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 dishes: Chocolate chip cookie, Wood-fired pizza
Must 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.
Address: 3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027
Goode Company Barbeque on Kirby Drive in Houston is Jim Goode's 1977 mesquite-smoked barbecue room, the city's introduction to commercial Texas barbecue and still a Rice Village staple.
Signature: Brisket, Jalapeno pork sausage
Order: Brisket and a jalapeno pork sausage link. Jambalaya. Pecan pie to close.
Tip: Multiple Goode Company locations across Houston exist. The Kirby flagship is the original and the only one with the screened porch.
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.
Goode Company Barbeque on Kirby Drive in Houston is Jim Goode's 1977 mesquite-smoked barbecue room, the city's introduction to commercial Texas barbecue and still a Rice Village staple.
Signature: Brisket, Jalapeno pork sausage
Order: Brisket and a jalapeno pork sausage link. Jambalaya. Pecan pie to close.
Tip: Multiple Goode Company locations across Houston exist. The Kirby flagship is the original and the only one with the screened porch.
Hugo's in Houston is Hugo Ortega's regional Mexican room on Westheimer since 2002, a James Beard winner with cochinita pibil, chiles en nogada in season and a Sunday brunch buffet.
Signature: Cochinita pibil, Sunday brunch buffet
Order: Cochinita pibil. The Sunday brunch buffet. Tableside hot chocolate.
Tip: Sunday brunch books two weeks out. Lunch on weekdays is the easier slot.
Killen's Barbecue in Pearland is Ronnie Killen's smokehouse on East Broadway, a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025 pick with a Texas beef rib that defined Houston barbecue and a regular Top 50 ranking.
Signature: Beef rib, Brisket
Order: The Texas beef rib. Brisket fatty. The creamed corn.
Tip: Lunch only Tuesday through Saturday; sold out by mid-afternoon. The beef rib runs out first; order on entry.
Truth BBQ in Houston is Leonard Botello IV's Heights Boulevard smokehouse since 2019, with post-oak-smoked brisket regularly ranked on Texas Monthly's Top 50 list and a strawberry cake to close.
Signature: Brisket, Strawberry cake
Order: Brisket fatty. The strawberry cake (the legend of Truth). Pulled pork.
Tip: Wed to Sun lunch only until sold out, usually 2 to 3pm. Get there by 11am for brisket.
Coltivare in Houston is the Heights Italian room on White Oak Drive from Ryan Pera, with wood-fired pizzas, on-site vegetable gardens and a small-plates menu open evenings only.
Signature: Wood-fired Margherita pizza, Garden salad
Order: Margherita pizza, whichever pasta is on the daily board, the salad from the back garden.
Tip: Walk-in only, party of six max. Get there before 6pm or wait an hour.
