Travels: Sophie's Cosmic Cafe and Candy Aisle in Kitsilano, Vancouver

We were told that if you are in Kitsilano, you must do breakfast/brunch at Sophie's Cosmic Cafe but you better get there early unless you like to wait in line.

They weren't kidding. We were lucky, there were only 2 groups ahead of us. But shortly after we were seated, there was a line-up, out the door and down the sidewalk past the front of the building. Unbelievable.

First thing you notice about the place is the decor. Let's say it's a hoarder's paradise but organized by an obsessive-compulsive with a very friendly, warm diner feeling. It's kitschy with every knickknack, trinket, chatchki, toy, memorabilia, vintage collectables, thingamajing, (insert your word for it here).

We ordered poached eggs, french toast and pancakes which came with plenty of hashbrowns, bacon and sausage. The portions were huge. The french toast alone felt like it was an entire loaf of bread, though the huge platter-like plates make it look a lot smaller than it actually is in the above photos.