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.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
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.
Address: 2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003
Brennan's of Houston is the 1967 Texas Creole dining room on Smith Street from the New Orleans Brennan family, with turtle soup, bananas Foster tableside.
OrderTurtle soup with sherry on the side. Bananas Foster, flambeed tableside, to close.
TipSunday jazz brunch at 10am or noon books fast.
State of Grace in Houston is Ford Fry's River Oaks dining room on Westheimer Road, a Southern-and-steakhouse menu in a glossy room with limewashed brick.
OrderA dozen Gulf oysters and the wagyu strip. The wood-grilled fish of the day on a Friday.
TipThe bar serves the full menu and is the quickest seat at peak. Sunday brunch is the local routine.
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.
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.
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.
