Warm weather is in the air. If your allergy medication holds up, you can see how the mimosas fare at the 15 best brunch spots in Houston! [Featured image: @sipsandstripes]
1. Hugo’s
Suffice to say that any top Houston brunch list wouldn’t be complete without a Hugo’s mention. Helmed by James Beard Award-winning Chef, Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s serves a delicious spread of authentic Mexican cuisine. From 11 am – 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, their brunch selections include a host of robustly flavorful options not limited to Huevos Rancheros, Ceviche, and Chile Relleno de Desayuno.
Our personal favorite is the Huarche de Puerco, a sizeable masa cake filled with slow-cooked pork, queso fresco, tomatillo salsa, rajas, crema, topped with a fried egg. It wouldn’t tequil-ya to compliment your meal with a margarita.
2. a’Bouzy
Pronounced “ah boozy”, brunch-goers at the sparkly, French-inspired bistro. With over 250 available champagnes, the bistro is more than ready to make your brunch bubbly.
Housed in a charming abode near Montrose, a’Bouzy offers a refined selection of brunch options to pair with your champagne of choice. Go full French with a plate of Pommes Frites and Egg or the Croque Madame, or opt for the classic Bagel and Lox. Any way you choose, brunch at a’Bouzy is sure to sparkle.
3. Lucille’s
Specializing in well-refined Southern Cuisine, Lucille’s is sure to satisfy all your palate’s savory brunch cravings. With brunch plates that include such options as Shrimp and Grits, Oxtail Omelette, Chicken Fried Steak, and Lobster Benedict, you’ll leave Lucille’s with your belly full and your soul content. Brunch is served from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
4. Squable
Run by hometowners, Bobby Huegel and Justin Yu, Squable is a stylish European-inspired bistro in the Heights. Their Sunday brunch menu features a mix of breads, small plates, and big plates.
Crowd favorites include their decadent Dutch Baby Pancake, roughly the size of a kiddie pool filled with maple butter and bacon, or on the savory side, the le brunch burger – a hearty beef patty poured over with raclette, bacon slabs, dijonaise, and egg.
5. Phil & Derek’s
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, Phil & Derek’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar offers visitors a taste of their cajun-spun brunch menu. Complete with southern comfort favorites, brunch-goers can venture with a gustatory trip to New Orleans with an order of their Gumbeaux, Voodoo Spring Rolls – fried spring rolls packed with spicy crawfish tails, andouille sausage, roasted corn, and Sriracha aioli sauce – or dive into a Seafood Platter.
6. The Breakfast Klub
While not a brunch spot, per sé, we’d be remiss not to mention The Breakfast Klub, one of our all-time favorite Houston eateries. Driving by the restaurant located in Montrose, one might be daunted by a line queuing at the front. In our experience, the line goes by sooner than you’d think. That said, even if the line were longer – the wait would be worth it.
Their two signature breakfast dishes are the katfish & grits and wings & waffle, the latter a cheeky twist on the brunch staple substituting chicken pieces with succulent wings. Trust us, any option off their menu is packed with rich flavor from the eggs, to the grits, to everything in between! Breakfast is served from 7 am to 2 pm daily.
7. Superica
Home is where the Tex-Mex is. In the Heights, you can find start your weekend right with a scrumptious Tex-Mex brunch at Superica. The no-frills menu offers a spicy collage of household names not excluding Huevos Rancheros, Tamales & Eggs, Migas, and Steak & Eggs. Their Texas-sized Hot Cakes are nothing to sleep on either. When the sun’s out, be sure to refresh yourself with their Sangria de Dia.
8. Bosscat Kitchen & Libations
Don’t give in to the banality of growing up. Let your youth loose with a brunch burger made of chocolate donuts and Fruity Pebble French Toast at the Bosscat Kitchen & Libations.
Their playful brunch menu also features the intriguing Maui Meatloaf; “Tochos” — which are tater tots, Spanish chorizo, nacho cheese, jalapeno, with a fried egg; and Short Rib Chilaquiles.
9. Lola
Located in the Heights, Lola is a hip modern diner that serves breakfast all day long. With over 1,500 reviews on Google, it’s hard to say that this diner is overlooked. That said, we still believe that this diner deserves more recognition.
Before chicken and waffles became ubiquitous on brunch menus nationwide, Lola’s was one of the few places in town you could find the beloved dish — and dare we say they’ve perfected the recipe. Come autumn, we also recommend their Thanksgiving Sandwich, complete with stuffing, a few savory pieces of turkey, and a bed of wickedly sweet cranberry sauce.
10. Monkey’s Tail
Opened back in 2019, Monkey’s Tail in Lindale Park is primarily known as a craft cocktail bar and Tejano bar. In addition to their tantalizing libations behind the bar, Monkey’s Tail offers creative and wonderful brunch options. It’s relatively slim, but boy is it packed with goodness.
Just see their Huevos Rancheros Pizza – you heard us – or their Molletes, self-described as “basically tacos on a toasted bollilo instead of a tortilla, you’ll like it we promise”. Top off brunch with one of their Breadstick Churros make with housemade pizza dough served with chili chocolate sauce for a little extra kick!
11. Common Bond Brasserie & Bakery
Normalize pastries and cocktails – that’s what we say. Thankfully, there are multiple places in Houston where you can bring the best of worlds together. Recently, Common Bond Brasserie & Bakery opened another location in the Theater District, fit with an absolutely adorable interior and one, bubble gum-styled back dining room and bar.
12. The Annie Café & Bar
Located in the Galleria area, The Annie Café & Bar offers a sophisticated atmosphere complemented with flushed natural light, dappled greenery, coy corners, and a vibrant patio.
Headed by award-winning Executive Chef Robert Del Grande, their extensive brunch menu features coffee bites, oysters & shellfish, salads, starters, brunch specials, entrees, and sides. Featured brunch specials include French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, and the Lobster Omelet.
13. Snooze, an AM Eatery
With four locations in the Houston area, Snooze spreads the love throughout the city. Speaking of spreads, Snooze serves a vast, creative selection of plant-based dishes, omelettes, benedicts, pancakes, french toasts, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, tostadas, and sides. Additionally, Snooze offers a number of brunch libations including a tasty variety of mimosas.
14. Rosalie Italian Soul
Rosalie Italian Soul began in 2019 as a personal endeavor from Top Chef Masters’ winner Chef Chris Cosentino. Its name lends itself to Cosentino’s great-grandmother, whom Cosentino credits with inspiring his cooking career. Per the website, Rosalie Italian Soul offers a “fresh, upscale take on the beloved ‘immigrant cuisine’ that put Italian-American food on the map.”
In this way, their brunch menu puts an Italian-American spin on brunch. Available from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, their brunch menu features such options as Italian Bread Pudding Toast, Breakfast Polenta, and Whole Chicken Parm Burrata & Eggs.
15. The Hobbit Cafe
You don’t have to journey all the way out to Mordor to enliven your Tolkien-esque fantasies. Here in Houston, just southwest of Montrose is The Hobbit Café. Since 1972, the café has served all the hobbits, elves, wizards, and dwarves the best food Middle Earth, Houston has to offer.
Their brunch menu features a lair’s worth of delights, with such features as Beef Fajitas & Eggs, Smoked Turkey Benedict, Migas, as well as Peanut Butter, Gingerbread, Coconut Pancakes and more.