Home to nearly 13,000 seats for live performances, Houston’s Theater District ranks second in the nation in size. The impressive, 17-block district plays host to nine world-renowned performing arts organizations that put on some of the best shows you can find anywhere. Equally compelling are the area’s dining options.
With Houston Theater Week just around the corner (August 18 to 24), it's time to start thinking of where to go for a preshow bite. To make things easier, Houstonia has rounded up some top picks for where to eat in the area ahead of a performance.
We've updated the map to include spots like Barbacana and Brennan's of Houston.
Andes Cafe is a tiny, reservation-only ceviche bar, so plan ahead.
This South American restaurant in Post Market showcases dishes from Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, and Venezuela—all countries linked by the restaurant’s namesake, the Andes Mountains. Highlights include the refreshing ceviche plates and Peruvian staples like lomo saltado and pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken). Diners can also opt for popular street food, including Colombian inspired beef empanadas, Venezuelan sweet corn pancake, and Chilean steak fries, loaded with beef sirloin, sausage, and caramelized onions, topped off with a fried egg.
Be sure to try the buttered onion with jumbo crab tart from Barbacana.
Newer to Houston's dining scene, this Downtown restaurant feels like a hidden gem. Chef Christian Hernandez pays homage to Houston's multicultural landscape with a dinner menu filled with smaller, shareable plates, like a delicate Texas Wagyu carpaccio; grilled cauliflower with yam curry and gremolata; butter onions with jumbo crab and celery leaf; and foie gras with grapefruit and black pepper honey. Other highlights from the dinner menu include grilled Gulf prawns, braised lamb ribs, a grilled yellowtail snapper, and a pollo a carbon with mole poblano and Mitad-Mitad tortilla. Best of all, you can choose your adventure (à la carte) or go with the chef's tasting menu.
Located across the street from the Wortham Theater Center, Birraporetti’s is one of the best dining options for ticket holders heading to the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, or Alley Theatre. This Italian restaurant has been open for nearly 50 years, and has become a Theater District mainstay, thanks in part to its storied history that stretches back further than a prima ballerina—almost. Favorites at Birraporetti’s include its famous lasagna, crab cakes, and lobster ravioli. The stone-oven cooked pizzas are also worth filling up on, with toppings like pepperoni, Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms, and chicken Alfredo.
Grab a bite at Brennan's of Houston then use the restaurant's shuttle to get to your Theater District shows.
This Cajun-Creole classic recently entered a new era with its renovated Courtyard Bar, making it a perfect pre-theater pit stop. While it doesn't quite fall within the Theater District, Brennan's of Houston offers its "B-Line to the Theater" shuttle that runs to the Hobby Center, Alley Theatre, Jones Hall, and Wortham Theatre Center from Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations are required. But first, diners can enjoy dishes like the shrimp rémoulade, jumbo lump crab cakes, roasted bandera quail, herb-roasted lamb chops, and the well-seasoned New York strip.
With a popular stall in Post Houston's food hall, this pop-up series turned full-blown West African restaurant has earned a devout following for its nourishing meals. Stop into the stall for a quick meal, comprised of Houston chef Ope Amosu's signature, bold spice blends that take its proteins, vegetables, and grains to another level. The Motherland, a coconut curry with black-eyed peas and sweet plantains, is a must-try, as well as the Golden Bowl, made with smokey jollof jambalaya, curry, chicken, vegetables, and stewed plantains. Vegetarian and vegan bowls are available, too.
This restaurant's location inside of the Hobby Center makes it about as convenient as they come for a pre- or post-performance dinner. The well-curated dinner menu, served from 4pm to 8pm on show nights, is stacked with plates like smoked gouda pimento and cheese, a creamy spinach and artichoke drip, blue crab cake, plus salads. Options for the main courses include a flavorful Wagyu beef bolognese, a grilled 10-ounce strip loin, and chicken puttanesca.
This classic gastropub is housed in one of Houston’s oldest buildings and features chic and modern furnishings that meld nicely with the space’s historical architectural charm. The food menu is heavy on classic American fare—from rib eye and pork chops to juicy burgers, pastas, and shareables like deviled eggs—all served in a relaxed and casual setting. The robust wine and cocktail menu makes the restaurant a great spot for a drink, whether it's before a show or after curtain call.
Housed in Bravery Chef Hall, this innovative Japanese restaurant specializes in sushi and yakitori. Featuring a bevy of nigiri and sashimi options as well as sushi rolls, Kokoro is an ideal spot for a satisfying but light dinner ahead of a performance. Consider starting with one of the restaurant’s crudos before ordering a sushi set. Don’t forget the sides; the chicken fat rice, a mix of aromatic chicken fat with chicken skin and shallot furikake, is a diner-favorite.
