Breakfast. The most important meal of the day.
In Austin, the breakfast talk of the town is the taco. But the kolache is one morning choice that deserves more love. Traditionally, these Czech kickstarters are recognized as sweet dough stuffed with a rainbow of fruit fillings, but fortunately, there aren’t many strict kolache qualifications. Us Central Texans celebrate and praise related versions with sausage, cheese, and other savory centers.
Trust us, these kolache shops are worth visiting, even if it means a drive in morning rush hour traffic.
(NOTE: For any and all self-professed Kolache experts reading... We realize that referring to meat-filled pastries as kolaches is technically incorrect, as the word kolache actually only refers to pastries which are fruit-filled. The more you know!)
photo via facebook
2304 S Congress Ave
200 Main St (Buda, TX)
We know it's hard to go to Teal House and order anything but their infamous cinnamon rolls, but you are truly missing out if you haven't tried one of their kolaches. They keep it simple with just a few savory options that they have mastered, including sausage & cheese, jalapeno sausage & cheese, and brisket and cheese. They also have some sweet kolaches, with flavors like strawberries & cream, cherries & cream, and blueberry lemon & cream. They open at 7AM during the week, and we recommend getting there as early as possible to ensure they aren't sold out for the day. P.S. if you live south of Austin, make sure you check out their Buda location!
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photo via facebook
3220 Manor Road
What's better than having a kolache? Having a kolache with a nice frosty glass of beer. Unless you're already a seasoned connoisseur at Batch, it's entirely possible, even likely, that you've never had this combo of food and drink before. Rest assured, they go together quite nicely. Besides, when the kolaches are this delicious and the beer is this tasty, it doesn't really matter.
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Various Locations
These tasty treats are the people's kolache: from fruit fillings to chocolate cream to savory meats and stuffings. Try the sausage, cheese and jalapeño and see what all of the fuss is about. Bring these bad boys to work and you'll be a hero. Seriously, even if you’re not the kolache type, grab a bag of goodies to brown-nose at the office, because Lone Star will gain you some serious street cred.
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8127 Mesa Dr B202
Reopened under new management and in a different location (formerly The Kolache Shoppe), this sweet bakery is still as authentic as it gets in Austin and is notorious for having same of the best Kolaches in town for the past 40 years. The smell of fresh bread hits you before you even make it through the shop’s doors.
photo via yelp by ziyan c.
2300 S. Lamar Blvd
Along with a broad selection of pastries in this South Lamar sweet shop is a small menu of kolaches. The kolache menu (which offers both sweet and savory varieties) may be little, but boy are the pastries mighty. And the staff is as sweet as the goodies they offer, which all won't break the bank either. Moonlight Bakery is the no-frills, crazy affordable morning spot you need to add to your morning commute.
6100 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 103
Case of the Mondays? Master Donuts knows the cure. This shop serves over 20 varieties of flavored pastries, and never allows kolaches to be an afterthought. Plus, they make letter donuts, making Master the go-to spot for parties and celebrations. Send that special someone of yours a sweet message to brighten their day. Nothing says happy birthday like a baker’s dozen of kolaches or donuts.
Photo Credit: Donut 7 Facebook
11005 Burnet Road, Suite 104
Donut 7 serves up damn fine kolaches - and they're a family-owned bakery to boot. This simple storefront plays a major role in the mornings of many. Coffee is a generous pour and the kolaches come in multiple sizes. Welcome to your new weekend ritual, North Austin.
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1814 E MLK Jr Blvd
Make a beeline for the bake case at this casual locally-sourced sister to Austin favorites Odd Duck and Barley Swine. The sweet and savory kolaches make a great take-home for the morning after you eat here. Anything made with the fabulous bread dough here is a guaranteed winner.
Various Locations
Stuff brisket and cheddar into fresh bread and let the word get around. That’s exactly how Kerlaches played it. Owned by the former Kerlin BBQ, this spot focuses specifically on kolaches. We seriously encourage you to track down pastries from one of their locations.
10815 Ranch Rd 2222
This local kolache crew knows how to bake one fine breakfast food. Howdy’s glazed donut puts Krispy Kreme to shame, but the kolaches are where Austinites really hoot and holler. Here at Howdy’s, the staff is always awesome, the coffee always hot, and the bread always buttery.
Other Kolache Spots To Know
1512 S. Congress Ave
89 Rainey St
3706 N Lamar Blvd
4101 West Parmer
Have another kolache spot to add to our list?
Let us know!
