Brunch menus are famously split between sweet and savory—but Americans clearly lean one way. According to a CivicScience poll of nearly 20K respondents, 59% say they prefer a savory brunch, while 20% favor sweet options. Another 21% say they have no strong opinion, suggesting that while brunch is popular, not everyone draws a hard line between syrup and salt.

Brunch preferences vary by age, gender, and geography. Millennials are the most likely to prefer a sweet brunch, while Gen X adults lead in savory preferences. Women are more inclined toward sweet brunch options, whereas men are more likely to favor savory dishes. Regionally, Southern residents are most likely to prefer a sweet brunch, while those living in the Western U.S. lean more heavily toward savory.

But demographics aren’t the only thing shaping brunch preferences. CivicScience data reveal notable lifestyle and habit differences between sweet and savory brunch fans:

• Egg Preferences: Savory brunch fans are most likely to prefer fried or scrambled eggs. While sweet brunch fans also commonly choose those styles, they’re more likely than savory fans to favor egg salad and deviled eggs.
• Breakfast Time: Sweet brunch fans are four percentage points more likely to say they usually have time to sit down and eat breakfast most days (62% vs. 58% of savory brunch fans).
• Weekend Rituals: Twenty percent of those who prefer sweet brunch say they typically enjoy a special breakfast on weekends, compared to 14% of savory brunch fans—suggesting a stronger connection to brunch as a planned experience.
• Brunch Cocktails: Among adults 21+, sweet brunch fans are most likely to name mimosas as their favorite brunch cocktail. Savory brunch fans, on the other hand, prefer Bloody Marys.
• Morning News Habits: When asked where they first got news that morning, sweet brunch fans are more likely to say social media, while savory brunch fans are more inclined to cite online publications.

From eggs and cocktails to news habits and weekend routines, brunch preferences reveal more than taste alone. Whether it’s sweet indulgence or savory satisfaction, how Americans brunch reflects how they start their day—and how they choose to savor it.