Brunch in Houston: Patios, Biscuits and Where to Start

Brunch in Houston is a weekend habit with a Southern accent: biscuits, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, migas and a patio table when the weather allows. Houston is large and hot for much of the year, so pick a neighborhood, book a table if you can and aim for a time before the late-morning rush.

Many places serve brunch on weekends from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and patios fill early, so arrive at opening for an outdoor table.

What is brunch in Houston like?

Houston brunch is generous and relaxed. Menus mix Tex-Mex dishes such as chilaquiles and breakfast tacos with Southern plates like chicken and waffles, along with eggs benedict, pancakes and French toast. Many restaurants also serve brunch cocktails, and a few offer live music.

The scene is spread across the city, with clusters in Montrose, the Heights, Upper Kirby and River Oaks. Because Houston has few formal brunch districts, the choice of neighborhood is mostly about where you are staying or what else you want to do that day.

Which Houston brunch spots come up most often?

Houston's all-day cafes are the brunch icons, with menus that run from chicken and biscuits to migas and pancakes. Patios are the other draw: the prettiest ones fill first on a sunny weekend, and the family-friendly ones are the easy choice with children.

Brunch menus change often, so read the current one before you go.

A useful habit is to scan the menu for one dish that the kitchen clearly cares about, such as a house-made biscuit, a stone-ground grits plate or a seasonal fruit dish. That is usually where a Houston brunch kitchen puts its effort, and it tells you more than the length of the cocktail list. If the dish is good, the rest of the menu is likely to be as well.

Where are the best Houston brunch patios?

In Houston, a patio table is a seasonal pleasure. From late fall to early spring, the weather is mild enough to sit outside for hours, while summer calls for shade, fans and a short stay. Many restaurants have covered patios or misters, and some are dog friendly.

Ask when you book whether the patio is covered and whether you can reserve it. If you arrive without a reservation, expect to wait longer for an outdoor table, and keep a backup plan for rain.

What about Houston biscuits?

A good Southern biscuit is tall, flaky and buttery, and it should break apart without crumbling. In Houston, biscuits show up as sandwiches with bacon or fried chicken, as sides with gravy and as part of brunch plates with eggs. A biscuit with jam is often the best test of a kitchen.

If a menu lets you add a biscuit to your order, do. Share it. And do not skip the gravy if the restaurant makes its own. The rest of the plate is easy to match.

Try a biscuit two ways if you can: plain with butter and jam, and then as a sandwich. The plain one shows the baker's skill, and the sandwich shows how well the kitchen balances salt, fat and heat. A little honey butter on the side is a good sign.

Is Houston bottomless brunch worth it?

Many restaurants offer bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys for a set time with the purchase of an entree. They suit a long, social meal, but they can end up costing more than a regular drink order if you do not drink much. Read the terms before you order, because some places limit the length of the offer and require the whole table to take part.

If you prefer a quieter brunch, order coffee and a fresh juice, and save the cocktail for later. Weekend bottomless brunches are the busiest, so reserve ahead.

Where to try Houston Heights brunch

The Heights, north of downtown, has bungalows, antique shops and a long list of cafes. Brunch in the Heights is a walkable weekend plan: coffee in one place, a long meal in another and a stroll through the shops. Parking is tight on the busiest blocks, so arrive early.

For other Houston neighborhoods, see the Montrose guide, which covers a district with plenty of patios and brunch rooms.

How do weekend waits work?

The best-known brunch places often have waits of an hour or more between ten and one on Saturdays and Sundays. Some take reservations, some use waitlist apps and some are first come, first served. If you are in a group, send one person to put the name down and have the others join later.

The simplest way to avoid a wait is to arrive when a place opens or after 1:30 in the afternoon. A weekday brunch, where it is offered, is much quieter.

What else should you eat in Houston?

Brunch is one part of the city's food scene. For tacos, see best tacos in Houston, and for a Saturday morning market, the Houston farmers markets guide. The US guides page lists more cities.

Brunch is easier to remember when you take notes. In the Mosey app you can rate each plate, write down the biscuit and the patio and build a Houston brunch list for visitors.