A popular spot among university students, Stray Hen meets all the requirements for a midday feast. With menu items ranging from buttermilk pancakes and adventurous toasts to a double cheeseburger, you are certain to find something you might like on the corner of East Washington and Division street.

Stray Hen’s atmosphere is modern, upbeat and cozy. Although there’s tons of seating options, you can grab items to-go from the baked goods display, grab-and-go salads and coffee bar. The food comes out very quickly, but you can still sip on your drinks while you wait. The iced and hot dirty chai tea lattes (with oat milk) were definitely coffee shop quality; they provided the perfect balance between sweet, spices, and creamy milk.

For a fresh yet filling breakfast plate, I ordered the North Side scrambler. This scramble includes the perfect pairing of egg whites, chicken sausage, avocado, spinach, tomatoes and Gouda cheese. I also added a side of red skin potatoes, which are perfectly crisped on the outside and soft on the inside.

Sitting on a bowl of cauliflower rice is chicken sausage, a poached egg and an array of colorful vegetables—the Cauliflower Rice Bowl is equally as delicious for breakfast or lunch. This bowl is topped with crunchy sesame seeds and a flavorful Sriracha tahini dressing. You can’t go to Stray Hen without trying their dessert-like breakfasts. I was blown away by the Cinnamon Roll French toast, which tasted like warm nostalgia.

Although Stray Hen leans towards the pricier side, you can definitely dine on a budget if you stick to the basics.