Brian Nagele
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and it’s hard to argue that sentiment, especially after you’ve had brunch here. From classics like eggs benedict and avocado toast to Texas-sized barbecue plates, monster steaks, and so much more, Houston has something for everyone. With so many amazing options in the area, trying to pick a brunch spot in Houston is a real challenge.
You could throw a dart at a map of Houston, and you’d be within 100 feet of a dozen different delicious brunch restaurants. So how are you supposed to choose? That’s where we come in. We’ve eaten our way through Houston and checked out every brunch restaurant in town. Read on as we cover everything you need to know about the best brunch in Houston.
Brennan’s of Houston
3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 713-522-9711
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Located in the heart of historic Midtown Houston, Brennan’s is a classic creole restaurant that nails the upscale vibe without the stuffiness or pretension that’s so common at your typical “dress code restaurant.” Brennan’s opened in 1967 as a sister restaurant to New Orleans’s iconic Commanders. For over 50 years, they’ve been dishing up inventive fare that leans heavily on the creole traditions of Louisiana. While dinner is a must at Brennan’s, it’s somehow overshadowed by their incredible weekend brunch. Enjoy jazz in the courtyard as you dine on one of Brennan’s signature dishes, like their buttermilk-fried quail beignet or Eggs Brennan. Brennan’s also offers several excellent prix-fixe options for brunch, which include your choice of soup or salad, entree, and dessert.
Hugo’s
1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 713-524-7744
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The legendary home of chef Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s is a unique Mexican eatery that manages to elevate the amazing flavors of traditional Mexican cooking. Ortega has cemented himself as one of America’s finest chefs, and he has the hardware to prove it, taking home top honors in the best chef category in the 2017 James Beard Awards. Nestled in the heart of Houston’s Montrose district, Hugo’s serves brunch every weekend until 3 pm. You’ll find a curated selection of Mexican classics on the menu, including a few that are to die for, like Lechon, grilled octopus, and birria tacos. Hugo’s is also home to one of the most inventive cocktail programs and a wine list that’s beyond reproach. While sommelier Chris Beck took first place for Best Wine List according to Houston Press, the single barrel old-fashioned may be the tastiest beverage you’ll find here.
a’Bouzy
2300 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098
Phone: 713-722-6899
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Champagne, anyone? If you have your heart set on mimosas, a’Bouzy could be the perfect brunch destination for your crew. You’ll find this French-inspired restaurant on Westheimer next to the French Gourmet Bakery in Houston’s Westmoreland neighborhood. a’Bouzy’s wine and champagne list is so expansive; it’s easy to forget they serve up delicious food, as well. The menu has a distinct French lean, with classics like eggs Provencal and an onion and bacon tartine which is to die for. You’ll also find the occasional Texas classic, like chicken fried steak and eggs. Beyond their standard brunch menu, a’Bouzy also offers a fun option for group get-togethers, the Prosecco Picnic. If you’re in the mood for some prosecco and a light lunch, your group will receive a charcuterie board, house pastries and croissant service, house-cured gravlax, and all the accouterments you’ll need for a perfect brunch in the sun. The best part? You’ll receive a bottle of prosecco for every three guests in attendance!
Squable
632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
Phone: 832-834-7362
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A hidden gem that’s off the beaten path in northwest Houston, Squable is a quiet and unassuming spot that’s perfect for a quiet brunch. You’ll find Squable on 19th street between North Shepherd Drive and Lawrence Street. Squable’s menu is small but refined, with can’t miss items like oyster mushroom hash and spicy fried hen. But, if there’s one dish you absolutely must try at brunch, it’s their burger. At the intersection where Texas and France collide, this monster burger features a stout-infused patty with raclette cheese, lardons, a fried egg, and dijonaise. C’est Magnifique! Don’t forget to enjoy one of Squable’s inventive brunch cocktails while you’re here, like the Texa-find bloody mary with tomatillo and green chile vodka.
Dish Society
Multiple locations
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Voted Best Brunch in Texas by USA Today, Dish Society has grown to include five locations in Houston and another in Katy. This humble spot seamlessly meshes a farm-to-table ethos with the ease and simplicity of your favorite diner. While Dish Society is an excellent choice for any meal, their brunch is a can’t miss experience. Dish Society works with some of the most notable farms and producers throughout Texas, and virtually everything they serve is sourced from one of these local businesses. The brunch menu has heavy breakfast leanings, so you’ll be able to scratch that itch for classics like Nutella French toast and avocado toast. But perhaps the best items on the list are those that show a bit more of that big Texas personality. Don’t miss the brisket and eggs or the Houston hot chicken sandwich. Beyond the food, Dish Society also offers an excellent selection of local beers, and most locations offer a full bar with inventive cocktails.
Common Bond Cafe
1706 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 713-529-3535
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If you’re anything like us, you don’t think brunch should be confined to a few finite hours on the weekends. The folks at Common Bond Cafe feel similarly, which is why they’re serving up brunch from open ‘til close on the weekends at each of their four bistro locations, including our favorite in the heart of the Montrose district at the corner of Westheimer and Dunlavy. Common Bond has a decidedly french lean to their cooking, and their savory dishes are the perfect thing to kick off a weekend. You’ll find plenty of light fare, like bacon and avocado toast, zucchini tart, and inventive salads. But if you ask me, nothing hits the spot at Common Bond Cafe quite like their classic Hot Brown (even if it clogs an artery or two.) Each Common Bond location also features a bakery that can’t be missed, so plan on leaving with a few extras to enjoy later on.
Lucille’s
5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: 713-568-2505
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Nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic museum district, you’ll find Lucille’s, which serves as Chef Chris Williams’ love letter to one of the most influential culinary minds of the American south, Lucille B. Smith. Ms. Smith was many things throughout her prolific life, but she is perhaps best known for her iconic cookbook, Lucille’s Treasure Chest of Fine Foods. With those recipes as his inspiration, Chef Williams dishes up some of the finest food in Houston proper, and while lunch and dinner are to be experienced here, their brunch is truly second to none. The brunch menu offers hit after hit, with standouts like an oxtail omelet, catfish and grits, and an amazing take on baked macaroni and cheese. If you’re in the mood to put a couple back, Lucille’s also offers one of the best cocktail menus in the city, and of course, plenty of mimosas.
Superica
1801 N Shepherd Dr #B, Houston, TX 77008
Phone: 713-955-3215
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When it comes to iconic Tex-Mex eateries, Superica should be atop every list. Despite its Texas-steeped heritage, Superica comes to us by way of Atlanta, and you’ll find Superica outposts throughout Georgia, with additional locations in Charlotte and Nashville. Houston’s iconic location shares a building with the eatery La Lucha on the corner of 18th and North Shepherd. Superica’s menu is a master class in Tex-Mex fusion, with classics like queso fundito, chile Relleno Verde, and Carne Guisada, and much more. For brunch, Superica offers up a few Mexican classics like huevos rancheros and tamales and eggs. The cocktail menu is quite short, but you’ll be able to score a mimosa or sangria here. There’s also my personal favorite, the Vampire Weekend, which blends spicy Kraken rum with Mexican Horchata.
The Breakfast Klub
3711 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-528-8561
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On the corner of Travis and Alabama, you’ll find Chef Marcus Davis’ The Breakfast Klub, a family-friendly breakfast and lunch spot that’s perfect for a quick brunch bite on the weekends. The menu is chock full of southern classics, like catfish and grits, wings and waffles, and pork chops and eggs. Beyond breakfast items, there’s also a nice selection of sandwiches and salads and a la carte items that you can add to any entree you wish. If you’re planning on joining the Klub, you’ll want to show up early, as the line for breakfast often stretches around the entire building. It turns out we aren’t the only ones excited about this place, Chef Marcus Davis and his iconic eateries have been featured on Good Morning America, and he’s also appearing in USA Today, Esquire, and Forbes.
State of Grace
3258 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098
Phone: 832-942-5080
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Another outpost from famed chef Ford Fry, State of Grace, joins another of Fry’s Houston restaurants, Superica, on our best of brunch list. Here, Fry dishes up a menu that’s one part classic, one part Texas, and one part culinary genius. On the brunch menu, you’ll find southern classics like blue crab hushpuppies, beignets, gumbo alongside inventive fare like roasted octopus, crawfish enchiladas, and a down-home southern take on the Maghrebi staple, shakshuka.
Grace’s On Kirby
3111 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098
Phone: 713-728-6410
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In the heart of Westmoreland lies another Johnny Carrabba production, this one an homage to his late grandmother. Johnny honors her memory by serving up food that’s one part comfort, one part inventive, and all parts delicious. Grace’s On Kirby is well worth the trip for lunch or dinner, but they offer an unbeatable brunch on the weekends. Everything on the menu is to die for, but we recommend indulging your sweet tooth with a frozen mimosa and the Bananas Foster pancakes.
Xochi
1777 Walker St, Houston, TX 77010
Phone: 713-400-3330
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Another gem from the mind of Chef Hugo Ortega and beverage director Sean Beck, Xochi explores the rich culture and traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico. This beautifully styled outpost is in the heart of downtown Houston, a few blocks south of the home of the Astros. Good luck trying to narrow the menu, as each item sounds more appetizing than the one before it. The more you learn about the food of Oaxaca, the more you want to know. If you’re up for suggestions, the memela y huevos and bistec con huevos are life-changing, especially when paired with something from the classically Mexican cocktail menu.
Caracol Restaurant
2200 Post Oak Blvd #160, Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 713-622-9996
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Just west of the 610 lies a trendy haunt from none other than Chef Hugo Ortega, with this restaurant exploring the flavors of coastal Mexico. The restaurant itself is a work of art, with original art from Charley Harper. Caracol offers an excellent brunch menu, with plenty of bright seafood dishes, a raw bar, and classic Mexican cocktails. If you can make it during the week, they also offer one of Houston’s best happy hours.
Eunice
3737 Buffalo Speedway Suite 100, Houston, TX 77098
Phone: 832-491-1717
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On the ground floor of the Buffalo Speedway’s 3737 Building, Eunice is a must-try for fans of Creole and Southern cuisine. Inside, you’ll find a coastal-inspired dining room that’s perfect for brunch, dinner, and special occasions. Eunice offers a raw bar, a selection of southern seafood dishes, and an excellent selection of classic cocktails to pair them with.
Backstreet Cafe
1103 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019
Phone: 713-521-2239
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This legendary Hyde Park outpost has been a neighborhood favorite for nearly 40 years. Now under the direction of the famed Hugo Ortega, Backstreet Cafe dishes out updated fare while still paying tribute to the Backstreet Cafe’s roots. Backstreet Cafe offers a varied menu that skews towards the lunch side of brunch, so it’s the perfect spot when you aren’t in the mood for pancakes and mimosas.
UB Preserv
1609 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 346-406-5923
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In an unassuming shopping center in the center of Montrose, you’ll find UB Preserv, a wooded enclave that dishes up some of Houston’s best cocktails, and an excellent brunch on the weekends. The brunch menu at this James Beard award-winning spot seamlessly blends a healthy dose of Texas sensibilities with an Asian flair, which is a welcomed change of pace from many of Houston’s other excellent brunch destinations.
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Multiple locations
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A national breakfast sensation with locations from coast to coast, Snooze is the perfect spot for breakfast and lunch, especially if you’re in the mood for breakfast fare. Snooze has a decidedly vintage vibe that harks back to the classic diners of the golden era. Snooze is also a spot you can feel good about dining at; they recycle or compost more than 90% of their kitchen waste, making them perhaps the greenest restaurant in Houston.
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations
4310 Westheimer Rd #150, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: 281-501-1187
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Located in Houston’s upscale Afton Oaks neighborhood sits Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, a whiskey-soaked tribute to new American cuisine through the lens of Texas. Bosscat is the perfect place when you want to undo your belt and chow down. Sure, there’s some healthier fare on the menu, but I find myself opting for pure excess every time I’m here. Grab a burger with a duck-fat fried egg on a glazed donut. Have some totchos doused in chorizo and cheese. Anything goes at Bosscat.
Weights & Measures
2808 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: 713-654-1970
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This casual spot in Houston’s Midtown district is a popular haunt at all times of the day, and they’re hands down the best spot for brunch in this part of the city. Weights & Measures offers an expansive menu of breakfast classics, their famous fried chicken and french toast, and some heartier lunch items to go with an excellent cocktail menu. You’ll also find an inventive selection of classic Neapolitan-style pizzas and even a kids’ menu.
Tiny Boxwoods
3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: 713-622-4224
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This neighborhood eatery just south of River Oaks Park has been serving up some of the best food in Houston for a decade, and brunch might be the best reason to visit Tiny Boxwoods. The brunch menu skews towards the breakfast side of things, but there’s also some heartier fare. Their inventive avocado toast, which features cold-smoked salmon and sundried tomatoes, is my go-to. Whatever you order, be sure to save room for Tiny’s world-famous cookies.
MAX’s Wine Dive
Multiple locations
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With two locations in Houston and a third in San Antonio, MAX’s Wine Dive is slowly making its mark on the landscape of south Texas. If you’re looking for some heartier brunch fare, this is the perfect spot for you. MAX’s is famous for its fried chicken, but the brunch menu also features plenty of southern classics and inventive entrees like honey butter chicken benedict and the mind-blowing chicken fried lobster tail. Did we mention there’s a build-your-own-mimosa menu?
