WEEKENDS WERE MADE for relaxed mornings spent catching up over mimosas and recent stacks of fluffy pancakes. Houston honors this custom in the easiest way—with a slew of choices that make this favourite breakfast-lunch hybrid really feel like a celebration. Diners can get pleasure from coconut pancakes and heat chai at Indian restaurant Pondicheri, home made pastries and sizzling espresso at Mexico Metropolis–impressed Mayahuel, and lox and latke at Mediterranean Montrose sizzling spot Okto. And there is loads extra in between. Listed below are a few of the greatest brunches in Houston.
Houstonia has up to date this map to incorporate Maven Espresso and Cocktails, Mayahuel, and Okto.
Black Walnut Cafe
This Houston staple maintains a menu full of acquainted, comforting classics. Acquired Benedicts on the mind? Strive the smoky avocado bacon Benedict, kicked up a notch with a contact of cayenne. Different worthy brunch dishes embody its chorizo migas and its buttery breakfast croissant sandwich. For indecisive imbibers, strive a mimosa flight, which comes with flavors like orange juice, grapefruit, pomegranate, and strawberry.
Brunch hours: weekends 7am–4pm
Black Walnut Cafe additionally has places in Cinco Ranch, Conroe, Memorial, Classic Park, and the Woodlands.
Bludorn
Brunch at Bludorn is not full with out an order of its oysters “everyway.” Diners can order their shellfish uncooked, fried, roasted, and/or smoked, and pair it with different seafood dishes, together with loaded seafood towers, crab cake or salmon Benedicts, and shrimp and grits. Bludorn’s brunch service is each bit as vigorous as dinner.
Brunch hours: Sundays from 11:30am–2:30pm
Cochinita & Co.
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It’s straightforward to see why Cochinita earned its proprietor, chef Victoria Elizondo, a semifinalist spot within the 2023 James Beard Awards’ Rising Chef class. The restaurant has dazzled locals with its signature cochinita pibil and home made tostones since its opening in 2021. Discover brunch staples like completely spiced chilaquiles topped with a fried egg, purple chile salsa, crema, queso fresco, and inexperienced onions, plus your selection of bacon, chorizo, or nopalitos. Taco fillings additionally run the gamut, with pineapple shrimp, pibil, and barbacoa. The vegan tinga tacos, that includes lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms with chipotle en adobo, caramelized onions, and vegan avocado crema, is a vegetarian’s dream. Pair with a drink from its espresso, tea, or day by day agua fresca choices.
Brunch hours: weekends from 8am–3pm at its East Finish location.
A second location within the Northside has an all-day menu with some breakfast choices.
Dandelion Café is considered one of many brunch spots Houstonians love to go to.
Dandelion Café
Should you ask a Houstonian the place to go for brunch, this may in all probability be their reply. Dandelion Café’s brunch presents a mix of conventional and out-of-the-box breakfast plates, together with French toast sticks, an award-winning hen and waffles, and a Dandy Traditional, served with two eggs, roasted hash browns, and your selection of bacon, maple sausage, turkey sausage, or chorizo. Different classics embody bagel and lox and build-your-own omelets. Make it a celebration with a mimosa. You possibly can order a small or giant, or by the pitcher.
Brunch Hours: breakfast is served all day
Dandelion Café additionally has places within the Heights and the Rice eating corridor within the Ralph S. O’Connor Constructing for Engineering and Science, which incorporates a smaller menu.
Down the Road
On weekends, Down the Road serves ultra-filling plates that you just’d be hard-pressed to complete. There is a hefty brisket hash, a standard breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and sourdough toast, and comforting biscuits and gravy. Save room for some liquid braveness. The restaurant presents brunch cocktails, together with mimosas by the glass or carafe, Bloody Marys, and Morning Mules.
Brunch hours: weekends from 10am–3pm
Ema, or CasaEma, has turn into well-known for its pastries.
CasaEma
From a farmers markets pop-up stall to a brick-and-mortar location within the Heights, one factor has stayed true by Ema’s transformations: the standard and dedication the founders put into the product. At CasaEma, previously often known as Ema, diners begin their day with dishes like hoja santa French toast and suadero chilaquiles. Order considered one of its espresso drinks, together with a piloncillo chai and horchata lattes. Take a peek into the pastry case, and if you happen to’re fortunate, order one of many conchas and doughnuts. They have an inclination to promote out quick.
Hugo’s
Brunch at Hugo’s can differ relying on the day. Saturdays are meant for à la carte, when diners can order smoky hen sopa Azteca, chilaquiles, and tender carnitas and slow-cooked barbacoa. Hugo’s additionally presents a vegetarian brunch menu, with salads, roasted greens, and hearty dishes just like the quesadillas de huitlacoche and empanadas de plátano. Sundays name for the vigorous buffet format, which incorporates a rotation of Mexican breakfast delights and dwell music. Begin off your Saturday go to with the s
Brunch hours: Saturdays from 11am–3pm and Sundays from 10am–2pm
Hungry’s Café & Bistro
We hope you’re hungry whilst you’re at Hungry’s. The restaurant’s giant brunch menu caters to everybody, with Benedicts topped with crab desserts, fried hen, and prosciutto with eggs and three-egg omelets. Mimosas are enjoyable right here, too, with the choice to pair bubbly with freshly squeezed orange, strawberry, raspberry, or grapefruit juices. Order by the glass carafe or flight.
Brunch hours: weekends from 10am–3pm
Hungry’s additionally has places in Spring Department and Vitality Hall.
La Guadalupana Bakery & Café
Among the best Mexican cafés in Houston is tucked inside a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it procuring middle. However La Guadalupana’s greatness is hardly a secret—the workers has to position extra chairs and tables outdoors to accommodate weekend brunch crowds. Whether or not you’re in search of a latte and a fresh-baked pan dulce straight out of the show case or the flavorful consolation of migas and huevos rancheros with a glass of horchata, this pleasant, homey spot has you coated. La Guadalupana can also be well-known for its mole enchiladas and cinnamon espresso.
Strive a chew of Maven’s Caesar cups with piquillo peppers relish, boquerone, manchego cheese, and Caesar dressing.
Maven Espresso & Cocktails
On weekends, diners can get pleasure from a brunch from this Rex Hospitality restaurant’s Sawyer Yards location. Begin the go to with an order of oysters topped with refreshing aguachile granita and purple wine shallots, and for a kick, dig into the Maven’s Caesar cups hands-first. Brunch warriors will benefit from the entrées, which embody diner-favorites, like chilaquiles, lobster rolls, steak and eggs, and avocado toast with a poached egg and bean sprouts. These in want of caffeine do not need to alternate with the booze. Get one of the best of each worlds with a carajillo or a shakerato made with Maven’s chilly brew.
Brunch hours: Weekends from 10am–2pm
Mayahuel
See what a brunch in Mexico Metropolis is like at this new restaurant from Netflix-famous chef Luis Robledo Richards and Culinary Khancepts (Liberty Kitchen, State Fare Kitchen & Bar, and Leo’s). The weekend menu boasts breakfast pastries with jams and butter, parfaits, and recent fruit plates, plus hearty dishes, equivalent to chilaquiles verdes, enfrijoladas de pollo (hen enchiladas dipped in a creamy bean-based sauce), and Mexico Metropolis–type eggs Benedict with ham, avocado, and salsa roja hollandaise. Tequila lovers can seize a cocktail from the restaurant’s agave bar. Its drink menu incorporates a particular record of authentic cocktails divided into two sections—one with lighter, refreshing flavors, and the opposite with heavier and smokier tastes.
Brunch hours: 10am–3pm
Mo’ Brunch + Brews
Nice tunes and even higher meals kind the cornerstone of this Museum District vinyl store–brunch spot hybrid. With a very vegan menu, a chill soundtrack, and a collection of can’t-miss mimosas, Mo’ Brunch + Brews is beloved in Houston’s brunch scene. The “hen”-fried ’shrooms served with grits or a buttery waffle is the dish that retains individuals coming again. Diners who’re additional curious (or grasping) can order dishes as flights or with the selection to strive it with totally different toppings, like sizzling honey, cajun remoulade, and cajun cream sauce. Craving one thing lighter? Strive the Johnny Nash candy potato hash—kale, quinoa, black beans, and avocado with a drizzle of cilantro lemon French dressing.
Okto
This Mediterranean restaurant from Doris Hospitality has made waves throughout Houston, with diners avidly posting about its Sunday brunch on social media. From 11am to 3pm, Houstonians can cease in for a chew of its heat Frena, a Moroccan bread served with pistachio butter, olives, and pickled peppers; octopus carpaccio; ricotta toast; and potato apple latke with salmon and confit egg yolk. Cocktails (or mocktails), listed here are important, so discover one thing to sip. You possibly can’t go fallacious with an aperol spritz or an espresso martini.
Brunch hours: Sundays from 11am–3pm
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Pondicheri
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A contemporary twist on Indian delicacies, Pondicheri boasts a fantastically appointed eating room and patio that appears prefer it was constructed for brunch. The restaurant cooks up an array of breakfast dishes just like the railway omelet made with greens or carrot paratha, French toast, and a kerala egg stew. If the Bake Lab is extra your pace, strive a chai pie or mango mousse cake, which pair properly with the masala chai and madras espresso. Bonus: The restaurant and Bake Lab accomodate all diets, making it a main spot for vegetarians, vegans, and people avoiding gluten.
Superica
When searching for immaculate vibes and large pancakes, look no additional than Superica. This Heights restaurant by chef Ford Fry has turn into a mainstay through the years, with a easy brunch menu that is simply considered one of Houstonia’s high favorites. Right here, diners can select from Tex-Mex breakfast plates like huevos rancheros, chilaquiles divorciados made with purple and inexperienced chile sauce, and migas, and drinks, together with agua frescas, cocktails, and occasional. As talked about, the pancakes aren’t any joke, so save room.
Brunch hours: Weekends from 10am–3pm
The Breakfast Klub
The perpetual line snaking out of the Breakfast Klub’s door stands as a testomony to this Houston powerhouse’s dedication to high quality. Don’t fear, although—heaters are offered for the queue when it’s chilly, water when it’s sizzling, and generally there are bouncy castles and native distributors to maintain you occupied whilst you wait. The Breakfast Klub’s Wings and Waffle meal is usually thought-about among the best within the metropolis. Should you desire seafood, the Katfish and Grits meal deserves simply as a lot love. Acquired a time crunch? Make sure to present up early earlier than the restaurant opens at 8am on weekends.
