Paperboy

We’re not really sure if there’s a bad time to eat bacon, eggs, sausages, and avocados, but there’s something about the hours between 10am-2pm that feels especially right. And when we’re in a mood for brunch, one place in particular jumps to the forefront of our minds: Paperboy. 

Paperboy is a buzzy brunch spot that makes delicious breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and toasts. They’re located on the east side, in a modern space with a rooftop patio—a big step up from their humble beginning as a food trailer in a giant field. There aren’t really a lot of bad things to say about it, other than that with so much good stuff going on, there comes an inevitably long wait. 

photo credit: Holly Dirks

You’ll need to plan things out a few weeks in advance if you want to guarantee yourself a table at Paperboy during prime brunch hours on the weekend. There’s a countertop you can post up at to get the traditional “diner” experience, a few small tables inside, and a downstairs patio that looks out onto East 11th street through a wall of breeze blocks. But ultimately, it’s a fairly small—if well-thought out—dining room that can fill up quickly. There’s also a rooftop patio that can be brutal in the summer months, but the rest of the time it’s our favorite spot to sit. 

You can try walking in, and you might just get lucky. But if it really comes down to it, you can order their full menu from a takeout window on the side of the building and eat it in an empty lot nearby. Grab a bottle of prosecco and OJ from Quickie Pickie across the street, and try to convince yourself that it’s basically the same experience (spoiler, it’s not). Or just pop in during the week and enjoy the same full menu, without much wait, but you might have to call it “breakfast” or “lunch” at that point.

photo credit: Holly Dirks

Order the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich if you want to see what helped them go from a trailer to a two-story brunchery. Or take advantage of the fact that they actually have a real kitchen by ordering a braised pork and sweet potato hash, or some steak and eggs with chimichurri. Everything here looks pretty, for your friends who are more into posting about their brunch than they are into eating it. But most importantly, everything here tastes great, too. 

Sure, you might have to plan brunch out a few weeks early, but grab a spot for an upcoming weekend when you see one, then plan the rest of your day around it. It’s one of our favorite brunch spots in Austin, and judging by the wait times, we’re not the only ones who feel that way.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Holly Dirks

Cinnamon Toast

If you like your breakfasts on the sweeter side, this should be part of your order. There’s a coating of whipped mascarpone with walnut streusel and cinnamon, making the whole thing feel like you’re eating some kind of dessert. Get one of these for the table—a few bites go a long way.

photo credit: Holly Dirks

B.E.C. Sandwich

It’s a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich—you’ve probably had one of these before. But here, the bacon is thick-cut, the cheese is pimento, and the egg, sunny-side up. It’s part of what made them so popular. Order this for a great take on a classic.

photo credit: Holly Dirks

Texas Hash

This is a pork and sweet potato hash with pecan mole. It’s packed full of rich, savory flavors that all work very well together. It’s all very tasty, but also very heavy. If you’re sensitive to greasy dishes, you might want to skip this one.

photo credit: Holly Dirks

Steak & Eggs

A fun take on a savory brunch classic. The steak is cooked perfectly, and the chimichurri is a welcome addition that adds a bit of brightness to it all. If you’re not a fan of traditional breakfast foods, this is the perfect order for you.