Restaurants

Foodies, you’ve come to the right place. Houston’s cuisine (and appetite) rivals the likes of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. And we’ve got close to 9,000 restaurants—including some James Beard Foundation Award nominees—to prove it. Even better: the average meal here costs an average of $32.53 for 2 people—well below the national average of $35.10.

No matter when you dine out here, you probably won’t ever really eat alone. Houstonians, after all, eat out more than residents of any other city in the country (4 times a week, compared to the national average of 3.2 times).

So, what’s there to eat in this city?

The thousands of restaurants here cover every kind of cuisine you could want: American, Greek, Spanish tapas, Middle Eastern, Italian, steak, pizza, Southern and Cajun, vegetarian, hot dogs and burgers, every kind of Asian food imaginable, sandwiches and bagels, breakfast and brunch fare, Texas barbecue, seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, and, of course, Tex-­Mex—that is, Mexican food with a Texas twist. If you’re looking for a fun place to socialize, cap off a great meal, or satisfy your sweet tooth, you’ve also got your pick of exceptional dessert and coffee shops.

Overview

With nearly 9,000 restaurants in Houston, it’s impossible to list all of the great ones in the space of a chapter. In the pages that follow, you’ll find some of Houston’s hottest and, in my opinion, best restaurants. Restaurants, as well as dessert options and coffee shops, are organized by cuisine type, with only the most central, original, or most popular location listed here. Additional locations are mentioned in the listings and can be found by visiting the restaurant website.

The restaurants listed here range from highly expensive to dirt cheap, but most fall somewhere in between. The majority of Houston restaurants offer at least a few vegetarian options. You’ll also find plenty of places to dine with children; the barbecue, burger, and hot dog restaurants are particularly good candidates for family meals. Houston restaurants are usually open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, and many serve brunch on weekends. I’ve flagged restaurants that are closed on certain days or for certain meals. But you should still call ahead to double-­check a restaurant’s hours since these often change.

Also keep in mind that the Houston restaurant landscape changes constantly. By the time you read this book, some restaurants listed here may have moved or closed. So it’s a good idea to call ahead before your visit.

Houston restaurants tend to fill up on Friday and Saturday nights. Many fill up on weekdays, too. Pricier restaurants usually take reservations, so call ahead if possible.