancakes, I believe it could be a successful restaurant.
The restaurant should honestly rebrand their pancakes as “sweet clouds”, because that’s what these fluffy flavor discs are. They’re so light they threaten to float off the plate, with a wonderful pillowy consistency that absorbs syrup like a sponge. That is, if syrup were necessary—these frisbee-sized confections have a nice natural sweetness, so you don’t need much more sugar.
The Classic Buttermilk Pancakes, which can be ordered in a stack or as a side dish for an entree, are delicious, and the Blueberry Pancakes are studded with dozens of fresh blueberries that give juicy pops of tartness.
But if you want to take things to the next level, the Churro Delight Pancakes are something special, combining the delightful cinnamon flavor of a churro with the fluffy consistency of a flapjack. Time to Rise & Shine starts with its special churro batter, cooked to crispy edges while maintaining a cake-y center, and adds a caramel drizzle and cinnamon and sugar on top. While it sounds like a lot of sugar, this dish doesn’t cross the line of being too sweet.
The skillets are visually arresting, as a massive cast iron pan is loaded with several potatoes worth of hashbrowns, proteins, vegetables, cheese, and two eggs cooked however you like them. The hashbrowns themselves lose any texture under the mound of ingredients on top of them, but they serve as a solid base.
La Toxica Skillet leans into Javi’s Mexican roots with chorizo, grilled jalapenos, cilantro, and a tomatillo salsa joining pepperjack cheese, diced ham, and vegetables. The chorizo adds good heat and the salsa a nice freshness, and the eggs (I got them over easy) are cooked perfectly.
The Colorado Skillet is much more dairy forward, as it’s coated in a blanket of melted cheddar jack cheese. Underneath is a combination of crispy bacon, peppery breakfast sausage, and pork green chili, which lends its savory, bold flavor to every bite.
The sides are fine but unspectacular. The Hashbrowns don’t have much texture, but they’re seasoned well and their saltiness is a perfect counterpart to the sweet pancakes. And the Sourdough Toast is soft and buttery with a tang at the end.
The most disappointing item I’ve encountered is the Cinnamon Roll, which is stunning in appearance but lacking in execution. The dough has solid cinnamon flavor, but it’s quite dry, and the frosting/bun ratio is off. The tang of the cream cheese overwhelms the flavor of the dough itself. Maybe we got one on an off day, but it’s not a roll I’d rush out to get again.
Overall, I’m excited about what Time to Rise & Shine is bringing to Omaha’s breakfast scene. Yes, you can get a standard breakfast or stack of flapjacks here, but there’s so much more. And with dishes like the Chilaquiles Omelet, Churro Delight French Toast, and Tres Leches Pancakes, even standard breakfast dishes get a Latin spin.
Whether you want to expand your breakfast palate and experience Mexican breakfast or you’re just craving a damn good pancake, Time to Rise & Shine is worth checking out.