Kerbey Lane Cafe in Austin is the Central all-day diner since 1980, the 1930s bungalow that started a chain on pancakes, queso and 24-hour breakfast for under $15.
Must order: Gingerbread pancakes
Tip: The Central and South Lamar locations run 24 hours; Mueller closes at midnight, useful for weekend wait planning.
Address: 3704 Kerbey Ln, Austin, TX 78731
Sour Duck Market in Austin is Bryce Gilmore's East MLK Boulevard beer garden and bakery, a daytime brunch patio for danishes, croissants, burgers and craft beer.
Order: Smoked Mushroom Danish and a daytime beer
Tip: The breakfast danishes come out at 9am; the burger menu kicks in by 11am, both run all day.
Bouldin Creek Cafe in Austin is South First's all-day vegetarian brunch since 2000, a bungalow patio with vegan options, gluten-free menu and the strongest queso south of the river.
Order: Veggie burger and migas
Tip: Sunday brunch peaks 11-2pm; weekday mornings run easy and the patio is shaded by 11am.
Joann's Fine Foods in Austin is the Bunkhouse Group's Tex-Mex diner brunch at the Austin Motel on South Congress, a palapa-bar patio of migas, fajitas and frozen margaritas.
Order: Migas plate with a frozen margarita
Tip: The pool is members-only at Austin Motel but the diner patio is open to walk-in; arrive 9am Saturday for shade.
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner brunch, queso and migas pulling crowds through the night and weekends round the clock without booking.
Order: Love migas and Mag mud queso
Tip: Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
South Congress Cafe in Austin is the South Congress brunch room since 2005, an all-day kitchen of pancakes and crab cakes pulling the weekend morning trade hard.
Order: Carrot-cake pancakes
Tip: Weekend brunch books out by 10am; reserve a day ahead or arrive at the 8am Saturday open.
June's All Day in Austin is McGuire Moorman's South Congress French-American bistro since 2017, with a Master Sommelier wine program and a marble bar for brunch.
Order: Eggs Benedict and a glass of grower Champagne
Tip: Master Sommelier June Rodil rebuilds the by-glass list monthly; ask the bar for the latest revision.
