What is in season in Houston. and what to order when the market changes.
Spring
- Louisiana crawfish: Live crawfish boils peak February through May. Bellaire Boulevard Viet-Cajun boilers run weekend lines through late spring.
- Texas strawberries: Poteet and Plant City strawberries hit Urban Harvest and farmers markets from March through May.
- Gulf shrimp: Brown shrimp season opens mid-May in the Gulf of Mexico; fresh-off-the-boat at Galveston piers and Urban Harvest.
- Asparagus and ramps: Texas asparagus at farmers markets through April. Wild ramps from East Texas at West Loop tasting menus.
- Gulf snapper: Red snapper season opens June 1 but recreational fishermen land May; chef kitchens get first cuts late May.
Summer
- Texas peaches: Fredericksburg and Hill Country peaches at Urban Harvest from mid-June through early August.
- Gulf tomatoes: Heirloom and field tomatoes peak July through September at Urban Harvest and Memorial Villages markets.
- Watermelon: East Texas watermelon and Black Diamond from Knapp Farms peak in July; the side patios sell juice spritzes.
- Sweet corn: Texas sweet corn at markets from May through August. Elote carts run Long Point Road and the East End.
- Gulf snapper and grouper: Federal red snapper season runs June 1 to roughly mid-July; private-vessel quotas extend into autumn.
Autumn
- Gulf oysters: Oyster season opens November 1 in Texas Gulf bays. Steamhouse Lounge and Brennan's peak service November through April.
- Texas pecans: Pecan harvest October through December. San Saba and Comanche county pecans show up in pies and at the holiday markets.
- Pumpkin and Hubbard squash: Texas squash at the Saturday markets from October. Pondicheri runs a pumpkin masala lassi seasonally.
- Persimmon and pomegranate: Texas-grown Fuyu persimmons and pomegranates at Urban Harvest in November and December.
- Wild game: Hunting season runs November to January. Bludorn and March put quail, venison and dove on the menu through autumn.
Winter
- Gulf oysters: Peak oyster service December through February. Brennan's, Steakhouse 51, Goode Co. Seafood and the Pappas chains lead the rotation.
- Citrus: Rio Grande Valley grapefruit, navel oranges and Meyer lemons hit Urban Harvest from December through March.
- Vietnamese hot pot: Bellaire Boulevard hot pot rooms peak through January and February. Mr. Hot Pot and Pho Binh run the family-style services.
- Brisket and barbecue: Truth BBQ, Killen's and Pinkerton's run shorter winter lines. Cooler weather is the better post-line eating window.
- Tamales: Christmas-week tamales from Hugo's and the El Tiempo Cantina kitchen; family panaderias along Navigation run pre-orders.
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