The best breakfast in Austin, according to a local

Whether you’re looking for a healthy meal to jumpstart your day, a midweek treat to satisfy your sweet tooth or a carb overload to nurse your hangover after a late night on Sixth Street, there’s an Austin breakfast restaurant for everyone. Don’t be surprised if there’s a queue — standing in line for food is a Texas pastime, and it is always worth the wait.

Keep reading for the best breakfast places in Austin to hit during your next visit.  

Some of the most sought-after pastries at Texas French Bread are the delicately sweet croissants baked daily in a variety of flavors from classic butter to orange marzipan. Originally located in a historic 1939 building, this family-owned bakery served Austinites for over 40 years before a devastating fire in 2022 temporarily shuttered the restaurant. During the rebuilding process, the business is operating out of an on-site vintage 1971 Airstream nestled under a giant oak in its garden space — where you can order breakfast and lunch. The daily offerings of Danishes, scones and other baked delights are first come, first served, so arrive early for the best selection.

Pancakes — blueberry, chocolate chip and cinnamon swirl — are the star of the made-from-scratch menu of this Austin icon. Kerbey Lane Cafe became an Austin staple the moment it opened its doors in 1980. Decades later, the all-day cafe is still family-owned and focuses on thoughtfully sourced ingredients from local independent farms.

In addition to pancakes, the cafe’s queso — a white blend of whole milk, American cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, onion and cilantro — is often voted the best in Austin. It’s so loved that the secret family recipe was sent to the moon on the SpaceX Falcon rocket in 2019 as part of a special project by the mayor. While the cafe’s original location has the most charm, there are six additional locations across the greater Austin area, from Round Rock to West Lake. 

One of the most heated debates among Austinites is where to find the best breakfast tacos in Austin. While there are many worthy contenders, one of the top taco joints is always Veracruz All Natural, founded in 2008 by two sisters from Veracruz, Mexico. The restaurant’s go-to breakfast taco is the migas, loaded with scrambled eggs, homemade tortilla chips, tomato, onion, cilantro, Monterey Jack cheese and avocado and served on a homemade corn tortilla. No matter where you are staying in Austin, one of their six locations will likely be nearby. 

The best spot for weekday brunch is this all-day cafe tucked inside the South Congress Hotel. It is easy to eat healthy with their honey Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries and granola, or the warm quinoa bowl served with a poached egg. However, it’s difficult to resist the temptation of their delectable freshly baked croissants and kouign-amann pastries. Pastry chef Chelsea Smith studied under James Beard semifinalist Amanda Rockman. Feel free to sleep in — brunch is served daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.  

Find it: Café No Sé, 1603 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704; 512-942-2061

The biscuits at Olamaie, an elevated Southern fare dinner-only restaurant in Judge Hill, were so in demand that owner Michael Fojtasek opened a biscuit-only shop called Little Ola’s in Wells Branch in North Austin. The square biscuits are sold individually or as a sandwich with a variety of toppings ranging from pimento cheese to spicy chicken. Salted honey butter, peach jam and smoked chicken salad are a few of the available spreads. If North Austin is too far to drive, the biscuits are available for takeaway daily downtown at Butler Pitch & Putt.

Texas isn’t synonymous with bagels, but this South Austin bagel shop is changing that notion. Founded by a New Jersey native, the restaurant serves up made-from-scratch authentic New York-style bagels baked in a specialty bagel oven made in Italy. Even the cream cheese is homemade with fresh fruits and vegetables.

The 14 types of bagels sold — ranging from cinnamon raisin to jalapeno cheddar — can be topped with 14 types of cream cheese including chocolate chip and Hatch pepper. Build your breakfast sandwich with a variety of meats (Taylor ham, bacon, corned beef, pastrami, turkey and Canadian bacon), cheese and eggs, all topped with your preferred cream cheese flavor. There are two locations, but only their South Austin location is open seven days a week.

Find it: Wholy Bagel, two Austin locations 

4404 W. William Cannon Drive, Austin, TX 78749; 512-899-0200
3637 Far West Blvd., Austin, TX 78731; 512-992-0003

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com.