In Hong Kong and parts of southern China where Cantonese is spoken, few people greet each other by asking “How are you?” Instead, the common phrase among family, friends, business associates, anyone at all, is this: “Have you eaten yet?” Sound familiar? In Houston, at least, and in English, it’s a question posed with as much frequency as that other favorite: “Where should we eat?” Well, we have quite a few thoughts on that—100 of them, in fact.

These are the essential restaurants where Houstonians should be eating right now, flung far and wide across nearly every Bayou City neighborhood, cuisine and price range. They’re the places you always meant to try and the places you’ll want to try this weekend, immediately, as soon as possible.

Below, you'll find an alphabetical of all 100 best restaurants, as well as of-the-moment categories grouping those 100 restaurants into quickly navigable lists, from New American favorites and Old Guard strongholds to our top picks in Chinatown and Little India. Along the way, check out the hottest dining blocks in the Heights and Montrose, see who won our kolache and taco battles, and seek out unique spots in the suburbs.

Now, have you eaten yet? No? Better get started: You’ve got 100 restaurants on your bucket list, and only 365 days in the year.

Start by downloading our new Gastronaut app. It’s the best way to work your way down the list—available for both Apple and Android devices!