Snap a photo with the big bunny himself

21 egg-cellent Houston restaurants serving bountiful Easter brunches

The Annie Cafe is one of many Houston restaurants with Easter Sunday specials for patrons.

Kirsten Gilliam

The Easter Bunny is on its way, and Houston restaurants are ready. The springtime holiday is an ideal time to sample brunch at dinner-only establishments like Turner’s Cut and Leo’s River Oaks. Or opt for more family-friendly favorites such as Dandelion Cafe or Hungry’s. If snagging a snapshot with the Easter Bunny is a must, there are several locales hosting the folkloric figure. Just don’t wait — Easter reservations go fast!

Annabelle Brasserie
Diners will discover that Annabelle Brasserie’s already dramatic decor is on trend with the addition of an Easter egg canopy and bunnies. The restaurant’s signature menus will be available alongside special holiday dishes: filet and eggs with béarnaise sauce ($62) and crab bagel benedict ($35). Brunch is from 9 am-3 pm.

The Annie Cafe and Bar
This Uptown destination is expanding its brunch menu for Easter with a braised short rib benedict ($44) with smoked cheddar and béarnaise sauce and roasted prime rib ($72) with a roasted shallot sauce. Standards such as the brioche French toast ($23) will be available. Brunch is served from 11 am-3pm.

The Audrey Restaurant and Bar
Gather at this Woodlands restaurant for a three-course, prix fixe menu featuring crab avocado toast, filet benedict, and white chocolate bread pudding. The prix fixe menu is $53 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under. Brunch is from 9 am-3 pm, and reservations are highly encouraged.

Brennan’s of Houston
The Houston mainstay is marking the holiday in three unique ways. From 9:30 am -1 pm on Friday, April 18, patrons can secure a photo with the Easter Bunny and savor a three-course brunch. Then, on Saturday, live bunnies will be visiting from Boling Bunny Farms, with brunch served from 11 am-2 pm. On Easter Sunday from 10 am-4:30 pm, patrons can enjoy a three-course meal featuring seasonal Creole cuisine for $75 per person.

Buttermilk Baby
For a vibrant, sweet treat, head to Buttermilk Baby in M-K-T. The quirky diner is serving a Peep-tastic shake ($10/16oz, $8.50/12oz) that blends green coconut "grass," yellow vanilla ice cream, and marshmallow flavor before being topped with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a yellow Peep. On Friday, April 18, patrons can say hello and snap a photo with the Easter Bunny from 4-7 pm.

Dandelion Cafe
The breakfast hotspot’s carrot cake pancakes are back for the season, along with a new strawberry milk, shaken with housemade strawberry jam. Diners can choose between two special coffee creations: a honeysuckle latte (honey, vanilla, and espresso) and a Peep latte with marshmallow syrup and topped with edible glitter, sugar, and a squishy Peep. The special menu items are available at Dandelion Cafe’s two locations in Bellaire and the Heights.

Duck N Bao
Toast to the holiday at Duck N Bao with its Chubby Bunny cocktail ($12). The concoction consists of two kinds of rum, chocolate, and condensed milk — delivered in a charmingly festive bunny cup.

Gatlin's Fins & Feathers
Get a little Southern comfort at this restaurant in Independence Heights. The menu includes biscuits, "everything" gumbo with both seafood and chicken, blackened catfish, and wings & hoecakes. Brunch is served from 10:30 am-3:30 pm.

Guard and Grace
The downtown steakhouse is opening its doors for brunch on Easter Sunday with a holiday menu. Highlights include warm monkey bread, pigs in a blanket, Maine lobster benedict, wagyu hanger steak and eggs, and duck confit scramble. Brunch will be served between 10:30 am-3 pm.

Hugo’s
Enjoy the restaurant’s renowned Sunday brunch buffet from 10 am-3 pm on Easter Sunday. New seasonal items, a carving station, and specialty Easter desserts will be included for the day. Viento, Hugo’s house band, will entertain patrons from 11 am-2 pm. The brunch is $55 per adult and $15 per child.

Hungry’s
The Easter Bunny is making a stop at Hungry’s three locations from 11 am-2 pm on Easter Sunday. Patrons can submit a priority seating request for their preferred location.

Juliet
Nothing says a family meal like a brunch buffet. Juliet’s upscale buffet includes a build-your-own-omelet station, cinnamon rolls, and carving stations with salmon and filet mignon. Younger diners will find kid-friendly options such as chicken tenders, French toast, waffles, and scrambled eggs. Easter brunch is served from 11 am-4 pm and costs $50 for adults, $30 for kids 5-12, and free for children under 5.

KP's Kitchen
Both locations of the comfort food restaurant will feature customer favorites such as smoked salmon avocado toast, fish and grits (with local redfish), pan-seared branzino, and red wine-braised short ribs. At dinner, the restaurant will serve its Sunday special fried chicken platter and $12 burgers from 4-8 pm.

Leo’s River Oaks
The newly named Best New Restaurant at the 2025 Tastemaker Awards is gracing patrons with extra hours on Sunday. Leo’s River Oaks is open from 10 am-8 pm on Easter, with a $70 three-course, prix-fixe brunch menu. Options include a crab cake benedict with Old Bay hollandaise sauce and French toast bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and toasted hazelnuts.

Local Table
Still need a photo with the Easter Bunny? See the white fluffy creature from 11 am-2 pm at Local Table locations. Reservations are suggested.

The Marigold Club
The French-inspired establishment is hosting a three-course Easter brunch with items including beef tartare, pancakes, croque madame, and sticky toffee for $85. A $30 kids menu has staples such as chicken tenders with fries, a pancake with fruit, and an egg and cheddar TMC muffin, with a dessert to finish.

State Fare Kitchen & Bar
The Texas comfort food restaurant will have a festive atmosphere on Easter Sunday. Patrons can choose between $60 brunch boards laden with jalapeño & cheddar croissant kolaches, Fruity Pebble waffles, and shrimp deviled Easter eggs. It all begins at 8 am, before the fun amps up from 11 am-4 pm with live music at the Memorial City patio and a balloon artist at the Sugar Land outpost.

The Sunrise House
Get an early start at the Sunrise House. The Montrose brunch spot is open from 7 am-4 pm on Easter Sunday, with a promised visit from the Easter Bunny and a photo booth.

Toro Toro at the Four Seasons Houston
As it always does on major holidays, the Latin-inspired steakhouse will serve a decadent Easter brunch buffet. Priced at $145 for adults and $65 for kids 12 and under, the spread includes a seafood and sushi station, a carving station, Texas charcuterie board, breakfast favorites, and a lavish dessert spread. Brunch is served from 11 am-3 pm and reservations are required.

Traveler’s Table
It’s a weekend celebration at Traveler’s Table, with brunch specials offered from 10 am-2:30 pm., April 18 through April 20. The menu consists of truffled easter eggs ($14), miniature lobster rolls ($19), grilled lamb lollipops ($28), and a strawberry matcha shortcake ($14), along with sips such as a peach bellini ($12) and a strawberry mojito ($14).

Turner’s Cut
Live music is on the menu at Turner’s Cut. Ben Berg’s luxurious steakhouse is opening at 11 am for Easter Sunday, with dishes such as a double lobster tail ($86) with yuzu fennel puree and a salmon tart ($24) pairing cherry and vodka-cured salmon with honey goat cheese. For a truly decadent celebration, opt for the beef short rib Wellington ($128) that is prepared tableside with prosciutto and carrot puree.

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Soup spoon season

10 Houston chefs share 15 top soups that offer comfort and sustenance

Photo by Louis Lamson Quy

Louis Lamson Quy, co-owner of Alora, is a loyal diner at Phanh Ky thanks to its Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang, which reminds him of his hometown, Saigon.

Happy soup season to all who celebrate. The weather has finally dipped low enough in Houston that diners can enjoy a hearty bowl of soup without breaking a sweat. With so many delicious selections at Houston restaurants, we turned to Houston's chef and other restaurant industry experts to find out which brothy creations are worth seeking out.

The only rule? No one could nominate a soup from their own restaurant. Here’s what they had to say.

Dana East, line cook, Uchi Houston

To Dana East of Uchi Houston, the caldo de res at Ruchi Mexican Grille’s Reliant Stadium location “feels like home to me… Even though I’m not Mexican.”

“The caldo de res at that specific Ruchi's tastes like it was made in a Mexican grandmother's kitchen, or like soups that I would eat for family meal that kitchens I work in would make when everybody is sick during the winter,” she says.

East also recommends the Bogotano at Mi Pueblito, a soup made with three kinds of potatoes that she says “imbue a smoky flavor in it that is borderline addictive.”

“I could eat an entire pot of that stuff,” she says. “They serve it with fresh cream and capers that take it to the next level.”

Garrett Rice, owner, Bayou Butchers

The cream of crab soup at Loch Bar is a highlight that Garrett Rice of Bayou Butchers looks forward to after work.

“It’s a simple dish that lets a really good ingredient shine, and they certainly don’t shy away from the crab in true Baltimore fashion,” Rice says. “With Loch Bar’s kitchen open late, I can always count on a cup of crab soup waiting for me after a long shift.”

German Mosquera, executive chef, Long Weekend

When German Mosquera of Long Weekend wants ramen, he heads to Mensho, the Japan-based chain that just opened its second Houston-area location on the border of River Oaks and Montrose.

“For me, it’s all about the broth,” he says. “Mensho’s tori paitan has a rich, velvety texture and incredible umami flavor from start to finish. The perfectly jammy egg adds another layer of richness that keeps me coming back. I also love the intimate Tokyo-style counter seating. It makes for an authentic ramen experience.”

Kerry Pauly, owner, KP’s Kitchen

The matzo ball soup at Kenny and Ziggy’s is “in a league of its own,” according to Kerry Pauly of KP’s Kitchen. He describes it as “rich, flavorful, and pure comfort whether you’re sick or feeling great.”

Louis Lamson Quy, co-owner, Alora

“My favorite go-to spot for soup has always been Phanh Ky,” says Louis Lamson Quy of Alora, a Peruvian-Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Montrose. “They specialize in hủ tiếu nam vang, a noodle dish with roots tracing back to Teochew Chinese immigrants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It’s also one of the most popular noodle dishes in my hometown, Saigon, so it always feels a little like home to me.

“To me, Phanh Ky is one of the OGs in the game,” he adds. “I first tried it when I moved to Houston nine years ago, and I’ve been coming back ever since. There’s just something comforting about a place that stays consistent after all these years.”

Maria Christie, operator and general manager, Christie’s Seafood and Steaks

“I love, love the lemon chicken soup at Harry’s,” says Maria Christie of Christie’s Seafood and Steaks. "For me the soup at Harry’s reminds me of the way my mom would make the lemon soup.”

“And the lentil soup (at Anonymous Cafe) is really hearty and it just reminds me of cold winter days (whenever we get those in Houston!),” she adds. “It’s absolutely perfect because it has a hint of tomato in it. Deeeelicious!”

Her sister, Kathy Christie, who serves as Christie's director of catering, is a fan of Little Pappasito's chicken tortilla soup. “Whenever you are under the weather, it totally hits the spot,” Kathy says. She adds extra lime to hers.

Nicole Routhier, partner and culinary ambassador, Le Colonial

The bun bo hue at Pho Quynh, a small Vietnamese restaurant located inside 99 Ranch Market, is a year round must for Nicole Routhier of Le Colonial.

“Their spicy, deeply flavorful broth is super comforting and among the best in town. The chef is generous with the noodles and toppings of tender beef brisket, pork shank, gio Hue (steamed pork sausage with black peppercorns), and blood pudding. The soup comes with a side of shaved cabbage, crunchy bean sprouts, Vietnamese mint (rau ram), and a wedge of lime to be added to the soup as you eat. Two tiny containers of fermented shrimp sauce (mam tom) and spicy chili oil are also provided so you can add even more umami to the soup,” Routhier says. “Bun bo hue is a full meal on its own, and my idea of heaven in a bowl.”

Oscar Juarez, founder and owner, Make It Nice Hospitality

The pozole verde at Cuchara is a simple and flavorful dish that private chef Oscar Juarez of Make It Nice Hospitality says he would recommend to anyone.

“The broth has a nice balance of richness and acidity, and it’s just one of those dishes that’s comforting without being too heavy,” Juarez says. “Growing up with Mexican food, I have a real appreciation for dishes like this.”

Rafael Nasr, founder, Craft Pita

Rafael Nasr of Craft Pita says he has “a burning passion for North China’s sizzling rice soup.”

He describes it as an intensely flavored, crystal-clear broth with bits of pork and tiny shrimp to fill you up.

“The carrot, napa cabbage, and wood ear mushrooms add umami and I am convinced have healing powers,” he says. “The flash fried rice adds texture and flavor at the same time and whether served table side or at home provide dinner and a show. I eat this soup and talk about it more than any soup in Houston.”

Nasr’s pro tip: Add a bit of soy sauce and lots of North China’s housemade green chili oil to the soup.

Ziggy Gruber, chef and owner, Kenny & Ziggy’s

Ziggy Gruber of Kenny & Ziggy’s has a couple of favorite soups in town, which isn’t surprising since his own deli is known for its bowl selection. Among his favorites is the clam chowder at Capital Grille, which he says captures the true flavor of the East Coast with plenty of clams and just the right amount of thyme.

He also loves the French onion soup at Etoile Cuisine et Bar.

“The stock is very rich and the onions are extracted so the flavor is permeated throughout the soup. I like that it has multiple croutons rather than one crouton in the soup,” he says. “And then the cheese on top!”

Another top pick for Ziggy is the tortilla soup at Grace’s.“It is complicated in such a good way, with the crunchy bits of tortillas and chicken skin, with the coolness of the avocado, and it has just the right amount of spice,” he says.

$Phanh Ky H\u1ee7 Ti\u1ebfu Nam Vang,$

Photo by Louis Lamson Quy

Louis Lamson Quy, co-owner of Alora, is a loyal diner at Phanh Ky thanks to its Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang, which reminds him of his hometown, Saigon.

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