If you’ve been to Houston before, you will have noticed the spots all over the city serving a snack called kolaches. But do you know where the places are to buy them, and how much do you know about this old-time treat?
The name kolache translates to the term wheel or circle in Old Slavic, and this is because it was first brought to the U.S. by the Czech settlers back in the 1800s.
Most of the time, kolaches are filled with ingredients such as swiss-cheese and fruit, and no matter where you’re staying in Houston, you won’t struggle to get your hands on these popular pastry treats.
Where to Find The Best Kolache Stores in Houston, TX
When you start looking where to find the best places in Houston to enjoy kolaches, you will soon come to realize that there are kolache stores in every corner and crevice of the city, which I think goes to show just how much of a popular snack they are in Texas.
So, suppose you’re only going to be staying in Houston for a short period. In that case, you don’t want to be trawling search engines to try and find the best kolaches, which is why I have put together this handy go-to guide so that you have a list to hand that will tell you the top picks for kolache stores in Houston.
I have selected my personal favorite kolache spots, as well as places I know the locals think very highly of, so you have a great selection of top-quality kolache stores to choose from.
I have also noted their location, opening times, and price ranges, so all that’s left for you to do is pick a store, head down there, and indulge in some tasty kolaches. What more could you possibly need?
Let’s do this.
1. Olde Towne Kolaches And Bakery
| Address | 8821 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77063 |
| Website | www.otkbakery.com |
| My Recommendation | Raspberry Kolache |
| Opening Times | Monday - Saturday: 6:00 am - 1:00 pm Sunday - 7:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Olde Towne Kolaches and Bakery has a lot to offer regarding their choice of kolaches and their other varied menu of sweet and savory treats.
From offering everything from gourmet coffee and breakfast tacos to cinnamon rolls and vegetarian kolaches, this bakery has everything to suit your breakfast or lunchtime needs.
If you’re looking for a sweet option, I highly recommend the fruity raspberry kolache. After indulging in a hearty brunch of jalapeno sausage with cheese, I chose this as a dessert.
Regarding prices, I considered them to be pretty low-cost, with all of the raspberry kolache only costing a mere $1.50. I don’t think anyone could complain about that.
2. Koala Kolache
| Address | 14502 Spring Cypress Road, Ste 300, Cypress, TX 77429 |
| Website | www.enjoykoalakolacheco.com |
| My Recommendation | Thanksgiving Dinner Kolache |
| Opening Times | Monday - Thursday: Closed Friday: 6:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 7:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Visit Koala Kolache, just half an hour’s drive from Houston city, to experience some of the most delicious kolaches in Texas.
Using only the freshest, top-quality ingredients, the owners and staff at Koala pride themselves on offering much more than an average kolache.
With both sweet and savory fillings available, you can indulge in breakfast or lunch here or even just a sneaky treat between meals.
Picture slow-cooked brisket, roast vegetables, and sausage gravy, all cooked with love before being packed into a tasty kolache and handed to you on a winter afternoon, sounds great, right? Well, it gets better. As well as all the usual fillings on the menu, they also change and introduce specials.
So, during my recent visit, there was a Thanksgiving Dinner option, and yes, I mean in the form of a Kolache. My tip, head down there immediately before you’re too late. You don’t know what you’re missing. Of course, this is a seasonal menu option, so to save you any disappointment, if it’s not available when you visit, try the spiced brisket option instead. It’s out of this work.
Whoever would have thought that this fantastic kolache store originally started life as a donut shop?
One thing’s for sure, your first visit to this quaint little bakery will be the first of many.
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3. The Original Kolache Shoppe
| Address | 5404 Telephone Road, Houston, TX 77087 |
| Website | www.originalkolache.com |
| My Recommendation | Bavarian Cream |
| Opening Times | Monday - Saturday: 5:00 am - 12:00 pm Sunday: 6:00 am - 1:00 pm |
If you’re an early riser and want to get your hands on a kolache before the break of dawn, then you might want to make The Original Kolache Shoppe – your first port of call because they open at 5 o’clock in the morning.
I would say that they are more focused on sweet kolache fillings here, so they are ideal for breakfast, but there are a couple of savory options as well, like sausage, cheese, and jalapeno. However, on my last visit, I decided to opt for a flavor I hadn’t tried before, the Bavarian cream, which was an excellent decision on my part, I must say, and I advise you make the same choice.
Their kolaches are available to eat in or take away. Personally, I recommend sitting outside, digging into your delicious pastry purchase, watching the world go by, or even watching the sun rise if you’ve gone for the early bird’s arrival.
The most captivating point about this kolache spot is that it first opened in 1956 and was actually the first kolache store in Houston. Since then, they’ve kept Houston fed and satisfied with their authentic Czech confectionery.
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4. Christy’s Donuts
| Address | 1103 West Gray Street, Houston, TX 77091 |
| Website | www.christysdonutshouston.com |
| My Recommendation | Smoked Sausage Kolache |
| Opening Times | Monday - Saturday: 4:30 am - 2:00 pm Sunday: 5:00 am - 2:00 pm |
Another spot for the early birds or anyone rushing to the office before sunrise is Christy’s Donuts. Although it may pride itself primarily on its donut selection, it has a terrific kolache menu.
Considered a staple within the community, this simple yet satisfying bakery produces some of the most beautiful baked goods in the city. However, looking at it from the outside, you’d perhaps not be enticed in, don’t be deceived.
I would go as far as to say as this bakery makes some of the best kolaches I have ever tried, and my advice would be by a large selection to take home, especially if you’re traveling any distance to try them, because once you’ve had one, you’ll want, sorry, you’ll need more.
Everything is fabulous here, from the sights and smells to the welcoming service and friendly atmosphere, and if you’re only going to pick one place from my guide today, I suggest this be the one.
Oh, the prices you’re wondering about, just to add to all the other highlights of this joint, the prices are great, too; you can pick up a kolache for just $1.20.
One slight dampener on this spot is that the parking can be a little limited, but you can usually grab a place around the back or on the street, and even if you need to walk a while, it’ll be worth it.
5. Kolache Shoppe
| Address | 3945 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77027 |
| Website | www.kolacheshoppe.com |
| My Recommendation | Boudin Kolache |
| Opening Times | Monday - Friday: 6:30 - 12:00 pm Saturday: 7:00 am - 1:00 pm Sunday: Closed |
Enjoy a fresh-out-the-oven breakfast kolache at the bakery serving Houston since 1970.
As well as the usual fruit-filled kolaches, which this place prides themselves on: they also have a wide variety of fillings, including a whole menu dedicated to breakfast kolaches like potato and cheese, sausage and egg, and bacon, egg, and cheese.
However, the kolache that stood out the most to me was the Boudin, which consisted of ground pork, cajun spices, and rice wrapped in their signature dough. The flavors were great and made a pleasant change from the kolaches I’d tried in the past.
Enjoy their home-baked kolaches alongside a hot mug of Boomtown coffee, and enjoy the lovely decor and welcoming atmosphere.
The prices are great, too, there were four of us, and we got one each; the total was under $12.00, so slightly more expensive than some other kolache spots, but not by much, and worth every penny.
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6. Kolache Bar Energy Corridor
| Address | 1275 Eldridge Parkway, Ste 120, Houston, TX 77077 |
| Website | https://kolache-bar-energy-corridor.business.site/ |
| My Recommendation | Pepperoni Pizza |
| Opening Times | Monday - Friday: 5:30 am - 12:00 pm Saturday - Sunday: 6:00 am - 1:00 pm |
If you check out the online reviews for the Kolache Bar, you’ll see many raving five-star reviews, and the reason is clear from the moment you walk in.
Firstly, the service is impeccable, the place is spotless, and they have some nice views of the greenery outside.
Secondly, there is so much to choose from in terms of kolaches and donuts.
One of the first things I noticed was that they filled the donuts to order, which is something I hadn’t seen before, and thought was pretty cool.
However, the primary reason for my visit was on a recommendation down to their famous kolaches, and a good recommendation it was indeed.
There are tons of fillings to choose from, so if you’re spoilt for choice, speak to the staff, who are always happy to offer advice on the best items on the menu.
However, personally, I would recommend the pepperoni pizza option, not something I had ever had before in the form of a kolache, and I would say it’s a wonder why more places don’t offer this as a filling; it was stunning.
7. River Oaks Donuts
| Address | 3601 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77027 |
| Website | www.riveroaksdonuts.com |
| My Recommendation | Ham and Cheese |
| Opening Times | Monday - Thursday: 6:00 am - 12:00 pm Friday - Sunday: 6:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Enjoy some of Houston’s best kolaches at River Oaks Donuts. As well as having a selection of donuts that will blow your mind, the kolaches menu is pretty impressive, though not quite as extensive.
With breakfast options such as potato, egg, and cheese, and vegetarian choices like spinach and feta, you won’t struggle to find a kolache to suit your taste.
Prices are slightly higher than some of the other places I have talked about so far, but still by no means expensive. The kolaches are all under $2.89 except for the BBQ brisket, which is understandably a few cents more at $3.19.
If you want to take a few donuts home with you, you might be spoilt for choice, but I can recommend the cappuccino cream and the reece’s from personal experience.
Oh, and don’t forget to order a portion of piglets to take home.
A Final Note
So those are my top 7 best places in Houston to get kolaches. I’m hoping now that you can view them all in one place, it will make it easier for you to compare them and find your next spot to head for to get your kolache fix. Suppose you’ve found my recommendations helpful and wondered what else I have tried and tested around Houston. In that case, you should have a look at the 6 Best Locations Serving The Best Pasta in Houston, TX, and 10 Best Restaurants in Houston Worth Checking Out.