40 editor picks in Houston.
40 mid-range places in Houston, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Houston, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Houston food.
Truth BBQ in Houston is Leonard Botello IV's Heights Boulevard smokehouse, the Brenham original relocated in 2019, with post-oak-smoked brisket Texas.
OrderBrisket fatty, sliced thick. Pulled pork. A side of pinto beans and a slice of the strawberry cake.
TipOpen Wed to Sun, lunch only until they sell out (usually 2 to 3pm). Get there by 11am for brisket; the line moves fast.
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.
OrderBrisket fatty. The strawberry cake (the legend of Truth). Pulled pork.
TipWed to Sun lunch only until sold out, usually 2 to 3pm. Get there by 11am for brisket.
Refuge in Houston is Bobby Heugel's late-night cocktail apartment on Westheimer Road, above Anvil, with reservations-only stirred cocktails and a snack menu.
OrderStirred whiskey cocktails and bar snacks
TipReservations only via website. Late slot at 22:00 is the post-dinner option after Bludorn or March.
Himalaya Restaurant in Houston is Kaiser Lashkari's Pakistani-Indian Hillcroft strip-mall kitchen, a James Beard semifinalist room hiding in a freeway.
OrderLamb biryani slow-cooked dum, hunter's beef.
TipOrder the slow-cooked dum lamb biryani and hunter's beef. BYOB; corner liquor store across Hillcroft is the run.
Hugo's Sunday brunch in Houston is Hugo Ortega's Mexican buffet on Westheimer Road, with chilaquiles, three moles, sopes, churros and the regional Mexican.
OrderThe buffet itself: chilaquiles, mole, sopes, churros
Tip12pm seating sells out two weeks ahead; 10am seating is easier. Tableside hot chocolate is the closing course.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston is Ninfa Laurenzo's 1973 Tex-Mex room, the birthplace of the restaurant fajita, still serving skirt steak tacos.
OrderFajitas (tacos al carbon) for two, a Ninfarita on the rocks, queso and chips.
TipBack patio under the strings of lights beats the front room. The bar opens 90 minutes before the dining room.
Himalaya in Houston is Kaiser Lashkari's Pakistani-and-Indian room on the Southwest Freeway since 2004, a James Beard semifinalist kitchen with lamb biryani.
OrderLamb biryani, hunter's beef, chai-glazed lamb chops, garlic naan.
TipWeekday lunch buffet is the value entry. BYOB, with a corner liquor store across Hillcroft.
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.
OrderThe Texas beef rib. Brisket fatty. The creamed corn.
TipLunch only Tuesday through Saturday; sold out by mid-afternoon. The beef rib runs out first; order on entry.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston is Ninfa Laurenzo's 1973 Tex-Mex room, the birthplace of the restaurant fajita, still serving skirt steak tacos.
OrderThe fajitas (tacos al carbon) for two. A Ninfarita on the rocks first.
TipSit on the back patio under the strings of lights. The front room is loud and the bar takes 90 minutes to clear at 7pm.
Himalaya Restaurant in Houston is Kaiser Lashkari's Pakistani-and-Indian room on the Southwest Freeway since 2004, with lamb biryani, hunter's beef.
OrderLamb biryani (slow-cooked dum style), hunter's beef and one of the chai-glazed lamb chops.
TipLunch buffet runs weekdays and is the value entry. BYOB; the corner liquor store across Hillcroft is the run.
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.
OrderMargherita pizza, whichever pasta is on the daily board, the salad from the back garden.
TipWalk-in only, party of six max. Get there before 6pm or wait an hour.
Phat Eatery in Katy (west of Houston) is the Malaysian street food kitchen in Katy Asian Town from the late Alex Au-Yeung, with beef rendang.
OrderBeef rendang, roti canai with curry chicken dip, char kway teow.
TipKaty is 30 miles west of Houston. Combine with H Mart and Asian Town. The Woodlands second location is the other option.
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.
OrderCochinita pibil. The Sunday brunch buffet. Tableside hot chocolate.
TipSunday brunch books two weeks out. Lunch on weekdays is the easier slot.
Tacos Tierra Caliente in Houston is the West Alabama taco truck open until 10pm in Montrose, with al pastor from the trompo and an ice house next door.
OrderTacos al pastor
TipThree al pastor with pineapple and a consomme. The West Alabama Ice House next door is open later for beers.
Crawfish and Noodles in Houston is Trong Nguyen's Bellaire Boulevard Viet-Cajun crawfish room since 2008, a James Beard semifinalist. At 11360 Bellaire Blvd.
OrderCrawfish in lemongrass garlic butter sauce. Blue crab off-season.
TipCrawfish only in season (late February to early June). Off-season the kitchen pivots to blue crab and Dungeness; both are worth ordering.
Brennan's of Houston is the 1967 Texas Creole jazz brunch on Smith Street from the New Orleans Brennan family, with eggs Sardou, bananas Foster tableside.
OrderEggs Sardou, bananas Foster tableside, jazz brunch trio set
TipSunday jazz brunch at 10am or 12pm sells out. Reserve the courtyard if weather is below 30C.
Killen's Barbecue in Pearland (south of Houston) is Ronnie Killen's smokehouse on East Broadway, a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025 pick with a Texas beef rib.
OrderThe Texas beef rib (one is enough for two), brisket fatty and the creamed corn side.
TipTuesday through Saturday lunch only, sold out by mid-afternoon. The beef rib runs out first; order it on entry.
Nancy's Hustle in Houston is the EaDo bistro on Polk Street since 2017, with Nancy Cakes cornbread, a much-copied burger and a serious natural-wine list.
OrderNancy Cakes and the burger. Pasta of the day. Order from the by-the-glass list.
TipBar seats are first-come, dining room takes reservations. The patio in mild weather is the play.
Mala Sichuan Bistro in Houston is the Bellaire Boulevard Sichuan room since 2011, a Michelin-recommended kitchen with serious mapo tofu, dan dan noodles.
OrderMapo tofu, dan dan noodles, dry-fried green beans, chilli-oil dumplings.
TipCold appetiser cabinet near the door has marinated beef and tendon that are the menu's quiet stars.
Pondicheri in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's modern Indian room at WestAve on Kirby Drive since 2011, with masala omelette breakfasts, thali plates.
OrderMasala omelette and roti at breakfast. The thali plate at dinner. The Bake Lab's chai bun for the road.
TipBreakfast (7am to 11am) is the lesser-known peak. The thali changes daily; ask first.
Greenway Coffee in Houston is David Buehrer's third-wave roaster behind Blacksmith and the Anvil Bar coffee program, with single origins and a Greenway Plaza.
TipBuy whole bean at Blacksmith (Westheimer) rather than the roastery itself; the cafe stock turns over weekly.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company in Houston is the Lyons Avenue brewery from Brock Wagner, since 1994 the oldest craft brewery in Texas, with a beer garden.
TipOrder the Art Car IPA on draft. The beer hall is family-friendly and has a kid menu; the beer garden has skyline views.
Phat Eatery in Katy (west of Houston) is the late Alex Au-Yeung's Malaysian street food kitchen, a James Beard semifinalist room hidden 30 miles west.
OrderBeef rendang, roti canai with curry chicken dip, char kway teow.
TipCombine the trip with H Mart and Asian Town. Lunch is quieter than dinner.
Pondicheri brunch in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's Indian breakfast at WestAve on Kirby, with masala omelette and roti, chai-glazed buns and the Bake Lab.
OrderMasala omelette and roti, chicken kati roll, masala chai
TipWeekday breakfast (7-11am) is the quiet peak. Order an extra chai bun from the Bake Lab on the way out.
Coltivare in Houston is Ryan Pera's Italian room on White Oak Drive since 2014, with wood-fired pizzas, on-site vegetable gardens and salads pulled minutes.
OrderThe Margherita pizza and whichever pasta is on the day's board. Salads come from the back garden.
TipWalk-in only. Get there before 6pm or be ready to wait at the bar for 90 minutes.
Crawfish and Noodles in Houston is Trong Nguyen's Viet-Cajun room on Bellaire Boulevard since 2008, the country's defining Viet-Cajun crawfish boil.
OrderA pound of crawfish (in season Feb to June), the blue crab in house garlic butter, salt-pepper shrimp.
TipCrawfish are seasonal. October to January menu pivots to blue crab and Dungeness. Cash card surcharges apply.
London Sizzler in Houston is the British-Indian-Pakistani room in the Olympic Center on the Southwest Freeway, with mixed-grill sizzlers, tandoori lamb chops.
OrderMixed-grill sizzler for two. Tandoori lamb chops. A sweet lassi.
TipKitchen runs late on weekends, to 11pm. Closed Mondays Walk-ins usually OK.
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.
OrderThe chocolate chip cookie warm with milk. Whichever pizza is on. Salad of the day at lunch.
TipBrunch on weekends draws a 90-minute line. Weekday lunch is the move. Order an extra dozen cookies for home.
Anvil Bar and Refuge in Houston is the Montrose cocktail bar on Westheimer open until 2am, with a 100-cocktail list, a small bar-snack menu and one.
Order100-cocktail list and bar snacks
TipSit at the back bar to see the cocktail program. Order the Brave, then ask the bartender for an off-menu stirred drink.
Nancy's Hustle in Houston is the EaDo bistro on Polk Street since 2017, with the much-copied Nancy Cakes cornbread, a strong natural-wine list and a counter.
OrderNancy Cakes (cornbread with bottarga butter) and the burger. The pasta of the day is always good.
TipBar seats are first-come; the dining room takes reservations. Sunday burger night still draws a line.
Phat Eatery in Katy (west of Houston) is the late Alex Au-Yeung's Malaysian street food room in Katy Asian Town, with beef rendang, roti canai.
OrderBeef rendang, roti canai with curry chicken dip, char kway teow.
TipKaty is 30 miles west of downtown Houston; combine the trip with H Mart and Asian Town. Lunch is quieter.
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.
OrderFajitas, the beef rib parrillada, a stacked margarita.
TipThe Navigation flagship is the original; other locations exist citywide. Patio in cool weather.
Boomtown Coffee in Houston is the Heights roaster-cafe on West 19th Street, with single origins from Ethiopia and Kenya, espresso drinks and a Heights.
TipThe pour-over bar is the move. Bring a friend; the front room is busy on weekends.
Catalina Coffee in Houston is the Washington Avenue roaster from Max Gonzalez, since 2010 with espresso, single origins and a Tequila Mockingbird tequila bar.
TipThe cappuccino is the house signature. Sit at the back patio in cool weather.
Holler Brewing in Houston is the Sawyer Yards brewery on Edwards Street in a converted Studemont warehouse, with a sour and saison program and a small-batch.
TipSaturday and Sunday afternoons get crowded; Friday is the move. Bring your own food; trucks rotate weekly.
Tacos Tierra Caliente in Houston is the West Alabama Montrose taco truck, with al pastor from a real trompo and an after-hours chef-crowd reputation.
OrderThree al pastor with pineapple. Carne asada with consomme.
TipLate at night the line moves fast; the al pastor trompo is still spinning at midnight. Bring tacos into the ice house.
Nancy's Hustle brunch in Houston is the EaDo bistro on Polk Street with Nancy Cakes cornbread, the burger and a Saturday-Sunday brunch service.
OrderNancy Cakes, the burger, a glass of natural orange
TipBar walk-in is the easier seat. The brunch burger holds up better than the brunch egg dish.
Mala Sichuan Bistro in Houston is the Bellaire Boulevard Sichuan room since 2011, with serious mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and a chilli-oil dumpling order.
OrderMapo tofu, dan dan noodles, the dry-fried green beans and the chilli-oil dumplings.
TipOrder at least one dish from the cold appetiser cabinet near the door. The marinated beef is the menu's quiet star.
Pondicheri in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's modern Indian room at WestAve on Kirby Drive since 2011, with masala omelette breakfasts, thali plates.
OrderMasala omelette with roti at breakfast. The thali plate at dinner.
TipBreakfast (7am to 11am) is the lesser-known peak. The thali changes daily; ask what is on it before you order.
Karbach Brewing in Houston is the Karbach Street brewery and restaurant from a 2011 founding (since acquired by AB InBev), with Hopadillo IPA.
TipThe brewery patio is the family-friendly seat. Tours run Saturday afternoon; book in advance via the website.
Guided tour · 5 hours
Discover the best of Houston with a local guide on a private tour. Explore the city's unique neighborhoods and communities, see some of the hidden gems in Htown, and l...
2 hours
Learn to make fresh pasta from scratch in a cooking class with Chef Roger in Houston. Enjoy a complete meal that you’ll cook and enjoy yourself.
Guided tour · 1h 30m
Explore Houston on a guided bus tour with a tea service. Sip on premium teas, enjoy freshly baked scones, and learn about the city's history as you pass by iconic landmarks.