Growing up, most of us were bombarded with a host of voices telling us that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Moms, teachers, coaches and even Tony the Tiger were all in on the campaign.

Of course, when we left home and ventured into jobs and the other vagaries of adult life, that advice sometimes fell by the wayside. We made do with a quick cup of yogurt, a bran muffin, a banana or a granola bar.

But a first-rate breakfast is not only about fueling up for the day’s rigors, it is a genuine source of culinary enjoyment. Why else are so many people a fan of breakfast for dinner?

We rounded up a dozen Denver restaurants that offer creative takes on the first meal of the day, from A (Annie’s Cafe) to Z (Zaidy’s Deli).

Whether it’s the start of the workday or a leisurely weekend morning, these dishes are worth seeking out.

To quote a certain oversized cartoon feline: “They’re grrrrreat!”

Four Friends Kitchen

Smoked Brisket Hash. A newcomer to the Stapleton Town Center, Four Friends has a Southern twist. Check out the smoked brisket hash topped with two poached eggs. The diced beef is tender and laced with sauteed onions, sweet peppers and green chiles in a melange of barbecued potatoes. Yes, there is cheese in there, too. 2893 Roslyn St., 303-388-8299. fourfriendskitchen.com

Sassafras

Bison Hash with Chicken-Fried Egg. What’s chicken-fried egg? Take an egg, soft boil it, then let it cool. Once you peel it, roll it in crumbs and flash-fry it. Put it atop a mound of bison hash, slather it with a spicy sauce. It’s also available at their original location in North Denver. 320 E. Colfax Ave., 303-831-6233, sassafrasamericaneatery.com

Syrup

Pancakes with Blackberry Syrup. Syrup restaurant in Cherry Creek offers a variety of breakfast dishes, but as the name implies, syrup reigns. Blackberry syrup is one of the choice varieties, and is a perfect topping for the feathery pancakes. A side of bacon cuts the sweetness. Another shop sits at 999 18th St. 300 Josephine St., 720-945-1111. breakfastdenver.net

Pork Tamales. Tamales are a Christmas staple in the Southwest, but this spot on East Colfax Avenue makes them a year-’round treat. Two moist corn tamales (they dehusk them for you before plating) are packed with shredded pork and masa, then smothered in pork green chile and cheese. You also get two eggs your way, black beans and a flour tortilla. What’s not to love?3100 E. Colfax Ave., 303-355-8197. Annies-Cafe.com

Denver Biscuit Co.

Bacon-Apple Butter Biscuit. Fat, feather-light biscuits are one reason folks show up here at 8 each morning. One of the favorites is a bacon biscuit with a side of apple butter, sweet and savory and piled on a crumbly biscuit that’s as big as a tomcat’s head. Order it with a side of sweet-and-spicy housemade pickles. You know, just so you get a vegetable. 3237 E. Colfax Ave., 303-377-7900. denbisco.com

The District

Vegetarian Burrito. A fat-boy spinach tortilla packed with scrambled eggs, home fries, tomato, spinach, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese, then smothered in veggie green chili. Also, check out the restaurant’s house bacons. Varieties on the rotating menu include a standard peppered pork, a sriracha bacon, a duck version, and one finished with vanilla porter. 1320 E. 17th Ave., 303-813-6688. districtdenver.com

Krameria Cafe

The Comanche. One of the standouts at this family-run spot serving the Mayfair and Park Hill neighborhoods is The Comanche. You get a stack of two corn tortillas loaded with two eggs your way, ranch beans and a mix of shredded jack and cheddar cheeses. For a bit extra you can add roasted poblano chiles, shredded steak — the machaca that’s easy to find in Arizona but less so here — or sliced avocados. The whole shebang swims in a pool of brick-red pasilla chile sauce. 1401 Krameria St., 303-322-3138. krameriacafe.info

Racines

Migas. Once known as the Bandito, this dish morphed into a burrito. But the original version, a scramble, remains so popular that regulars still ask for it — and the kitchen is happy to turn it out. Soft scrambled eggs are loaded with cheese, tomatoes, peppers and onions, then topped with crumbled tortilla chips. Refrieds on the side, of course, along with a fire-roasted tomato salsa. 650 Sherman St., 303-595-0418. racinesrestaurant.com

Snooze

Chilaquiles Benedict. This go-to dish is a pile of savory beef barbacoa over a stack of ranchero-sauced corn tortillas that somehow fuse into an approximation of a masa cake. The two bennies are piled with melted cheese and poached fresh eggs, then topped with a roasted poblano hollandaise, pico de gallo and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. Vegetarians can ask for avocado instead of barbacoa. Locations at 2262 Larimer St. and Union Station, too. 700 Colorado Blvd., 303-736-6200. snoozeeatery.com

Zaidy’s Deli

Desayuno Fuerte. This house special is a super-savory mix of goodies atop a thin, perfectly browned potato latke. The pancake is piled with a hot tangle of sauteed spinach, onions, diced tomatoes and garlic, then two poached eggs dusted with grated Parmesan. Mazel tov! 121 Adams St., 303-333-5336. zaidysdeli.com

Jelly

Sweet Potato Hash. The sweet potato hash is one of the signature dishes at this Capitol Hill spot. Anchored with chopped sweet potatoes and red potatoes, it comes loaded with Mexican chorizo, onion, celery and roasted poblanos. 600 E. 13th Ave., 303-831-6301. eatmorejelly.com

Wild Eggs

Border Benedict. Officially, this is known as Kalamity Katie’s Border Benedict. While a mouthful of name, this Southwestern take on eggs Benedict is also more than a mouthful of food. The kitchen subs green-chile cheddar corn cakes for the traditional English muffin. The cakes are topped with crumbled chorizo, poached eggs with deep golden yolks and a drizzle of queso fundido. Finally, it’s topped with pico de gallo and diced avocados. Ask for a flour tortilla on the side. 300 E. Alameda Ave., 303-744-3447. wild-eggs.com

William Porter: 303-954-1877, wporter@denverpost.com or twitter.com/williamporterdp