An Eater’s Guide to Houston

In recent years, no city's culinary profile has risen more quickly than Houston's. The city is not only home to several James Beard Award-winning and nominated culinarians, but it's also a haven to some of the largest and most thriving immigrant populations that infuse the region with unique flavors and cuisines. Still, Texas's biggest and most diverse city is arguably one of the country's most underrated dining destinations, and it's just waiting to be explored. Use this as a guide to immerse yourself and taste your way through Houston's remarkable culinary culture.

Home to incredibly diverse groups hailing from different parts of the country and all over the world, the culinary scene in this sprawling metropolis is genuinely unparalleled. Once known as the land of oil barons and excessive humidity, James Beard Award-winning chefs like Chris Shepherd, Hugo Ortega, and most recently, Jabthong Benchawan Painter, or Chef G, have drawn in eyes from across the country. Events like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attract revelers who want to participate in a rite-of-passage that feels intrinsically Houston and, on the heels of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album release, tied to black cowboy culture.

If you have a day to deep dive into the city's restaurant scene, start the morning at Un Caffe or Tenfold Coffee Company to sip an expertly brewed cup of joe, or opt for a two-in-one situation at a Beard semi-finalist bakery, like Koffeteria, where diners can score beef pho kolaches and Cambodian brunch and coffees, or Ema, where chilaquiles and impressive Mexican pastries abound. For lunch, go to Hugo's in Montrose for chef Hugo Ortega's ceviches, intricately spiced mole dishes, and some of the city's best margaritas.

Then, spend the afternoon driving down Bellaire Boulevard in Chinatown, stopping in at award-winning spot Crawfish & Noodles for a second lunch. Pre-dinner cocktails at James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar Julep or Anvil Bar & Refuge are essential, as is dinner at EaDo favorite Nancy's Hustle, where the Nancy Cakes, its signature plate of pillowy corn cakes served with rich, creamy cultured butter and brine-y trout roe, are iconic. Or, make a reservation at Street to Kitchen, where Chef G will undoubtedly serve up some unapologetic Thai dishes, including spicy drunken noodles and massaman curry.

Eater Houston is the place to go for comprehensive guides to the city's best food and drink — with everything from steak, fried chicken, and cocktails, to burgers or brunch. When the number of options seems overwhelming, here are some picks that hit every single time.

Hottest Restaurants: Some of the hottest tables in Houston right now are at chef Aaron Bludorn's tavern-style restaurant Bar Bludorn, Mediterranean restaurant Okto, Turner's Cut, one of the most opulent steakhouses in the city, and the Marigold Club in Montrose. Modeled after London supper clubs, this French restaurant modeled after London supper clubs that serves ice cold martini and oysters, a stellar duck Wellington, and a sundae assembled on a tableside. If you are willing to venture outside of Houston proper, Hong Kong Food Street, the second Katy iteration of a beloved Cantonese restaurant, is a worthy destination.

Essential Restaurants: Explore the must-try mainstays of Houston, including Phat Eatery, the Malaysian roti canai and beef rendang-slinging restaurant that recently opened a location in The Woodlands; or Jūn, Top Chef alumna Evelyn Garcia's restaurant which offers a hybrid of Southeast Asian and Latin dishes. Other great picks include Tatemó, one of Houston's few tasting menu restaurants, which presents Mexican cuisine with a fun and educational emphasis on masa, and Little's Oyster Bar, which delivers elegant seafood dishes with Pappas hospitality.

Burgers: Burger options in Houston seem endless. Burger-chan offers flavorful patties with punchy condiments like kimchi relish and sambal mayo. Trill Burgers, co-owned by Houston music legend Bun B, serves one of the most sought-after smash burgers in the city. Montrose mainstay Lankford Grocery & Market serves up one of Space City's spiciest. Hit the drive-thru at the Burger Joint for super-thick shakes, kimchi-topped burgers, and more.

Barbecue: While it might not have the prestige of the Texas Hill Country, Houston barbecue certainly holds its own. The brisket, sausage, ribs, and more at Feges BBQ, Gatlin's, Killen's, the Pit Room, and Spring's Corkscrew satisfy a craving for smokey meats. Also significant is Truth BBQ, a Hill Country expat that serves killer brisket alongside towering cakes for dessert, and Katy's Brett's Barbecue Shop, which features brisket enchiladas on select days of the week.

Fried Chicken: Houston is arguably the best city in the country for fried chicken thanks to its various cultural takes on the crispy and comforting fried fowl. Try Himalaya's spice-laden and skinless chicken, served with a tangy mustard sauce; Dak & Bop's extra crunchy version of Korean fried chicken with homemade sauces; or Frenchy's, a local staple offering yard bird to go. Though Kemah can be a hike for some Houstonians, the fried chicken at Viola & Agnes is worth the drive.

Tex-Mex and Mexican: Most Houstonians know that there is a significant difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican. If Mexican is what you're after, chef Hugo Ortega's Xochi should be a bucket list stop for anyone in the vicinity of Downtown Houston. Travel East for Cochinita & Co. for top-notch tacos and a stellar cochinita pibil, or make a reservation ahead of time at Tatemo in Spring Branch, where Beard finalist Emmanuel Chavez treats diners to a seven-course tasting menu that highlights maize. In search of classic Tex-Mex? Head over to El Patio or Candente for fajitas, enchiladas, and much more. Devour cheesy quesadilla tacos de fajita from the cash-only El Taconazo taco truck using the hood of your car as a table. Jam out with birria tacos at Tacos Dona Lena in Spring Branch, or stop by Brothers Tacos House, considered the city's taco go-to.

Vietnamese food, Viet-Cajun cuisine, and, more specifically, banh mi: When it comes to Vietnamese cuisine, Houston has a lot to offer. Home to the second-largest Vietnamese population in the country, there are tons of hotspots for pho, banh-mi, noodle dishes, and beyond. For an all-day spot, visit Quan Ba Ky, which offers classic savory taro pancakes and irresistible bun suong, or MasterChef winner Christine Ha's restaurant the Blind Goat, which provides a fusion of Vietnamese dishes with a unique Space City flair.

• Viet-Cajun, a fusion of Vietnamese and Cajun flavors, can be a different experience entirely. Crawfish & Noodles's crawfish and seafood tossed in buttery, garlic-loaded Cajun sauces is an ideal initiation, but diners can also experience "Viejun" dishes like fried rice and seafood boils covered in Viet-Cajun sauces at Montrose's Kau Ba.
• The city's brag-worthy banh mi options deserve its own category. Often served for under $10, the sandwich is a mainstay at restaurants like Cali Sandwich & Pho, Roostar, and Saigon Hustle, which offers some of the freshest sandwiches and rice bowls by way of its drive-thru.

Seafood: Considering the city's proximity to the Gulf, seafood is a major part of the city's culinary fabric. Head to Gatlin's Fins & Feathers for an ode to neighborhood fish fries and delicious gumbo, Kata Robata for top-tier raw offerings and sushi, or Goode Co. Seafood for some of the city's best catches.

Steak Nights: With various steakhouses serving up the best cuts, there's no shortage of options for big beef. Locals know, however, that some of the best steaks are served during weeknights at local bars and restaurants, like Rudyard's, Cottonwood, and Better Luck Tomorrow.

Mediterranean: The city’s interest in dining cuisine has seen a recent surge, with new openings including Okto, which offers a fusion of culinary traditions spanning from Morocco to Italy; mainstays like the Greek Niko Niko’s and Al Aseel, a casual Palestinean restaurant that’s known for its fried chicken; and Atlanta-import Rumi’s Kitchen, which serves kebabs, dreamy dips made with charred vegetables and grilled meats, and so much more.

Ice Cream: Whatever the time of year, it's probably warm enough to eat ice cream in Houston. Fat Cat Creamery, Sweet Bribery by Craft Creamery, and the somewhat elusive Underground Creamery serve up some of the city's most reliably delicious flavors.

Pizza: Neopolitan, Detroit, or New York-style: Houston can satisfy any pizza passion. Enjoy a perfectly fired pie at the open-on-Sundays-only ORG Pizza Garden, at the trendy Gypsy Poet, Tiny Champions, or at Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana, which has been verified by the official Vera Pizza Napoletana organization for serving "authentic" Neopolitan pies.

Family-friendly restaurants: It's important to note that many diners in the Houston area aren't just riding solo. Many have kids in tow, which rules out some restaurants and bars out entirely. However, bringing the family doesn't mean you have to skimp on good food. Several restaurants fit the vibe check for adults, including d'Alba in Garden Oaks, which has sharable pizzas, pasta, a playground for little ones, and cocktails for adults. Little Matt's also has plenty to keep kiddos entertained, including an iPad station, a candy counter, an arcade, and a photo booth, while adults enjoy complimentary drinks. Depending on the day, several dining establishments offer special deals where kids dine for free, including Feges BBQ on Wednesday nights, so keep a lookout.

The Heights

Arguably one of the hottest dining neighborhoods in Houston, the Heights is packed with compelling restaurants. Breakfast should easily begin with gorditas or breakfast tacos at Puebla's Mexican Kitchen if you can snag one of its nine tables. Enjoy sushi and hand rolls at Handies Douzo, or the green curry or Thai basil fried rice at Kin Dee. If it's happy hour, check out Eight Row Flint's massive patio, which is complete with plenty of booze (like barrel-aged whiskey and frozen gin and tonic) and tacos.

Michael Anthony

Montrose

Home to some of Houston's most well-known restaurants, Montrose is a veritable dining paradise. Start the day with coffee from Blacksmith, then head to Hugo's for enchiladas, ceviche, and (of course) margaritas at lunch. Before dinner, enjoy expertly mixed martinis and Manhattans at the vaunted Anvil Bar & Refuge, then venture off to Ostia for its signature roasted chicken with a side of fried potatoes and a creamy aioli. Alternatively, diners might opt for a warm bowl of red or green pozole or the filling stuffed gorditas at Mexican restaurant Cuchara.

Downtown

Business travelers flock to Houston's Downtown for work, but there's more in the city center than just power lunch destinations. When lunch rolls around, try the Oaxacan fare at Ortega's Xochi or go for variety at Lyric Market, a buzzy food hall that's home to 1929 Po Boy Kitchen and Indian street food stall Kati Roll Wala. Swankier destinations include steakhouses like Guard and Grace and Vic and Anthony's, Italian restaurant Potente, or a blend of West African cuisine at Post Houston food hall's Chopnblok. End the evening with a nightcap at a local bar like Warren's Inn, Angel Share, or Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirits Lodge.

Midtown

Though close to Downtown, Midtown's got a whole vibe of its own and an excellent array of restaurants to choose from. For breakfast, the Breakfast Klub is a Beyoncé-approved Houston institution and a fantastic spot to score chicken and waffles or fried catfish and grits for breakfast, while Brennan's of Houston (which serves up Creole cuisine), and Houston's all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue joint Gen Korean BBQ House make engaging dinner options.

River Oaks

One of the ritzier of the notable dining neighborhoods, River Oaks is home to some of Houston's flashiest restaurants. Drop a big chunk of change on an even bigger hunk of meat at Steak 48, or belly up to the newest sushi bar, Azumi. In need of something a little more casual in River Oaks? The patio at Backstreet Cafe is a perfect spot to park on lovely weather days.

Uptown/Galleria

It might be named after a shopping mall, but the food in Houston's Galleria area is decidedly better than food court fare. Modern Indian restaurant Musaafer serves a wide-ranging menu that stuns every single time, while Etoile Cuisine Et Bar offers undeniable French plates de résistance, like a lemon-saffron risotto with shrimp and slow-braised short rib with pommes mousseline and Cabernet syrup.

Rice Village

Many people associate this neighborhood with the nearby college, Rice University, but the area is just as noteworthy for its restaurants. Highlights include chef Aaron Bludorn’s seafood-driven restaurant Navy Blue, which serves a top-notch Dover sole and enticing pasta dishes that change with the seasons; Maximo, which offers an intriguing lineup of tacos; soup dumplings and Beijing-style duck at Duck N Bao; and the 30-minute omakase experience at sushi speakeasy Sushi by Hidden. If you are looking for a welcoming, longtime haunt, Under the Volcano has been open for 35 years and serves iconic frozen screwballs and comforting Mexican snacks, like empanadas and tamalas.

Chinatown

More aptly described as "Asiatown," this neighborhood along Bellaire Boulevard can pretty much satisfy any culinary itch. Dig into authentic Sichuan cuisine from James Beard-nominated eatery Mala Sichuan Bistro, or run — don't walk — to Crawfish & Noodles for spicy, garlicky Viet-Cajun crawfish. In search of Houston's famously great pho? Try Pho Hung. Thai, Japanese, Uyghur, Korean, and fusion options are also available, which means diners can probably dedicate a whole day to exploring everything Chinatown offers.

Bellaire

While many Houstonians associate Bellaire with Asiatown, the area — noteworthy for the iconic Bellaire Boulevard, which spans 16 miles through Houston proper into the city of Bellaire — is brimming with dining options that traverse various cultures and cuisines. Here, you'll find quality breakfast at Dandelion Cafe, Texas barbecue with Asian influences from the lauded Blood Bros. BBQ, and much more.

Katy Asian Town

Anchored by H-Mart, this suburban enclave houses dozens of Asian shops and restaurants, meaning dining options and bubble tea shops abound. Be sure to stop by James Beard-nominated chef Alex Au-Yeung's flagship for Phat Eatery, which dishes Malaysian street food and dim sum. Try the char siu and Peking duck at Chung Wang BBQ, warm bowls of pho loaded with a giant short rib at Yummy Pho and Bo Ne, and so much more.

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