The 11 Best Brunches on Austin's Eastside

There are few brunches that are almost more beautiful than they are tasty, but at Launderette, your eyes are in for as much of a treat as your stomach. Originally conceived as a cozy neighborhood diner, word quickly got out about the food and suddenly, people were flocking from all corners of the city to try Laura Sawicki’s handmade treats, alongside brunch burgers and sunshine bowls.

Coming to Eden East for brunch is like taking a ride out to the countryside to enjoy fresh air and sunshine with even fresher food. This restaurant is located on a five-acre farm, where chickens roam, bees buzz, and plants blossom before they end up on your plate. The farm never offers their menu until the day before, but you can be almost certain that you’ll love every bite no matter what it is.

Yellow Jacket stands out from other bars in the area because it’s a popular hangout during all hours of the day. The social club is especially bustling during weekend brunch, where visitors are known to enjoy frittata, French toast, mimosas, and Bloody Marys. The patio is inviting, with twinkle lights strewn in between the branches of hovering trees. Although this area has a classic vibe to it, other parts of Yellow Jacket are a little edgier; the bathrooms are known for their funky graffiti. If you’re searching for good food, good prices, and good drinks, then Yellow Jacket Social Club is definitely a must-visit.

Whether it’s free yoga on weekday mornings at 8 a.m. or free children’s songs on Sunday mornings, there is always a free activity at Cherrywood Coffeehouse. This community coffee shop serves up burgers, breakfast tacos, and Cajun favorites. With so many activities happening throughout the day (often, there will be impromptu board game nights), part of the fun includes the seamless transition between coffee and beer hour, which seem to flow together.

Eclectic American food can be found at this neighborhood hangout. You will enjoy the Brussels sprouts with peanut butter and sambal. Roasted pork jowl never disappoints in a rice bowl over egg, avocado, and cucumber. On weekends, come for brunch with grit waffles, boudin hash, and smoked red fish hash over crostini.

La Holly may be the new kid on the block, but it is certainly shaking things up in a big way. Although La Holly itself is a bar, there is a food truck court right outside, where patrons can choose between tacos and Thai food, depending on their mood. This choice, however, makes brunch into an event rather than just a meal. In fact, the owner of Taco Flats is also the new owner of La Holly, so you know the food will be great. For National Brunch Day on June 11, La Holly offered a special breakfast “sammie.” The sammie featured a sausage patty made with Chameleon’s whole bean coffee and ground spices, soft scrambled eggs, and American cheese, topped with Chameleon’s cold-brew concentrate and mixed with maple syrup. Yum.

Coffee and pastries are two peas in a pod. Whether you’re enjoying them for brunch or lunch, at Café Nena’i, don’t expect your traditional offerings. Instead, get excited for South American drinks and pastries that pack a powerful punch of flavor and caffeine.

Rudy “Cisco” Cisneros founded this restaurant in 1948, and in the 70 years since it has been open, Rudy and his sons have continued to run the restaurant. Cisco’s is as authentic as they come, with not much changing from when they first opened their doors 70 years ago. They’re known for their migas taco and fresh homemade biscuits. It’s a casual place that has a lot of personality.

Counter Café has been around since 2006 and has even expanded to East Austin because of its popularity. The original location sits on the edge of Clarksville. It’s “traditional American diner” meets “conscious dining experience.” The café focuses on dishes made from fresh, local, and organic foods. It offers American classics like biscuits and gravy and less traditional items like polenta fried oysters. The restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch, making it a hotspot with a wait on the weekends.

Bunch here is buffet-style and requires you to wait in a snaking line. For once, however, that’s a welcome task. The décor at Grizzelda’s is 1950s Miami meets the Yucatan Peninsula, with aqua and sunshine yellow sharing space with bold motifs and crystal coupes. You may not find yourself able to take your eyes away from the colorful cacophony as you help yourself to Mexican staples like black beans, rice, chiquachiles, and ceviche.

Who wouldn’t want bao for brunch? This Chinese-American restaurant reimagines American breakfast staples like bacon and eggs and puts them in a Chinese setting. The result is a delightful mélange of cultures and a tasty brunch.