Restaurants in Houston
I spent a great deal of time in the last 36 months (just two visits, however, since April) in Houston, including this last week. These are some of the absolute must-try restaurants in Houston from someone who knows the city well.
It’s no secret that restaurants are struggling right now. The ever-changing environment, diminished demand, and concern from the public have put many Houston restaurants in a tough position. It’s important that we support them during this time when possible.
Lupe Tortilla
The smell of warm tortillas, both baked and fried are what Lupe Tortilla is known for. The Tex-Mex join is a local chain with spots all over the city. They make their own tortillas in-house and it makes all the difference.
Tex-Mex is an institution in Texas and Lupe Tortilla offers reasonable prices, plenty of locations, and delivers on its promise for fresh food. They offer brunch, a full bar, and standard lunch and dinner, but whatever you order you must have the tortillas.
Image Credit: Lupe Tortilla
Corkscrew BBQ
Just north of Houston in Spring, TX, Corkscrew is one of those epic BBQ pits where if you aren’t there early, there may not be any left at all. The doors open at 11 AM at Corkscrew and whether you’re hungry yet or not, I recommend arriving at least 15 minutes prior to open.
Texas BBQ is nothing short of art. From the selection of wood (is white oak better than hickory?) to serving style, barbeque may trade in casual but Corkscrew is serious about its process and its food.
Image Credit: Kyle Stewart
For all of Corkscrew’s strengths, the sausage is a hard pass, but make sure to order the “Moist Brisket” (top left) which is melt-in-your-mouth. Sides are just as important as the meat (don’t let anyone tell you differently), so do not leave without ordering potato salad (pureed to perfection) nor the cobbler – if they still have some when you arrive.
Corkscrew BBQ is only open Thursday-Sunday 11 am – 4 pm, because when you’re as good as they are, why not?
Perry’s Steakhouse
Perry’s Steakhouse is a local legend for good reason. The miniature chain’s signature entree is its Pork Chop and it might be the best I have ever had anywhere in the world. It’s known as the “seven finger” pork chop as it is measured by how tall it stands as cut by a butcher, seven fingers end-to-end from the chopping block.
This six-inch tall pork chop is actually three different cuts including: the loin, ribs, and eyelash cut. The lunch portion is a five finger cut. Seasoned perfectly, the staff will cut the chop for you tableside. It includes seasoned butter over the top, a slice of lime, mashed potatoes, and a ramekin of applesauce.
Image Credit: Kyle Stewart
The steakhouse is of the white-linen variety. The rest of the menu delivers Prime cuts as well, but the chop is just so terribly tempting that I rarely order anything else. While the chop can be expennsive for dinner, on Wednesdays and Fridays, the lunch portion is just $15 – an absolute steal.
Good luck getting a table.
And just for good measure, here’s that beautiful chop carved in front of you with a step-by-step guide.
You’re welcome.
Finn Hall
In the JP Morgan Chase building in the heart of downtown Houston, Finn Hall is part of a wave of new food halls that offer smaller restaurants an upscale environment to vet their concepts. Some of the best and most innovative food is featured at Finn Hall.
Restaurants like Lit Chicken offer the best-fried chicken west of Alabama, but it’s not all southern comfort food at Finn Hall. Modern takes on classics serve everything from Banh Mi sandwiches to Fully-loaded Baked Potato pizza. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw foie gras sliders from enterprising new chefs.
If you’re visiting Houston on business, pop in over lunch for something completely different.
Image Credit: Buzz Magazine
Shipley Do-Nuts
A donut shop? Well, no. Technically it’s a do-nut shop, at least according to the signage at Shipley. They could call it whatever they want and they’d still have an adoring crowd.
Image Credit: Kyle Stewart
They have just about every kind of do-nut (why not spell it that way) but the showstopper is a fresh, hot, glazed, and raised do-nut. I don’t know how they do it, but fresh out of the oven – and only if eaten instantly – it will completely disintegrate in your mouth. It’s the greediest thing you might do all day.
If they don’t have some that are hot right out of the oven, wait for the next batch. This is common practice and the staff expects it.
When I first arrive in Houston, I race to Shipley Do-Nuts, but more often than not, I order a sausage and cheese kolache. There is an interesting history of Texas and its affection toward a Czech breakfast pastry.
While it’s actually a Klobasnek, the savory sausage and cheese roll is an unhealthy but terribly satisfying way to start your day. This is not fine dining, but the quality of the dough and the simplicity of the roll is fantastic.
Image Credit: Kyle Stewart
Nancy’s Hustle
Nancy’s Hustle is a candiate for a Michelin-star. Home to a James Beard award-winner, the creativity on the menu runs the gamut and pushes boundaries. Among the highlights, the Houston Chronicle was dazzled by a cheesecake with black pepper honey as a take on cacio e pepe.
Nancy’s Hustle is one of those places that tries for casual but demands serious, experienced foodies. Its playful menu is designed to be clever and cheeky but don’t take it for granted.
Image Credit: Houston Chronicle
In the warehouse district, Houston hotspot, Theodore Rex is a must-try location from the owners of Nancy’s Hustle. That restaurant (focused on clever pan-Asian food) is transitioning to Little Foot though there is little information about the opening. No doubt it will be legendary as well.
Buster’s Crawfish
Crawfish boils are a tradition in Lousiana and many Texans have celebrated the tradition either in their neighboring state or by Cajuns that bring the tradition to the Lonestar State. In one of the great tragedies in all of culinary history, crawfish boils just have not transferred to the restaurant scene in the same way that other great cookouts have.
Until now.
Image Credit: Kyle Stewart
Buster’s Crawfish (three locations in the Houston area and one in Fort Worth) serves up crawfish boils “Coonass” style (the term for a hard-working, blue-collar Cajun.) On plastic platters at picnic tables, this Louisiana favorite cuisine is hard to find at restaurants and usually is more of a backyard tradition.
What distinguishes Buster’s crawfish from others is in the water. While inspiration comes from the Creole Gulf coast, its locally-sourced crawfish are raised in higher quality water. In the ultimate farm-to-table concept, the crawfish farmer is the owner of Buster’s ensuring end-to-end quality driven by himself or farm hands live from Lousiana.
Image Credit: Kyle Stewart
Conclusion
Houston is one of the largest cities in the United States and its palete has matured substantially in recent years. These are not every great restaurant in Houston – there are others. I am certain at least a few experienced visitors and residents will have their own to add to the list and by all means they should. However, these are the seven that I consider to be “must-try” and sure to deliver a quality experience by every guest.
What do you think? Have you tried some on this list? What would you add to your list of must-try restaurants in Houston, Texas