The Rest of the Best: Houston's Top 5 Breakfasts

By Katharine Shilcutt Fri., Oct. 21 2011 at 7:00 AM

Photo by John Kiely

Cathead biscuits and breakfast served all day at our No. 1 spot.

For the next 20 weeks, we'll be rounding up the runners-up to our 2011 Best of Houston® winners. In many categories, picking each year's winner is no easy task. We'll be spotlighting 20 of those categories, in which the winner had hefty competition from other Houston bars and restaurants.

Mesquite-grilled catfish tastes great in a tortilla.

5. Goode Co. Taqueria

You've heard of Mexican breakfast; it's a Houston standard. This is Texican breakfast, a brilliant mashup of Texan favorites and Mexican classics, all finished off with a signature pecan waffle. Here, you can get venison sausage with your migas, or quail with your huevos motuleños. And you can even get a pretty peppy bloody mary to wash it all down. And with weather perking up, the mostly outdoor taqueria has never looked better.

Photo by Troy Fields

A bacon-filled quiche will start anyone's weekend right at Flora & Muse.

4. Flora & Muse

Flora & Muse is where I go when I want to pretend that I'm a fancy lady who doesn't spill things in her hair or drop four knives in the course of one meal, and that's for two reasons: The excellent breakfast food is served on elegant trays with equally elegant French press coffee service and beautiful glasses of bloody marys, and because Flora & Muse -- like me -- is not really fancy at all, deep in its cozy heart. It's like the grown-up version of a tea party here, which is endlessly charming. And whether you choose the lovely, plant-twined patio or one of the quirky dining rooms, you'll be charmed here over breakfast too.

Location Info

Venue

Map

The Tel-Wink Grill

4318 Telephone, Houston, TX

Category: Restaurant

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La Guadalupana Bakery and CafÃ©

2109 Dunlavy St., Houston, TX

Category: Restaurant

Fountain View Cafe

1842 Fountainview, Houston, TX

Category: Restaurant

Tags:

Best of Houston, breakfast, Tel-Wink Grill

We Recommend

redseashell

EVERY meal ive ever had at Goode Co. Taqueria has been cold. the other goode places are ok though.

It's hard to put Telwink and Guadalupana in the same league. Guadalupana's food is just bad. Flavorless is the only way to describe it. Telwink's waffles, fish & eggs and omelets are not to be missed!

H_e_x

Breakfast Klub shut out, once again.

Jim Washburn

I tried Breakfast Klub once. Over-easy eggs mangled. Awful grits, probably quick grits. Place is way overrated.

H_e_x

To each their own. I've never had a problem, so I can only speak for myself.

Jeff

Oh, it's great, if you don't mind waiting in line for two hours just to eat DECENT if not spectacular food. I drive by there nearly every day of the week and even on weekdays, the line is out the door. On weekends, forget it. No breakfast is worth me standing in the heat for an hour.

One of my favorite places is Frank's down on Telephone south of the loop. Little shit-hole diner, but they pile the food on the plate and it's always solid.

H_e_x

I've never waited more than 15 minutes in the shade with water. I like the food, but ill try your suggestion.

Nicholas L. Hall

Iguana Lupana! So pleased that her youthful malapropism has made it into Houston's culinary vernacular.

Katharine Shilcutt

That is the ONLY thing I call it anymore. Cheers to your [no doubt adorable] daughter.

Jim Washburn

Tel-Wink served me a omelet burned to a crisp. Never going back there. I've had many a delicious Mexican breakfast at Taquería Los Charros, both the one on Harrisburg and the one on Avenue J.

FattyFatBastard

I just went to Freebird's new brunch on Shepherd. Definitely worth trying. Breakfast runs you 5 bucks and drinks are 2 bucks.

Brian Poirier

I live about 2 miles from NY Bagels & Coffee: Best value for a full meal bfast during the week. Shoulda been on this list, it's one of my top 3.

Also for best Bfast Tacos try Cue's Burgers & More on S Post Oak. Best bang for the buck and they are HUGE.

I like Mama's also (heading there now for a late bfast), but am disappointed that they changed their skillet meals - no longer are they served sizzling on a metal platter with all the good grease and char.

H_e_x

God damn Cue's is some good ass shit. I love that place.

Theo Shu

I still don't get everyone's fascination with Fountain View Cafe, but well done on Tel-Wink. It's my cardiologist's worst nightmare.

KAC

My favorite breakfast taco's are at Larry's Mexican Restaurant in Richmond. I just wish I lived closer so I could go there more.

PattyT

I agree, Larry's breakfast is wonderful. Equally wonderful, out this way, is Eduardo's Mexican Restaurant in Stafford at Main & Murphy Rd. Try the breakfast plate that comes with eggs, bacon, refried beans, and potatoes. Their menudo is the best I've had, short of homemade.

Jessica

I think the best pancake in Houston is the blueberry pancake at Baby Barnaby's. And I've tasted the ones at Fountainview Cafe.

William Philpot

Breakfast is my favorite meal, and when I go out it's typically for a Mexican/Tex-Mex breakfast, everything else I like making myself.

So when I want breakfast tacos, no better place than El Ultimo. It's amazing. I've said it's amazing before, and I will say it again.

If I want something more I'll go to Arandas. They might be all over Houston, but a double order of the chorizo breakfast will fill you up after a late night. Plus it's cheap as dirt.

Eric S

The only place I'd like to see have made the top 5 is the New York Bagel and Coffee Shop on Hillcroft. Classic Jewish deli items served quickly and, compared to places like Katz's and Kenny and Ziggy's, very reasonably priced. Also, the best bagels in Houston, hands down.

Ken D.

best bagels in town, but the food is just not that good. My crappy small city up north has at least 5 places that do the luncheonette thing better.

And the challah at 3 brothers is miles better than from the bagel shop, or any other place in Houston for that matter

Cheflambo

Agreed, Eric. NYB&CS reminds me of home. And I seldom leave without their challah (which makes great french toast a few days later, when I am finally hungry again).

Mag

I used to go to Mama's Cafe for breakfast when I worked by the Galleria a few years ago. I think their breakfast tacos are still some of the best in town. I rarely eat out for breakfast these days unless I want pancakes. I know where I'm going tomorrow morning. Thanks for the tip!

FattyFatBastard

Mama's Huevos Hoffbrau is something every Houstonian needs to have once. At 4 a.m.

Mag

Hey Fatty, I agree but 4am...You are either an early riser or like to stay out late and those days of eating breakfast after a long night out at the bars are long over for me. Those hangovers hurt way too much these days!