Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout

Best biscuits and gravy in all of Kansas City! I recommend adding eggs or bacon on top with your order. Very chill and cutesy breakfast spot near the river. Good coffee. Fun place to eat brunch with friends. Highly recommend making a stop here if you are visiting or have not tried it yet. 5 stars!

Happened upon here while walking around this neighborhood during my stay at a nearby hotel. After checking reviews, I decided to try some breakfast and enjoyed it quite a bit. I had eggs, bacon, biscuits and I added a side of gravy. I was a little disappointed at the cost for adding gravy but it was a substantial amount and was pretty tasty. Service was faster than I expected and everything was prepared perfectly. Plenty of seating was available and I had no wait to order which was a surprise given what many other reviews seemed to mention—maybe I lucked out. In any event, highly recommend this restaurant if you’re in the area.

I've been here 3 times and cannot stop raving about how delicious the food is, how nice the interior is, how friendly the staff are... everything is fabulous. The mushroom gravy is absolutely amazing; I've eaten it with a spoon like it's soup! Update: still have the exact same feelings many years later! Every food item has been delicious. Today we raved over the Butternut tartine!

I happened to be in the area and craving brunch foods and what a little treat this restaurant was to find! You order at the cashier and have several standing options for food and drinks to buy. I chose a seasonal meal, the smoked salmon toast, and it was extremely delicious. The egg was perfectly cooked! Also the staff is incredibly nice!

Best biscuits and gravy I've had anywhere. Recommended trying half mushroom and half sausage gravy. The breakfast burrito with Butternut squash and black beans was also amazing. Everything tastes homemade.

Sat outside and had breakfast on the patio and the atmosphere was great!! Amazing local spot. The food was very good, definitely one of our new favorite places.

Always a wonderful experience at Happy Gillis! Very nice laid back brunch atmosphere. The food is consistently delicious and it’s apparent that the General Manager cares and takes pride in the dishes that leave the kitchen, from presentation to taste. There are a few yummy vegetarian options, 🍳 which is perfect for me, and a really nice pain au chocolat. 🍫 🥐 Highly recommend!

Wanted to try a local spot for breakfast and read they served the best biscuits and gravy but I have to passionately disagree. This was the worst biscuits and gravy I’ve ever had. The southern style biscuit itself was pretty good, but drowned in oddly flavored gravy with bits of sausage that never meet a skillet and needed fat at the very least. Other menu item may be worth a stop at this adorable cafe but that gravy is awful.

Happy Gillis is easily one of the best counter-service breakfast spots in the city. Tucked away in Columbus Park (also known as the North End), this cute corner spot is perfect for weekend brunch or weekday lunch. It can get busy, so be prepared for a bit of a line on late weekend mornings. But don't stress, just put your order in and wait for a seat to open up. Or if you're a party of two, don't be afraid to grab a seat at the window. All of their food tastes incredibly fresh and delicious. Locals love their biscuits and gravy and I love their breakfast sandwhich. I think my cousin has this place figured out with her order: a half order of biscuits and grave with an overeasy egg and a side of bacon. Yum. The bacon is that perfectly cooked and craveable thick cut. Don't skip their drinks. I love their iced tea or cold brew in mason jars or hot tea or coffee in mugs. They also have some really great looking cocktails and a fridge with various bottled drinks from coke to kombucha. If you haven't tried this spot yet, make plans to check it out soon!

One of the best breakfast I've had in a long time. The biscuits and gravy were fresh, made from scratch and delicious. The thick cut bacon was cooked perfectly. A unique interior with fun mugs, dinnerware, and tables. Definitely a retro vibe. The guys working took our order at the counter almost immediately and are good was out fast. I highly recommend this place.

Hey Kansas City! If you were looking for breakfast, brunch, and hot coffee in Kansas City....Happy Gillis is the place to check out! This popular local breakfast gem is cute, quaint, and covered with beautiful plants. There are a few tables to sit at inside of the cafe to enjoy your meal. A lot of people will order their food to go and will take it to the nearby park to have a picnic when it is warm or they will take their meal back home to enjoy! If you order in person, there is a refillable coffee stand when you can keep your coffee cup warm and full. My favorite item to order is the class biscuits & gravy with a side of bacon. Unbelievable! There are a lot of fresh and tasty options on the Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout menu. Stop by this little spot today!

Everything is amazing at Happy Gillis. A sample of Columbus Park for a long time. One of a kind, enjoy!

A lovely little shop! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch here, splitting a BLT with nice crispy bacon and a gorgeous heirloom tomato (we even saw the local farm truck bringing in the tasty tomatoes while we dined, so you know it's fresh!). It was just the right amount of food to share for lunch and I especially loved the side of pickled squash! The shop itself is small and cute, with a homey ambience and friendly service. You order at the counter and they bring you the food, which seems to be seasonally rotated. It wasn't super busy on the Thursday morning we went. I saw some photos of avocado toast on Yelp and was excited to try their version of my favorite dish, but they didn't have avocados - guess that means I'll have to come in again when it's back on the menu!

First of all, this is such a cute building, a little corner cafe! I loved all of the plants and you could even purchase some in their cafe coffee mugs. This was our first time here and everything looked delicious. It was brunch but I wanted to try the most I could get so I got a half salad and sandwich combo. The homemade croutons were delicious and I loved the house made dressing. I wasn't a fan of the tomatoes on my sandwich, but it was still good. But the guy next to us got the biscuits and gravy and I'm definitely going back to try that. We also got the breakfast sandwich and traditional bacon and eggs for my boys.

Cute place! Staff were very friendly. The food was good! They gave us so much egg in the sandwich but it was super fluffy and tasty. Would recommend for breakfast!

Smaller menu with A good variety of options. Cute and quaint and always quality. Perfect spot to sit outside in the nicer weather. Can get pretty crowded pretty quickly so I always call in advance to see if there is a wait. Go-to spot after a morning at the City Market.

I found this place on a whim and so glad I did. This smallish cafe was hopping Saturday afternoon for brunch. They offer a few outside tables and wall to wall tables inside but there still wasn't enough seating. We had to wait a few minutes to place our order at the counter, but we were lucky enough to grab a table immediately after ordering. They offer a limited brunch menu and drink menu. I read previous reviews saying not to miss the biscuits and gravy which is my go to brunch meal. OMG IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!!! My half order was plenty, and I'm glad I went with the half mushroom / half sausage gravy. The biscuit was fluffy, and the gravy options were so flavorful. The mimosa was tasty as well. I cannot wait to go back and want to make this a KC cafe requirement for all future trips.

Okay yes. A small place, but the line moves fast! I got the smoked toast with scrambled egg on top. I love that they have gf breads so I substituted it. It seems like they change up their menu often, I've seen this in other photos with a poached egg, but today it was scrambled. My first time trying smoked salmon, and this did not disappoint. So yummy. The place is cute and quaint. Very warm and welcoming.

This is a smaller place a little off the beaten path. The food was absolutely delightful and perfectly sized portions. The little neighborhood is sweet but seems like in the middle of some transition. The ambiance was bright and full of character. Really this place is kind of perfect.

I am very mixed about this place. It's my husband's favorite, so I've been in a lot, and every food option I've tried has been disappointing. The vibes gets a 5 out of 5. The staff and service is great. The line is always out the door, and you may have to wait for a table, but the staff goes as quick as possible for the small space. It's a very comfy and cozy brunch spot despite this. BUT I've tried a lot of the menu. The bacon was really fatty. The biscuits and gravy have an odd taste to me. The salads have been way too salty. I can say the drink menu is great. They have great coffee, but the food to me, leaves something to be desired. It's a local place and you should definitely go try it, but for me it's never my first choice for brunch food. I really wanted to love it!

My girlfriend had suggested taking us to her fave brunch spot in KC. I can't believe I hadn't been here yet! All of the food we ordered was delicious. I really enjoyed the kind staff- the whole mood was cozy and delightful. The coffee was some of the best I've had.

I love this cafe. It has the absolute best vibes, kind staff, and such a charming location. Food was tasty and comforting, and the coffee came bottomless in the most adorable mugs. The prices are reasonable, considering the portion size, great taste, and good ingredients. Definitely a KC gem.

Happy Gillis is a cute brunch/lunch spot within walking distance of the river market. From what I've seen, it's pretty popular, so be prepared to have a little bit of a wait. We went on a Sunday morning and waited about 10 min to order, but there were plenty of seats available after we ordered. The food was simple but really delicious! I ordered a classic breakfast, which was very tasty and full of flavor. The best thing was their brûléed grapefruit! This has lavender sugar on top and is fresh, juicy, and the perfect amount of sweet. The service was good and the food was tasty so we will be back!

It was our last day in Kansas City, so we wanted to find an amazing brunch spot that suited our pescatarian needs. One of my friends was also craving biscuits and gravy, which was one of her childhood comfort foods, so we were thrilled that Happy Gillis offered a vegetarian option. We knew from entering the spot that this would be delicious- there was a line and everyone looked happy as they ate. Servers quickly cleaned/bused tables to accommodate the traffic flow. It was busy but not overwhelmingly loud. Two of us ordered the salmon toast; it was absolutely divine! I was extremely surprised at how delicious the biscuits and gravy were. Both meals were well seasoned and the portions were decent. My only "complaint" was that the spread on the salmon toast was extremely salty, I wish there was something else to balance the salt levels of the capers and smoked salmon. Anyway- you can't go wrong with their mimosas too! I'll definitely be back because my mind is still on those biscuits!

Smoked salmon toast is amazing! The atmosphere is very friendly. All employees are super nice and the food is very tasty.

Food was excellent! We ordered the salmon toast & biscuit & gravy with sausage & mushrooms ( get the full size! ). Salmon toast was great and tasted amazing.

For how busy this place is and how well-loved this place is, I was disappointed with what I received. I ordered the biscuit with gravy, and like another reviewer mentioned, my biscuit seemed very dry and old. The flavor of the gravy wasn't bad, but I wouldn't go back. The parking situation was also less than desirable. If you're looking for really tasty biscuits and gravy, I recommend Corner Cafe.

It goes without saying, this place is the jam. (And! They make really good jam!) Such a comforting environment with all the comfort foods. And I get to color while waiting for my order? Yes, please. One of my fav spots for yummy breakfast, and yummy people. Keep up the good work, Gillis!

Fun hipster breakfast joint. Good food. Cool local vibes and definitely have the breakfast sandwich.

This cafe took me back to my coastal Oregon days and I loved every bit of it! Bloody Marys were peppery, the burrito was creamy and the chickpea toast was delish. The patio tables were a nice touch for spring weather. And the menu has something for all eaters. Can't wait to go back and try the B&G!

This is a mega review - 5 total visits summed up in one. Happy gilles quickly became my go to brunch spot in Kansas City, and a place I look forward to eating at every time I come to the city! It's a charming but more low-key, almost hole in the wall place, or as HotW as a brunch place can get. The food: incredible. I usually get a breakfast or lunch sandwich, tried a few variations. None have disappointed, all well made. And maybe the biggest surprise, the best salad I've had in recent memory was their summer peach salad! Incredible balance of acid to blend together greens, peaches, and walnuts. Mwah, need this in my veins again. Ambience: so charming. Indoors is cozy, rich natural light, with homemade mugs station you can use for coffee/tea. Outside area on the sidewalks is nice too and I usually go for these tables when possible. Fun side note: met the owner's mom by complete happenstance on my last outing here. She was such a nice lady, got me and a friend some mugs for free coffee so we wouldn't have to wait in the line just to order coffee. Thank you! Cons: line can be long sometimes, never crazy hour long waits though unlike some brunch spots. Have to order food before picking a table.

@happygillis you are now my new happy breakfast place!!! Love the seating after you order and the option of outdoor. We had the breakfast tacos with spicy chorizo and @yolitortilleria blue core tortillas and the sausage biscuits and gravy with all the BACON. The chicken pita sandwich is amazingly flavorful. Food was great and the service was kind.

From out of town, looking for a eclectic, friendly and good place for brunch! Happy Gillis checked ALL the boxes! Quality of food and menu variety was excellent. Simple yet complex! Bloody Mary off the charts and a biscuit with strawberry jam to die for! What more do you need! Highly recommend and will be back next time in KC!

Loved our breakfast at Gilli's and wouldn't hesitate to go back! We arrived relatively early which was good because right after opening they already had a line out the door and starting to creep up the block. I was concerned until I realized this is an 'order at the counter' situation,so we moved pretty quickly and were able to grab one of the last tables inside. I had the biscuits and gravy - half order - with scrambled eggs and mushroom gravy... vegetarian and SO delicious! Bill had the breakfast sandwich which was pretty perfect also. Nothing really crazy but just SOLID TASTY breakfast fare. Would return!

Small in size but big in ambience. And they have a mushroom Philly on the menu. That is enough to get me in the door. It was ok but had a bit of a sweet taste that will lead me to further explore the menu if we return to this happy little corner. But the biscuits that came on my neighbor's plate will bring me back. Check this place out for a good meal and time with friends. Be patient and give yourself time to wait in line. You will not be disappointed.

Amazing. Anytime we are in KC it is our go to breakfast stop. Got to try it. Don't let the looks from the outside throw you off. You will probably see people standing outside in line waiting to get in but it moves along quickly. 5+

Great place no doubt ~ easily a favorite drop spot for Sunday brunch. Their food is well thought out and tastes as pleasing as it looks. Coffee is always hot and fresh with fulfilling flavors. Fresh lime ice carafes. There is outdoor seating with trees so you can get a little whisp of fresh air while waking up and starting your day out. I like it here!

Street parking. There was someone waiting outside the door so I hopped out of the car and waited. Then the line started to grow behind me. You order at counter and then grab a table. Coffee is self serve. The food was awesome. So simple but good. The best biscuit and gravy I've hade, maybe u was hungry. I also ordered half order of the salad which they make their own buttermilk ranch dressing. Super yummy. I would get a whole salad next time. So I ordered the you pick two: breakfast sandwich and biscuit and gravy. Then the half salad. Fresh squeeze orange juice and coffee. Coffee was ok nothing special. But everything else we ordered was great. The bacon was really good. I only like trader joe applewood bacon, it's not too salty and cut a good thickness. This was similar. Totally recommend for anyone visiting. Prices were great!

Consistently delicious food and friendly service. Our breakfast go-to spot in KC! Highly recommend.

One of the best breakfast spots in KC. Don't know why I've never written a review of it, but if I had to title a review for Happy Gillis I'd call it "never disappoints". This tiny unassuming looking restaurant in the Columbus Park neighborhood dishes up some of the best most flavorful breakfast dishes around. Watching the chef lovingly cook eggs in the open kitchen was a revelation. The biscuits and gravy is perhaps the best I've eaten. Your choice of sausage or mushroom gravy or order half and half. Despite its size it truly lives up to the "happy" part of its name with an always pleasant ambiance. Don't care where in the city you live, the drive is well worth it.

Oh, Happy Gillis makes me so happy! It's such a cute and cozy spot with comfort food that is sure to fill the soul with joy!

So conflicted writing this review. I ordered the pastrami melt and half order of biscuits with mushroom gravy to go. The biscuits were great, the gravy was delicious. Love the vegetarian option. The melt was inedible. The pastrami was basically all fat. I had to spit out my first bite because I was just chewing in a big slab of slimy, squishy fat. I took apart the sandwich and discovered it was pretty much all thick slabs of fat with bits of pastrami. If I lived close by would have definitely returned the sandwich, but alas, it just went in the trash. Very disappointing cuz it looked great. The place itself is cute and cozy. Would loved to have this as my go to brunch spot when in the city.

This place lived up to all the hype. Biscuits and gravy were some of the best I've ever had. Yes, there will be a line. Yes, it is worth the wait.

10/10 best biscuits and gravy in Kansas City. The service is quick and the restaurant is cozy, located in the historic Columbus Park neighborhood. Be sure to try one of their boozy brunch cocktails.

Oh yeah. Dont fuss. Just try it. Bacon was incredible. Tried on a whim. Will return.

this place is super cute-- get ready to wait in line especially on the weekend but it's worth it! order at the counter & they bring your food to the table. they're happy to work with modifications + even with a long line outside there was an abundance of seating inside!

Delicious! A straightforward and simple menu. I got the classic breakfast with biscuits and a side of sausage gravy. The biscuits were fluffy with a crunchy exterior, the gravy was soupy (in a good way) and packed with flavor, and the bacon was perfectly cooked and crunchy. The service is friendly and the interior is cozy. FYI you order and pay at the counter.

We've been ordering Happy Gillis' produce bags throughout the pandemic. I love that they offer this option to keep their employees working and to help my household healthy! One of the things I have missed the most since March has been rests uses the ranch dressing. The stuff you buy at the store just isn't the same & some salads are not complete without good ranch dressing. Happy Gillis actually has an option to purchase theirs for home delivery as well! It made my week! My daughter was delighted with the butternut squash soup as well! I highly recommend using this service and, if you are dining in these days, go visit them for brunch!

A small, yet cozy quaint brunch spot on the outskirts of the City Market, one good for any day of the week! The ingredients are fresh and entrees made in plain view. It's order then self seating, and like I said, it's a smaller space so it isn't the best space for a big group. I have been a few times, and I have enjoyed everything I have ordered. Their breakfast burrito was a good size, with plenty of ingredients inside so that the tortilla is not overpowering. It was topped with a cream sauce and fresh jalapeños. Their biscuits and gravy was also very good and the biscuits did not become soggy from the gravy. Their overnight oats are one of the best I have had. My cousin ordered it, and wow, each bite was flavorful. The peach jam was perfect. Nothing was too overpowering and the portion size of the meal was definitely a good size. One of my favorite spots in KC.

Was headed to another restaurant for lunch then stumbled upon this gem. The Cuban was great. The atmosphere was uplifting. Will take my friends and family there soon.

On Sunday at noon with no breakfast, you just want a nice yummy meal prepared by your mama. No matter how old you are, your mama's breakfast is the bomb. If you don't have a momma available for breakfast: must go here now. Late or early. Hungry or just nibbling. Breakfast here rocks! This is one of the best breakfast/lunch spots I have visited in Kansas City. You cant go wrong with most anything here. It is also a family own business, the couple is super cool. A must go to hole in the wall!

This is an amazing, cute breakfast spot in this area! I was staying in the area with friends for the National AAFP conference and we found this place on Yelp. Came here for breakfast, and luckily it wasn't too busy yet, so we were able to grab one of their larger tables. It is a quaint breakfast spot with great homemade, fresh ingredients. The area where you order is also where they make and prepare the food, so you can see it and smell it all, as it happens. If you order coffee, they have small homemade mugs on the side, with unlimited refills! Just grab a cup and fill it up. They also serve other drinks as well as some breakfast cocktails and mimosa. I ordered the half order of biscuits and gravy with side of scrambled eggs. It was delicious! The biscuits were homemade, in addition to the gravy. There were great chunks of sausage and the biscuits were very flaky. They didn't get too soggy with the gravy and it was just the right amount for one person. My friends got their overnight oats, which were amazing! Pineapple jam is life changing!!!! You honestly cannot go wrong with anything off their menu.

This is a tiny location, you will definitely pass it up if you aren't paying attention. I stopped here because I saw it on DDD and I haven't been steered wrong by Guy yet. I the half order of biscuits and gravy and a side of bacon. Everything was fresh, flavorful and well cooked. I would definitely go back if I am ever in the area!

The place is awesome! Small but charming. The staff are very pleasant and the food, well let's just say it's delicious! This was our first visit so we ordered a variety. We ordered the Cuban, the smoked salmon toast, full order of biscuits and gravy with both sausage gravy and mushroom gravy, and, the breakfast sandwich! Loved all of it. We had bloody marys (awesome) and a chocolate chip cookie (divine) while waiting for our friends to arrive. Wish there was a place like this close to us in Olathe but we will definitely go back! When you get there they want you to order first and then get a table. We didn't know that. People seem to move in and out quite rapidly. They have tables outside when it's not raining. Very clean restrooms also (which is important to me)!

*Currently doing delivery only during Covid-19 plus groceries like eggs, bacon, soup, veggies and TOILET PAPER! Here's the link to their new online delivery store: https://happygillis.com/* Happy Gillis is always a fun spot in normal times, so that's what this review will reflect. They bring life to the Columbus Park neighborhood with both this popular brunch spot and the neighboring Columbus Park Ramen shop. It's a quirky place with fun ceramic dishware, a great vintage sign out front, and patio dining during the nicer months. We go with the breakfast sandwich or biscuits and gravy, but really most things are good. It's a little ways from where we live so we don't go here as often as we should, but always enjoy it. Pencil it in if you're near the River Market, or anywhere near downtown as it's not as far as it seems!

Very cool spot for breakfast, lunch, or brunch! Great vibe and the most adorable kid server in the world. Got the breakfast sandwich - amazing Ricotta toast - meh, wouldn't order again, especially at $9. Was made on ibis toast, but still rather pricey. Will be back to try other items on the menu.

Came here for breakfast on a rainy morning and was not disappointed. Ordered their biscuits and gravy, traditional breakfast with over easy eggs and bacon, and it came with toast and apple butter. That first bite of biscuits and gravy was heaven. They seasoned everything perfectly and the biscuits were fluffy and delicious. Even the eggs were salted and seasoned well. My only small complaint is that the apple butter was more like apple sauce than a butter but still, it wasn't bad. Everything else was so good and I can't wait to go back. Best biscuits and gravy in KC!

Took my Mother her and she LOVED it, such sweet owners and all their staff are always so wonderful. The food is consistent and memorable!!!