This popular Korean BBQ restaurant creates an interactive dining experience, making it an engaging and affordable hangout for groups excited to get in on the cooking action. Gen Korean’s All You Can Eat format (about $22 during lunch and $32 during dinner) allows diners to choose from a selection of raw beef, chicken, or pork—all of which is cooked on a grill in the middle of the table. Diners can enjoy their meal with unlimited banchan or sides, including cucumber, potato salad, kimchi, or extra rice. For an additional charge, pair the meal with soju or one of the house cocktails. If the thought of cooking the ingredients is intimidating, no worries—the restaurant’s servers will help walk you through the process.

This newer hot spot on Washington Avenue is already a top destination for smaller groups looking for somewhere to relax after a long week. While the cocktails are certainly a draw—chamomile old-fashioneds; vodka-fueled mango sticky rice drinks made with coconut milk, mango, and pandan; nonalcoholic Freshtails; and the Carajilla, a carajillo infused with the choice mezcal or tequila,—the food menu is just as good. Diners can choose from the cast-iron corn bread, sesame guacamole, and a $7 smashburger deal before 7pm. Keep this one in mind for the cooler weather: Good God, Nadine’s spacious patio is a prime spot for a group happy hour.

No one benefits more from a food hall more than friends with different cravings. Head to this Downtown food hall and peruse its nine different stalls until something speaks to you. Diners can enjoy a variety of cuisines, including Korean dishes from Nyam Nyam; burgers from Proper; tacos from Papalo Taqueria; Hawaiian dishes from Maui Bowls; freshly squeezed juices from Cranky Carrot Juice Co.; and a selection of European-inspired dishes with a Texas twist from Artistry. If looking for a boozy reprieve, visit HiFi, the Finn’s Tokyo-inspired cocktail bar and lounge. It boasts vinyl beats, diverse drinks, and bar bites like sliders and dumplings.

Similar to the Finn, friends don’t have to agree on where to dine at this downtown food hall. Instead, they can head to the Lyric and then split up to explore its many options. Diners can find sandwiches at 1929 Po-Boy Kitchen; Mexican cuisine at Mexology; Belgian waffles with sweet and savory toppings at Press Waffle Co.; refreshing smoothies, acai bowls, and parfaits at Oasis; and Szechuan, Hunan, and Cantonese cuisine at Shun Kitchen. Once you have purchased your meal, convene at one of its many tables to dine together. Then, grab a drink at the Lyric Bar, where wine, draft beers, and cocktails like an espresso martini and Lychee Love Potions (with vodka, grapefruit, lychee liqueur, and mint) are on offer.

In search of a casual spot that’s great for mingling? Look no further than Loro. This Asian smokehouse and bar offers plenty of seating, immaculate vibes, appetizing dishes, and refreshing cocktails and mocktails. Start with wonton chips and dips, smoked wings, oak-grilled edamame, or the chicken karaage for the table. Then, dive into one of Loro’s entrées, which include plates of smoked meats, pulled pork sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and rice bowls built with proteins like Malaysian curry chicken, oak-smoked grilled steak, and curry-marinated shrimp. Sip on cocktails like the mandarin margarita, made with tequila, mezcal, tangerine, and yuzu, or opt for a classic Moscow mule. Those skipping alcohol can try one of Loro’s zero-proof drinks, such as the spicy cucumber with lime, yuzu, and ghost agave, or the blackberry Thai margarita, a combination of Ritual tequila alternative, lime, and Thai basil.

A night out on the town in Montrose almost always guarantees a good time, and Mi Luna is a great place to start. With its family-style menu, this Spanish restaurant allows diners to fuel up on plenty of shareable dishes and cocktails, including its signature homemade sangria. Whet your appetite with tapas, including classic croquettes, serrano ham and cheese on brioche, marinated octopus in sherry vinaigrette, and shrimp in lemon garlic olive oil with red chili peppers, before enjoying some of its larger plates. You can’t go wrong with the Moroccan chicken, branzino asado, or its paellas. Check out Mi Luna’s extensive wine list, too, which features bottles from Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Large high-top tables and mimosa towers on weekends (brunch is served until 4pm Saturdays and Sundays) make this Houston restaurant a favorite for friend groups. Its daily menu features juicy burgers like the Houston Cowboy, a thick patty topped with cheddar, Marieke gouda, tomato-bacon jam, bacon, sambal mayo, guacamole, and jalapeños, all of which comes loaded on a challah bun. For other handheld items there’s shawarma or chicken club wraps and tacos filled with your choice of beef, chicken, shrimp, or fish. Weekend brunch hits on the classics, with steak and eggs, avocado toast, and pancakes, plus hearty dishes, including three types of skillets. The Cowboy skillet features bacon, sausage, and ground beef; the Harvest is made with spinach, asparagus tips, mushrooms, and bell peppers; and the comforting chilaquiles skillet features red salsa, corn tortilla chips, avocado, queso fresco, red onions, cilantro, sour cream, and eggs.

This Malaysian restaurant quickly gained popularity after the late Alex Au-Yeung opened it in Katy in 2022. Now, its spacious location in The Woodlands has become a convenient go-to for diners entertaining larger groups and families. Its dining room features floor-to-ceiling windows that peek into nearby wooded areas, and invites guests to enjoy family-style diner favorites, including award-winning beef rendang, roti canai, curry laksa, egg tofu, stir-fried noodles, and rice dishes, with newer additions including dim sum. The cocktail menu, which features an assortment of specials and mainstays, is another draw that showcases Asian diasporic flavors. 

For a night filled with nostalgia and comforting food, stop by one of Houston’s newest pizza joints. Filled with retro, neon decor and of course, pinball games, Pinball Pizzeria offers a fun place to devour cheesy slices. Though it is on the smaller side, the upstairs can accommodate a smaller group of about four people. Begin your visit with an order of mozzarella or breadsticks, followed by a build-your-own pizza or a signature pie like the buffalo chicken or ham and pineapple.

Houston’s former post-office-turned-multiuse-entertainment-hub is a tried-and-true destination for hungry locals, especially those dining in groups. Post Houston’s food hall, Post Market, is best explored with company thanks to its array of different cuisines. Diners can indulge in West African cuisine from ChòpnBlọk, South American cuisine from Andes Café, Filipino staples from stall Soy Pinoy, and sushi from KWO. Looking to try it all? Make a plan to divide and conquer. Each person in your group can order from a different restaurant and unleash the bounty on one of the communal tables to share. Check out the bar seating and cocktails at twin postal-themed bars: Return to Sender and Address Unknown. End your Post adventure with a scoop or a cone from Flower & Cream.

With booths indoors and table seating on a patio that feels like an escape, Traveler’s Cart is an excellent option for groups of four or more. The menu at this Montrose restaurant hedges on global street food, making it an ideal choice for groups with varying palates. Stop in for street snacks like Colombian cheese bread, butter chicken samosas, or pan-fried cumin lamb dumplings, or opt for entrées like the shrimp pad Thai, Vietnamese betel leaf wraps, Mediterranean chicken and quinoa bowl, or the pappardelle with brisket ragu. The drinks and desserts equally stand out with tropical frozen options, an Unpack Your Bags cocktail (tequila, prickly pear syrup, lemon juice, soda) sipped out of a plastic bag, and a warm chocolate sticky toffee pudding served with vanilla ice cream. Take advantage of the weekday happy hour, when street select snacks are $5, small plates are $8, and sandwiches with fries are $12 from 3pm to 6pm.