Our 10 Most Popular Food Stories Of 2018
2018 was quite the year in Houston food. The reputation of the city's culinary scene continued to grow nationally with praise in national publications, while hospitality companies and restaurateurs doubled down with new concepts and locations. Katy is hot, the GOOF is warming up, and of course, there's a lot of action in EaDo and Midtown.
And yet, our list of the most popular food stories of 2018 below reveals that readers want a game reset on the Houston food scene. Despite all the new and flashy restaurants, the underlying theme is essentiality. Where are the places and what are the foods that define who we are as Houstonians? Things may be changing in the Bayou City, but we clearly want to remember where we came from.
Image: Marco Torres
1. The 28 Tacos In Houston You Must Eat Before You Die
By Marco Torres
Houston loves tacos. Marco Torres knows his tacos. This is necessary reading.
2. The Definitive Guide to Houston's Farmers Markets
By Alice Levitt, Abby Ledoux, Catherine Matusow, and Katharine Shilcutt
Here's hoping that we see even more farmers market activity in 2019.
Image: Alice Levitt
3. 9 Heights Restaurants We Love (Right Now)
By Katharine Shilcutt
These pieces always run the risk of becoming dated once one of them closes, but we're happy to say that all nine are still going strong!
4. 6 Overlooked Restaurants You Need To Know About
By Alice Levitt
Look, we really like Street Food Thai Market. It's honestly one of the best American Thai food experiences I've ever had, and if you haven't yet been, get there!
5. 10 Spots That Are All That And Dim Sum
By Mai Pham
Dim sum is one of the best ways to spend a Saturday morning, though we're happy to tell you that dim sum can happen any day of the week. Just believe it, and it'll happen.
6. Required Eating: 11 Restaurants in Asiatown You Can't Miss
By Mai Pham
While we weren't breaking any new ground in this piece—part of our summertime extravaganza about Asiatown—there's no doubt that, if you want to do Houston right, you must sit down to dan dan noodles at Mala Sichuan Bistro and—duh—crawfish at Crawfish & Noodles.
Image: Courtesy of Batanga
7. The Best Restaurants with a View in Houston
By Brooke Viggiano
Whether glancing out at Buffalo Bayou from the Kitchen at Dunlavy or checking out the bustling Discovery Green activity from your seat at Brasserie du Parc, these are the places to see (and maybe be seen) throughout the city.
8. The New Eats at Minute Maid for the 2018 Astros Season
By Cory Garcia
Who needs peanuts and Cracker Jacks when you can shove BBQ funnel cake and a cinnamon bun sundae down your throat? Just wash it down with a be—sorry, a barbacoa burger.
9. 8 Houston Restaurants That Will Never Let You Down
By Gwendolyn Knapp
Sadly we're down to seven here, with Kitchen 713 shuttering late in 2018. But these are the bucket-list restaurants for Houstonians: Crawfish & Noodles, Kenny & Ziggy's, Coltivare, Kata Robata, The Original Ninfa's on Navigation, Hugo's, and Himalaya. If you've been here for a year, you should have eaten at all of 'em once.
Image: Courtesy of Kolache Shoppe
10. Houston's Essential 25 Restaurants
By Gwendolyn Knapp
Our top stories of 2018 were basically all lists. This makes sense, since we're creatures that crave helpful information that ease the burdens in our lives. Or, to put it succinctly, we need to know where to eat. Here, we have a pretty important list of the 25 restaurants that give any and everyone an introduction to the unbelievable cuisine found in this here city. Where should you eat? Start here.
