Top 9 Must Try Restaurants in Houston

In the last few years, Houston's restaurant industry has expanded rapidly. With its large communities of people and its extreme diversity, Houston's culinary scene offers a veritable rainbow of flavors and cuisines. Whether it's a multi-course tasting menu, a Cajun crawfish boil, or an authentic Vietnamese meal, this city has everything you might want to satisfy your appetite.

Following are the top 9 restaurants in Houston that are sure to make you come back, longing for more:

Crawfish & Noodles is known for its distinctive Vietnamese-Cajun fusion cuisine. The restaurant specialty known as "Viet Cajun” is worth trying here. It is known for its spicy blend of Chile pepper and garlic butter and comes in four heat levels: mild, medium, spicy, and hot, whatever you prefer. The owner and chef of this restaurant, Trong Nguyen was a semifinalist for the 2018 James Beard Award so you can be sure that he serves some delicious crawfish. Additional detectable meals include stir-fried rice-and-beef, Bo luc lac, blue crab, chicken wings, and more. It is one of the best restaurants in Houston for enjoying Vietnamese cuisine.

11360 Bellaire Blvd #990, Houston, TX 77072

If you are looking for good restaurants in Houston that offer finger-licking good BBQ, then Killen’s Barbecue is the place to be. It impresses with its perfectly blackened brisket and expertly smoked meats, thanks to Ronnie Killen's mastery. The summer camp-style cafeteria offers a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy cool beers. Their pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw is also a standout.

3613 E Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77581

The menu at Uchi offers a variety of options for visitors including their famous sushi rolls and a wide variety of Japanese cuisine. Don’t forget to try out the yellowtail with ponzu and Thai chili, kinoke nabe, and the mouthwatering mushroom hotpot that will bless your taste buds. In addition to this, they also have a dessert menu so don’t forget to try the fried milk. Along with cocktails, you can also choose from their large selection of wine and sake, being among the best restaurants in Houston TX for Japanese food.

904 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

Da Gama canteen offers a variety of Portuguese-Indian dishes to its customers including masala hummus, quejo de Gama, fufos, and samosas. The food here has very different flavors and is merely spicy. From the famous Indian street style pav bhaji to crunchy power bowl, there is a wide range of mixed culture food. They also offer a vast range of cocktails, from their famous drink Sachin Tendulkar which is named after an Indian cricketer, to other options including mocktails and coffee drinks. This place is a paradise for sophisticated cocktails and concoctions including anything from butterfly pea blossoms to basil cordials.

600 N Shepherd Dr Suite 520, Houston, TX 77007

Houston has many restaurants offering Japanese cuisine, but Sherman Yeung’s Money Cat restaurant sets the standard apart from others. From their famous sushi, and sandwiches to delicious dinner platters this restaurant has something for everyone. A must-try lunch option here is chicken katsu sando which is fried chicken layered with Japanese tartar sauce and tamari caramel between fluffy bread. Other dishes like rich egg custard, king crab chawanmushi, crispy octopus with mushrooms, and tako fungi are extraordinary, and some tasty examples of the chef's lighthearted approach to Asian cooking. 

2925 Richmond Ave. Suite 140, Houston, TX 77098

Xochi, owned by Hugo Ortega, is a trendy downtown restaurant serving Oaxacan-inspired dishes, along with a selection of creative cocktails and wines. Ideal for an elegant meal. The menu celebrates the culinary heritage of Oaxaca, Mexico, showcasing an array of traditional dishes. It features a selection of house-made masa and corn-based creations, a variety of rich moles, and unique ingredients like grasshoppers, which are seldom found in fine dining across Houston or elsewhere in the country.

1777 Walker St, Houston, TX 77010

Hugo is a Mexican restaurant in Houston that is named after Chef Hugo Ortega’s name. It is located in a historical and renovated Latin-styled building. Their menu offers a large selection of tequila and great cocktails and in addition to that, it also features scratch-made, traditional cuisine from several parts of Mexico. Desserts are also served here, and the house band plays live music as visitors eat and mingle, creating a modern, elegant fine dining atmosphere.

1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

5kinokawa which is situated in the historic Heights area is opened by chef Billy Kin and is famous for its Hidden Omakase and Blackbird Izakaya. The Omakase features ingredients sourced weekly from Japan's Toyosu Market. The menu features highlights like exquisite O-Toro and marbled Wagyu, complete with their birth certificates. Chef Billy adds drama to the dining experience, which varies with the seasons for a unique visit each time.

3119 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

If you are searching for good places to eat in Houston which offers a diverse variety of cuisines, then Joey Uptown is a must-visit. Chef Chris Mills and Matthew Stowe at Joey Uptown offer a menu with different cuisines from around the world. From Mediterranean hummus, and Szechuan tofu to Japanese dishes there is something for everyone here. Their menu accommodates a wide range of tastes by offering dishes like Italian pasta, truffle fries, sushi, and also steaks and lobsters. The spacious interior boasts a living green roof, plush leather couches, and abundant plants, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Outside, the patio features a retractable cover, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a bottle of wine and watch the weather change.

5054 Westheimer Rd Suite X01, Houston, TX 77056