$1 Trompo Taco Tuesday is a must! You can also ask for crunchy tripa like Tacos El Gordo makes. Tacos El Bigotes is a spacious restaurant with a bright and clean atmosphere, offering a casual and fun vibe. The kitchen is visible, and the atmosphere is enhanced by music and television. The restaurant has ample parking and remains spacious even during busy hours. The food is a highlight, with dishes made fresh and served hot. The horchata is sweet and rich, while the salsa Verde adds a good spiciness to dishes. The birria plate is a popular choice, and the quesibirria tacos are delicious. The service is exceptional, with friendly and quick service. The staff is accommodating, providing a high chair and sling for toddlers and accommodating large parties. The restaurant offers a reasonable price range, making it a great value. With its delicious food, excellent service, and affordable prices, Tacos El Bigotes is a great spot to dine.
Al-Shami is an excellent food option for late-night eats, located in a food truck park. It is one of the busier trucks, so expect a wait for the fresh and flavorful food, especially the incredible shawarma with tender, spiced meat wrapped in a warm pita. The staff is friendly, and the prices are great for the generous portions. An authentic taste of Middle Eastern cuisine that is a must-try.
Gourmandize is a popular spot for Mediterranean cuisine, serving flavorful dishes that exceed expectations. Their menu features tasty options like tacos, wraps, and chicken wings over rice, as well as sandwiches, such as the merguez wrap, which boasts a nice charcoal flavor. The restaurant consistently delivers good food, making it a go-to spot for a satisfying meal.
Brennan's Houston offers a delightful dining experience with exceptional service. The menu features unique dishes like crawfish cheesecake and Shrimp Chippewa, served with Brussels sprouts and collard greens. Other popular options include scallops with risotto, blackened redfish, and a customizable house salad. The restaurant provides a convenient shuttle service to the Wortham for showgoers. Whether it's a date night, brunch, or a special occasion, Brennan's Houston ensures a memorable evening with its attentive staff and delectable cuisine.
Welcoming eatery featuring wood-fired Italian pizzas & more in cozy digs with a vegetable garden.
Kata Robata is a restaurant known for its high-quality and delicious food. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance as walk-ins may have to wait. The staff, including waiters like Khai and Thai, are charming and attentive, taking pride in their job to provide an excellent dining experience. The menu features dishes such as nigiri, unagi, ocean picante roll, salmon & watermelon ceviche, and Texas wagyu bowl. The fish is tender and fresh, and the wagyu beef is incredibly soft. Standout dishes include the kanpachi nigiri and the ocean picante roll. Overall, Kata Robata is a must-visit restaurant for any sushi or Japanese cuisine lover.
Handies Douzo offers an excellent dining experience for lunch or dinner, known for its "live" hand roll concept and attentive service. The restaurant, which has a unique and charming home-like atmosphere, is a popular spot for fresh and delicious hand rolls and crudo. The hand rolls, including the spicy tuna and spicy hotate (scallop) varieties, are a standout, and the 3-piece hand roll set with a crudo is a satisfying meal option. While there is no outdoor seating and parking can be found on the street, the overall experience is positive with a friendly and helpful staff.
Squable is a cute spot in the old heights with a small indoor space and a covered outdoor patio. The food is really good, with favorites like French toast and beef tartar. The drinks are a bit pricey, but worth it. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Customers love the idea of ordering small and main plates to share, with dishes like ribeye, mafaldine, and fried fish being standouts. Desserts are divine, and brunch is recommended with a group to try everything. Overall, Squable offers fantastic food, great service, and a reasonable price point, making it worth the visit.
Asia Market Thai Lao Food is a restaurant and market offering an authentic Thai and Lao dining experience. The menu features various dishes, from the popular green curry and Massaman curry to unique options like the Drunken Noodles (KeeMao flat rice noodle with basil) and Yentafo Pink Noodles. Don't miss their pad Thai and pad see ew, which are highly recommended. The service is attentive and friendly, and the food is served in a timely manner. The restaurant also offers appetizers like steamed pork dumplings and Kao Nam Tod, a crispy fried rice dish resembling Tom Yum soup's flavor. A hidden gem with a clean and cozy atmosphere, Asia Market Thai Lao Food is an excellent choice for those seeking an authentic and flavorful meal.
Nidda Thai Cuisine is known for being the best Thai restaurant in town. The atmosphere is lovely, with music, plants, chandeliers, and artwork. Customers recommend trying the Drunken Rice, Crispy Spring Rolls, and Tom Kha Gai Soup. The Thai tea is a must-try. The prices may be a bit high for some, but it's a great spot for special occasions. The restaurant offers vegetarian and vegan options, and is family-friendly with good wheelchair accessibility and parking options. Overall, a delicious dining experience in the Montrose area.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation is a must-visit restaurant in Houston, serving authentic Tex-Mex cuisine at its finest. The restaurant offers a range of delicious dishes, including fajitas, Adobe Carne Asada, charro beans, and shrimp dishes. The service is impressive, with attentive and accommodating staff who ensure a seamless dining experience, even during busy times. The restaurant's patio is a lovely spot to enjoy a meal on a warm spring night. With its rich flavors, intricate spices, and excellent service, Ninfa's is a true gem in the heart of Houston.
Chef Aaron Bludorn and his wife Victoria are the minds behind this buzzy dining room fitted with cushy, royal blue booths, handsome wood chairs, and a gleaming open kitchen. There is something for everyone on this broad menu that pulls inspiration from all corners, swinging from seafood towers to blackened cobia with green gumbo to potato gnocchi with crawfish. Bludorn follows the seasons closely, and his servers follow their guests even closer. Plates are cleared, silverware replaced, and drinks refilled with remarkable swiftness. Dinner must close with a sizeable baked Alaska, made with a range of sorbets and ice creams like pistachio, raspberry, and gianduja all covered in meringue and lit on fire. It is as entertaining as it is satisfying.
Once a Sears department store and now a community tech hub, The Ion is a fitting home for this vibrant restaurant. Cool shades of teal, couches colored burnt orange, and plenty of light streaming in through the windows make for an airy stage for this eclectic menu by chefs Chris Williams and Sergio Hidalgo. The two celebrate cuisine in their own creative ways. Think smoked chicken drumettes with mole or a vibrant garden salad with fry bread croutons and suya dressing. Goat stew with guajillo peppers and collard green rice was one recent heartwarming effort. Much of the produce comes from Fort Bend County, where the group’s philanthropic arm runs a 10-acre farm that supports the community in a myriad of impressive ways.
If Candente were any larger, it would need its own zip code. The number of tables, the expansive patio, the bar seating that stretches the length of the kitchen – the scale of this Tex-Mex restaurant is considerable. And yet, the cooking keeps up. You could make a whole meal out of the tortilla soup, and there’s a lot to like about the enchiladas, stuffed with cheese or, notably, brisket. But we’re really here for the fajitas featuring excellent prime beef sourced from Niman Ranch. Tender cuts arrive on a sizzling cast-iron with charred onions and come with fantastic tortillas made with brisket trimmings. There’s nothing light or delicate about any of this. This is food that sticks to your bones and wipes you out until you’re ready for more.
Bring friends to this underground party of a restaurant in the Heights. Heavy beats boom through the austere, concrete dining room fit with moody lighting and a long open kitchen armed with a glowing hearth. Yes, this is where the cool people eat. The tight menu leans into live-fire cooking and pulls ideas from all over: Tataki-style albacore tuna with barley and fried chicken skin, a hands-on Caesar salad, and serious cuts of heritage pork, ribeyes, and wagyu. Sharing really is the best way forward here. The signature Basque cheesecake, topped off with caviar if desired, is a notably indulgent way to finish this big meal, but don’t underestimate a wonderfully smooth scoop of ice cream either.
True to its name, this dark, intimate space is sealed off from the strip mall outside—but when it comes to its reputation for a showy, immersive experience, the secret is certainly out. In the care of Chef Marcos Juarez, this 18-seat counter offers only two services each night and features a wide array of premium seafood prepared with a unique approach that bucks tradition. Think masu with jicama and pumpkin seed furikake or Hokkaido uni with tomato jam and Thai basil. Chefs happily engage with diners and regularly present whole cuts of fish for demonstrations.
Even after more than two decades of service, this Houston institution is as sharp as ever. The menu is focused, offering just a limited number of appetizers and salads to keep all eyes and appetites on the prime, in-house dry-aged steaks. Seasoned and seared properly, the cuts are complemented by generous, finely tuned sides like creamed spinach with ham or oversized onion rings (ask for extra crispy). Part of the genius here is the service: Veteran waiters and friendly sommeliers are effortlessly hospitable regardless of whether you order 1947 Petrus. Altogether, with white tablecloths, glossy wood paneling, and a wine list that has few equals, this restaurant captures a kind of magic that is rarely seen these days but unquestionably appreciated.
Brisket fried rice by the gas station? Only in Texas. Chef Hong Tran originally cooked brisket as a backyard hobby but now finds himself running this bustling restaurant with his family in the greater Houston area. Long lines move quickly through this well-oiled operation, which shares a parking lot with people filling up their tanks. Practically everyone is here for the same thing, and Tran’s signature dish is a reflection of his Lone Star upbringing and Vietnamese roots: Jasmine fried rice tossed with fried egg and Chinese sausage packs proper wok flavor, and each order can come with two prime, melting slabs of brisket. No need to bother with the sides when you can fill up on the pork ribs, which are beautifully tender and delicately smoked.
Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar is a Texan BBQ and Asian fusion restaurant that has garnered praise for its unique flavor blends and sleek design. The menu offers a variety of shareable dishes, including crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters, a delicious Smoked Salmon Dip, and a solid Oak Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich. Customers have also enjoyed the Crispy Potatoes and the Chocolate Chip Cookie, which features a nice balance of gooey toffee and saltiness. The restaurant is known for its family-style dining experience, with reviewers highlighting the high-quality and perfectly seasoned dishes, such as chicken wings, pulled pork queso, and spicy glass noodles. The service is described as friendly and attentive, and the interior is roomy with plenty of natural light, as well as an attractive outdoor dining area. Overall, Loro is a great spot for catching up over drinks and a variety of shareable plates, though some customers have noted that the dishes can feel a bit heavy.
The Annie Cafe & Bar offers a lovely ambiance, but the service can be slow and inconsistent. While the ahi tuna with slaw and salmon are praised, the nightly special prime rib is just okay. The restaurant may be a suitable choice for dining with a group, but falls short of the quality expected for special occasions.
Xochi is a restaurant that offers a delightful dining experience. The staff is accommodating, even providing vegetarian alternatives. The food is artfully presented, with standout dishes like Chocolate Caliente (served with churros) and Molotes de xoxocotlan (oval masa cakes). Guests can enjoy a remarkable atmosphere, making it a great choice for special occasions.
Backstreet Cafe is a restaurant that offers delicious food and an outstanding wine list. The establishment has been successful for a long time and is recognized for its fine food. Popular menu items include shrimp and grits, cheese grits with shrimp, and sautéed potatoes. The restaurant also boasts a wonderful patio and valet parking. However, it is important to note that the house-turned-restaurant has wheelchair access issues. The staff is friendly, and the ambiance is enjoyable, making it a great dining option.
Hugo's is a top-notch restaurant known for its fantastic brunch buffet on Sundays. The food is authentic, fresh, and varied, with hot dishes at all times. The Tres Leches dessert is a customer favorite, incredibly moist and topped with delicious caramel whipped cream. Other menu highlights include mole de olla, barbacoa, and chile relleno de vegetales. The atmosphere is bustling, but the staff provides excellent service. Parking is limited, with valet being the most common option. Guests praise the attentive General Manager, Ignacio, who ensures a great dining experience for everyone. Overall, Hugo's is a must-visit for an unforgettable brunch experience. Muchas gracias Hugo's and Ignacio!
Caracol is an upscale Mexican restaurant with a fantastic menu featuring seafood, vegetables, and innovative offerings. The staff is attentive and patient, creating a great atmosphere for families. The food is unique, fresh, and beautifully presented, including dishes like corn & shrimp empanadas and a blueberry mousse cake with passionfruit sorbet. Overall, Caracol never disappoints, providing a memorable dining experience.
Urbe is a beautifully appointed restaurant with very good food and drinks. The PLATO DE BOTANAS, including taquitos, gorditas, tacos al pastor, elotitos, and quesadillas, is highly recommended. The flan de queso and margaritas are delicious. The atmosphere feels authentically Mexican and classy. However, some recent menu changes, like the gorditas being filled with fat instead of pulled pork, have been disappointing. Despite this, the coffee, conchas, and overall ambience are still great. The staff is helpful and attentive, making for an enjoyable dining experience.
Georgia James Steak offers an exceptional dining experience. The service is prompt and attentive, with staff members like Garrett and Ryan going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant evening. The menu features a range of options, including the popular Tallow drink and the mouth-watering Cajun butter. The steak, brussels sprouts, and potatoes are all delicious, and the oysters are a must-try. The staff is accommodating and friendly, making guests feel like they're dining with friends. With its warm atmosphere and exceptional service, Georgia James Steak is a great choice for a night out or special occasion.
Kiran's is a long-standing favorite Indian restaurant in Houston, offering a fusion of traditional and contemporary dishes. The menu includes vegetarian-friendly options, with the kitchen dedicated to keeping tools and surfaces separate. The multi-course tasting menus are highly recommended, and the quality of food is consistently excellent. The dining room is comfortable, though it can get a bit noisy during peak hours. Prices are on the higher side, but the overall experience is worth it. Parking is available nearby, and the restaurant is child-friendly. Guests praise the service, drinks, and generous portion sizes at Kiran's. The tandoori dishes are particularly outstanding. The restaurant caters to a variety of tastes, making it a great choice even for those who may not typically choose Indian cuisine. The elegant decor, smart-casual ambiance, and friendly staff make dining at Kiran's a delightful experience. From Papadums to Vegetarian Thali and Pistachio Kheer, every dish is delicious. The restaurant also offers a range of drink options, including nonalcoholic beverages.
Crawfish & Noodles serves exceptional seafood dishes, including perfectly seasoned shrimp and flavorful crab, with crispy fries as a great side option. This restaurant consistently meets high standards, making every visit memorable. Standout dishes include seafood salad, shrimp and lotus root salad, and fragrant basil fried rice, making it a dream come true for seafood lovers.
The Blind Goat is a restaurant that offers delicious and flavorful food, with standout dishes including chicken curry, crawfish and noodles, sticky wings, deboned fish with sweet and tangy sauce, rib eye and noodles, bbq brisket fried rice, and an avocado dessert. The service is friendly and attentive. However, some customers may find the floors to be sticky and the restaurant to be a bit crowded. The portions are generous and the presentation is pleasing. The restaurant is owned by Christine Ha, a foodie favorite. The menu items are a little oily, but the flavors are not overpowered. Overall, it is a recommended dining destination for those who enjoy unique and tasty dishes.
Himalaya Restaurant offers delicious and tasty food, with popular dishes including Gola Kabab, Steak Tikka, Charga, and Garlic Naan. The butter chicken and chicken kebab platter are particularly praised. The restaurant also provides special Iftar meals during Ramadan. The host, Kaiser, is noted for his sweetness and hospitality, often greeting customers with smiles, dates, and samosas. He goes out of his way to make customers feel welcome, even providing complimentary desserts.
Irma's Original is a highly recommended restaurant in Texas, known for its exceptional service and authentic food. The family-owned establishment operates like a well-orchestrated ballet, providing a unique and enjoyable dining experience. Although there is no menu, the hostess promptly suggests the daily specials. The food is praised for its authenticity and delicious taste, with portions that are generous. Irma's is likened to a family dinner, making it a warm and inviting place to dine. The restaurant's atmosphere is further enhanced by its unique decor, including paintings that add to its charm. Overall, Irma's Original is a must-visit for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience.
J-Bar-M Barbecue offers delicious brisket and pork ribs, with an affordable price point. The BBQ, customer service, and atmosphere are all top-notch. The staff is friendly, and there are vegetarian options available. Some customers wish they had tried the Mesquite BBQ, but overall a great spot for Texas BBQ.
Gatlin's BBQ is a clean and open restaurant offering a variety of meats and sides. The brisket and pulled pork may not be the juiciest or most flavorful, but the chicken and ribs are popular favorites. The restaurant is known for its excellent service and delicious food, including the turkey plate and creative sides like Dirty Rice and macaroni. The portions are reasonable, with a focus on quality over quantity. Overall, Gatlin's BBQ is a welcoming spot that feels like home, making it a great choice for families and visitors alike.
Lucille's, a charming restaurant, offers a dining experience that combines delectable food, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Despite some minor logistical challenges, such as delays in seating and a rushed ordering process, the overall experience is praised for its warmth, comfort, and flair. The menu features a range of tempting options, including the popular "yard bird," Caesar salad, and mac & cheese, all of which are described as absolutely delicious. The restaurant's moderate upscale environment allows for both casual and dressy occasions, making it a versatile choice for various gatherings, such as a 50th birthday celebration. With its commitment to providing great food and exceptional service, Lucille's has earned a place in the regular rotation of diners who seek a memorable dining experience.
ChòpnBlọk is a restaurant serving African cuisine, known for its delicious food and speedy service. The Jollof rice with beef and beef patties are popular dishes, while the trad platter offers a taste of jambalaya, chicken, vegetables, and plantains. The chicken is tender, and the jambalaya has a pleasant spice, though not overwhelming. The staff is helpful in assisting with meal choices. This modern take on African cuisine is a must-visit for those seeking unique and flavorful dining experience.
Savor tender meats and rich flavors at this esteemed BBQ joint