Day Maker Half Day Cafe

"Delivering on its name, Day Maker Half Day Cafe is a cafe open daily for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Whichever of those you choose to celebrate, you’ll find the Zilker spot packed with families, couples, and groups of friends dining around tables full of churro pancakes and huevos rancheros tostadas. It’s bright and airy inside, with light wooden tables in the dining room and a grab-and-go coffee counter up front, in case you’d rather take your latte on the road. Grab a bowl of dirty queso for the table, then order a few plates and some coffee or an espresso martini. The next time your friends want brunch, you know where to take them." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs, matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, nicolai mccrary, ni

"There’s diner DNA in the bones of Day Maker, a restaurant built in the shell of a former IHOP near Zilker Park. This is where people come to brunch before a day at the park. (Add yourself to the online waitlist before heading out, or get ready to face a multi-hour wait on the weekends.) Once you’re in, you’ll realize why everyone was willing to doomscroll on their phones near the entryway for so long—this is a classic diner done different. Pancakes get topped with churro dust and horchata butter, huevos rancheros arrive on a crispy tostada, and even a classic eggs benedict gets served over masa cakes and topped with spicy chorizo." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion, matthew jacobs

"Delivering on its name, Day Maker Half Day Cafe is a cafe open daily for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. It’s from the team behind Jack Allen’s Kitchen and Salt Traders (it’s located right next to the South location), with a menu that covers everything from buttermilk pancakes and German chocolate waffles to bigger plates like roasted chicken enchiladas and harissa-marinated steak and eggs. There’s also coffee and cocktails, depending on what kind of morning or afternoon you’re having." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

"Despite sharing the bones of a former IHOP, Day Maker does the classic diner a little differently. With its Southern and Southwestern touches—earthy tones, woven textiles, and a menu that sneaks in chorizo and queso where you least expect them—it feels like a daytime restaurant that grew up bouncing between New Mexico and New Orleans. Get the churro pancakes and a huevos rancheros tostada before a day at the park. Just make sure to add yourself to the online waitlist before heading out, or get ready to face a multi-hour wait on the weekends." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

"The teams behind Jack Allen’s Kitchen and Salt Traders Coastal Cooking turned their attention to all-things brunch with this new restaurant in Zilker in late November. The daytime cafe is full of Texan and American a.m. comfort food. dishes with loads of eggs, bready goods (churro pancakes, bacon-chive waffles), burgers, and salads. There are indoor and dine-in services." - Brittany Britto Garley, Nadia Chaudhury