• This bustling burg, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, is a popular shopping destination. It's home to Woodfield Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the country, with more than 300 shops. Other attractions include the Legoland Discovery Center, Arlington Park Racecourse and nearby Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Schaumburg is packed with fast food restaurants, ethnic eateries and upscale establishments. If you're looking to start your day with a hearty breakfast, head to one of its restaurants.
  
  

Richard Walker's Pancake House

• This small breakfast and lunch restaurant chain was founded by Richard Walker in 1960 in Wilmette, Illinois. The restaurant now has three locations: this one in Schaumburg and two others in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and San Diego. Breakfast is the restaurant's mainstay, including the signature baked apple pancake, served with ice cream. Other pancake offerings include German pancakes served with lemon and powdered sugar, and baked cinnamon pecan pancakes. Potato pancakes, buckwheat pancakes and wheat germ pancakes also are on the menu. The restaurant also features waffles, omelettes, and crepes, such as Mandarin orange, blueberry and sour cream, and spinach and mushroom.
  
  Richard Walker's Pancake House
  1300 N. Roselle Road
  Schaumburg, IL 6195
  (847) 882-1100
  richardwalkers.com
  
  

Maxfield's Pancake & Waffle House

• This casual, come-as-you-are neighborhood restaurant features standard breakfast fare at wallet-pleasing prices. Popular dishes include egg skillets, such as the scrambled egg, asparagus, mushroom and cheese skillet; pancakes and waffles; and a selection of breakfast crepes. The hash brown potatoes with cheese are a popular side dish. The orange juice is fresh-squeezed, and the fruit compotes and pies are homemade.
  
  Maxfield's Pancake & Waffle House
  700 E. Schaumburg Road
  Schaumburg, IL 60194
  (847) 781-0300
  
  

The Egg Basket

• You'd be hard pressed not to find something you like on the extensive breakfast menu at this restaurant. Order eggs cooked any way with hash brown potatoes and a stack of pancakes. The menu features six frittatas, including the Mediterranean with feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and the chicken breast with onions, mushrooms and green peppers. Meat lovers can order the gyros omelet, the steak omelet or the ham, bacon and mushroom omelet. The menu includes 12 skillet creations, like the charbroiled skirt steak skillet with potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, onions and cheese topped with two eggs. Country biscuits and gravy, specialty pancakes, French toast and Belgium waffles are offered, as well as classic crepes, like cinnamon apple or red raspberry. Fans of blintzes can order a variety of homemade cheese blintzes.
  
  The Egg Basket
  395 S. Barrington Road
  Schaumburg, IL 60193
  (847) 534-4390
  eggbasketschaumburg.com