Kolaches are a Texas staple, and there’s no better place to explore their many sweet and savory forms than Houston, where the city’s culinary diversity shines through—even in its stuffed breakfast pastries. The pillowy, handheld treats, filled with everything from fruit to sausage, trace their roots to Czech immigrants who settled in Texas generations ago. While meat-filled versions are technically known as klobasneks, the term “kolache” is commonly used in Houston to describe both sweet and savory varieties alike.
Kolaches are a fixture in doughnut shops, bakeries, and even gas station convenience stores across Texas, so it’s no surprise that Houstonians have strong opinions about their favorite flavors, and where to find the very best.
From time-honored bakeries to inventive newcomers, these are the top places in Houston to visit when a kolache craving strikes.
The Original Kolache Shoppe
This family-owned Czech bakery has been serving Houstonians since 1956 and features an open kitchen where guests can watch kolaches being made fresh each day. Classic fruit-filled options like apricot and blueberry share the case with more imaginative flavors such as poppy seed and piña colada, while savory offerings include sausage and cheese and sausage and cheese with jalapeño. Pair one with a cup of Zeppelin coffee, roasted daily by the Kolache Shoppe’s sister company. 5404 Telephone Rd., Houston, originalkolache.com
Koffeteria
At this James Beard Award-nominated bakery in Downtown, chef Vanarin Kuch draws inspiration from his Cambodian heritage and Texas roots to create a special menu with Asian flair. The beef pho kolache is among the house favorites. A milk roll serves as the cradle for tender beef brisket stewed in pho. Served with hoisin and sriracha sauces, the handheld is a delicious and unexpected tribute to Vietnamese cuisine. 1110 Hutchins St. #102, Houston, koffeteria.com
Shipley’s
Shipley’s may be best known for its old-fashioned doughnuts and bear claws, but the iconic Houston-based bakery has earned an equally devoted following for its savory, meat-filled kolaches. Keeping things classic, Shipley’s sticks to straightforward options like sausage; sausage and cheese; sausage, jalapeño, and cheese; and ham and cheese. With more than 300 locations across Texas, it’s also one of the most convenient places in town to satisfy a kolache craving. Multiple locations, shipleydonuts.com
El Bolillo Bakery
El Bolillo Bakery is a Houston staple that quietly embodies the city’s multicultural rhythm. Grounded in Mexican baking traditions, it’s best known for its pan dulce, but its savory offerings are just as telling. The sausage and cheese kolache, plus a jalapeño-loaded counterpart, feel like a natural extension of Houston’s food identity: soft, buttery dough wrapped around bold, comforting flavors. Multiple locations, elbolillo.com
Christy’s Donuts & Kolaches
This Montrose mainstay, open daily until 2 p.m., is beloved by kolache devotees for its oversized takes on the classic pastry. The menu leans savory, with straightforward options like sausage and cheese and sausage and cheese with jalapeño, alongside heartier fillings such as spicy boudin and smoked Chappell Hill sausage. 1103 W Gray St. Ste. C, Houston
Buc-cee’s
Much like its endless shelves of prepared foods and aisles of sweet and salty snacks, Buc-ee’s bakery counter is impressively stocked, with kolaches prominently displayed alongside cookies, muffins, and more. The sausage, cheese, and jalapeño kolache pairs American cheese with a smoked pork, beef, and jalapeño sausage, while the boudin kolache delivers a subtle Cajun kick from its blend of pork sausage, rice, and herbs. Multiple locations, buc-ees.com
Red Dessert Dive
This beloved small-batch Heights bakery showcases an ever-rotating lineup of freshly baked goods in imaginative flavors, including scratch-made kolaches that change daily. Its new Garden Oaks outpost features a serene courtyard designed for slow mornings and cozy afternoons. Sip coffee—or opt for beer or wine if the mood strikes—and settle into a calm, unhurried kolache moment. Multiple locations, reddessertdive.com
Kolache Shoppe
This fast-growing Texas chain is known for its scratch-made kolaches, made with the same dough recipe that has been used since 1970. Along with regular varieties like classic apricot, blueberry, poppy seed, and jalapeno kielbasa, Kolache Shoppe partners with local chefs and restaurants to produce seasonal specials that break free from tradition. Look out for specials like the fresh pork boudin kolache, a current collaboration with La Boucherie in Spring. Multiple locations, kolacheshoppe.com…