Argentine$galleria-uptown
The Original Marini's Empanada House in Houston is the Argentine family kitchen on Westheimer in Westchase since 2007 (1971 in Montrose), with 80 savoury and 39 sweet empanada flavours.
Signature: Beef empanadas, Argentine flan
Order: Classic beef empanada (baked, the original), the corn empanada, the dulce de leche dessert version.
Tip: Order half-dozen mixed (savoury) plus a single sweet to taste. The fried versions are heavier; baked is closer to the Argentine original.
American diner, burgers$midtown
Lankford Grocery & Market in Houston is the 1939 corner-store-turned-burger-shack on Dennis Street in Midtown, with the Grim burger, weekday breakfast and a Diners Drive-Ins and Dives feature.
Signature: Grim burger, Eggs and grits breakfast
Order: The Grim (a Hatch chile burger with American cheese, jalapenos and house sauce). Sweet potato fries.
Tip: Cash and card. Closed weekends. Sit at the picnic tables outside; the indoor counter is a single bench.
Tex-Mex, icehouse$the-heights
Eight Row Flint in Houston is the Heights icehouse from Agricole Hospitality in a converted Citgo gas station on Yale Street, with brisket tacos, frozen margaritas and 200 whiskeys.
Signature: Brisket tacos, Margarita
Order: Brisket tacos, the frozen-tied-with-Topo-Chico margarita, queso fundido.
Tip: The patio under the old gas station canopy is the seat. East End second location for a different crowd.
Tex-Mex$$east-end
El Tiempo Cantina on Navigation in Houston is Roland Laurenzo's Tex-Mex room (son of Ninfa Laurenzo) next to the Original Ninfa's, with fajitas, beef rib parrilladas and stacked margaritas.
Signature: Fajitas, Beef rib parrillada
Order: Fajitas, the beef rib parrillada, a stacked margarita.
Tip: The Navigation flagship is the original; other locations exist citywide. Patio in cool weather.
American garden cafe$$rice-village-upper-kirby
Tiny Boxwoods in Houston is the garden-cafe on West Alabama in the Thompson + Hanson nursery, with a chocolate chip cookie that became a Houston object, wood-fired pizzas and an oak-shaded patio.
Signature: Chocolate chip cookie, Wood-fired pizza
Order: The chocolate chip cookie warm with milk. Whichever pizza is on. Salad of the day at lunch.
Tip: Brunch on weekends draws a 90-minute line. Weekday lunch is the move. Order an extra dozen cookies for home.
Vietnamese$midtown
Cali Sandwich & Pho in Houston is the Travis Street Vietnamese counter in Midtown, a Houston banh mi institution since 1979 with bo luc lac, rice plates and salt-pepper tofu.
Signature: Banh mi, Bo luc lac
Order: BBQ pork banh mi. Bo luc lac (shaking beef) over rice. A Vietnamese iced coffee.
Tip: Cash strongly preferred. Closed Sundays. The pho here is solid but the banh mi is the reason.
