West African restaurant ChòpnBlọk started out as a pop-up back in 2018. It wasn’t until 2021 that the restaurant, founded by Ope Amosu, who featured as a guest judge on the Houston season of Bravo’s Top Chef, found a permanent home inside the food hall at POST Houston. The fast-casual restaurant presents a contemporary approach to traditional West African cuisine; the menu showcases a range of flavors and techniques while each dish is deeply rooted in the region’s various cultures. Dive headfirst into the diaspora by trying the Trad combo or the Motherland combo, two of our favorite dishes there.

There’s a reason the Third Ward mainstay has been in Houston for more than 60 years. Sitting at the corner of Scott and Elgin Streets, the burger stand is so old-fashioned that the company still maintains its cash-only policy, and has only had two menu additions since its founding in 1961一just to give you an idea of how good the food is. The burger joint, famous for craft burgers made to order, instantly evokes feelings of nostalgia with a menu that takes you back to a much simpler time. 

For a more casual dining experience, Dream Wings has a mix of fresh seafood, savory pasta, salads, and of course, their signature, chicken wings. Whether you like your wings with dry rub seasoning, classic buffalo sauce, or both, any option is finger-licking good.

The Greasy Spoon lives up to its name一in the best way possible. The Southern American eatery serves up some of the city’s best soul food. At the cafeteria-style restaurant, guests can order hearty Southern dishes, or if you desire something less traditional, try their fusion plates. 

At new Historic Independence Heights restaurant Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers, chef-owner Greg Gatlin of Gatlin’s BBQ fame, has shifted his sights to classic comfort fare. The menu at the restaurant features dishes you’ll surely recognize (not to mention crave), but with a special Bayou City spin. Take, for example, Gatlin’s chicken enchiladas, which fold carefully smoked pulled chicken beneath layers of salsa verde, crema, and cotija cheese. With everything from Gulf Coast classics to Southern seafood staples, Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers aims to be the kind of place where folks relish the flavors and linger just a little while longer (you know, to save room for dessert).

A taste of the Caribbean lies right at your fingertips at Cool Runnings. Located in the Southwest area of Houston, the restaurant and lounge serves up authentic West Indian cuisine that’s packed with flavorful spices. To get the full Jamaican experience, visit on a Saturday, and enjoy the live music. 

If there’s one thing Texans know how to do, it’s make some darn good barbecue一good enough to make you want to slap your grandma. The Acres Homes outpost, headed by pitmaster Roy Burns, Sr., brings people from near and far to the Bayou City to taste the succulent meat and hefty baked potatoes. 

While it's possible to make a typical grilled cheese at home, the offerings at Twisted Grilled Cheese are anything but typical. Serving up gourmet-style grilled cheese sandwiches with an impressive cheese pull, the menu is loaded with all of your cheesy-loving needs. 

Houston is home to a massive Nigerian population, and the large community brings plenty of culture and cuisine to the city. The classic Nigerian fare doesn’t cut any corners一Taste of Nigeria is where many locals visit to get their authentic West African dishes. 

According to Good Morning America, the best burgers in the nation are found right here in Houston at Trill Burgers. A collaboration between Bun B, Nick Scurfield, and Andy Nguyen, Trill Burgers launched back in 2021. What’s the secret to their success? Bun B says it’s the simple way they present the burgers, which come with two extra-crispy patties, cheese, two pickles, Trill Sauce, and a potato roll. After winning over legions of local fans through its sporadic pop-ups, Trill Burgers recently announced that it will be opening a brick-and-mortar location in Montrose early this year. That's music to our ears. 

Third Ward’s Soul Food Vegan is changing how we feel about vegan food. The wildly inventive menu offers some of your Southern favorites, free of meat. But you'd hardly know it. The menu will turn even the biggest of meatless skeptics into a believer, with their okra gumbo, dirty rice, and a cajun pasta melt that makes you forget you're actually eating healthy. 

An all-morning breakfast joint with a line around the block, The Breakfast Klub, known for their chicken and waffles, is a community staple in the Midtown neighborhood. On any given day, you’re likely to see the owner of this 20-year-old restaurant, , Marcus Davis, laughing with customers and talking politics. The menu's offerings surely make the line that feels a mile-long, worth the wait.  

Ethiopian fare is both vibrant and distinctive. Never bashful when it comes to color and spice, you can taste true and authentic food from the Horn of Africa at the Blue Nile. The quaint restaurant’s menu includes classics like Fitfit and Shiro Wot, and emphasizes Ethiopian heritage through its indigenous traditions of feasting on family-size portions, and eating with your hands. Blue Nile’s friendly waitresses will never offer a bad recommendation, and anything you choose will surely fill you up. 

If you’re looking for something sweet to top off a satisfying meal, look no further than Crumbville Texas. The bakery, located in the heart of Third Ward, feels like a warmth that only a mother can provide一maybe it’s because of the friendly owner, or even the tasty treats on display when you walk inside. Either way, you’ll be able to please your sweet craving. As if there wasn’t anything else that could sweeten the deal, Crumbville also has a selection of vegan-friendly desserts, like their Netflix and Chill cookie. 

Owner Greg Gatlin, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist, serves up exceptional deep South barbecue classics that live up to Texas’ reputation. Gatlin's BBQ's newest breakfast menu has everything from belly stuffing chicken biscuits and BBQ breakfast sandwiches, to BBQ and Tex-Mex fusion offerings.

There’s a reason Phil & Derek’s maintains its title as Best Brunch in Houston. Made popular for the Creole brunch and live music, the unassuming restaurant is an all-encompassing dining experience that makes you want to dance一of course, because of the live music, but equally, because the food is just that good. 

Trez Art And Wine Bar provides a platform for local artists to display their artwork on the walls for customers to enjoy (and purchase) while also studying their extensive wine list. With great wine, also comes perfect food pairings. The artistic experience at Trez begins with the ambiance and decor, as the food, like the Tajin Butter Popcorn, and Rosemary Jerk Lamb Chops is truly a work of art. 

Owner Esther Lewis-Bernard came from a family of cooks known for their country-style cooking and Cajun cuisine. Dining in at Esther's Cajun Cafe & Soul Food is a home-cooked meal that will not disappoint. 

Owned by former Houston Rockets player, James Harden, Thirteen’s menu is a mesh between traditional and modern. Get your southern comfort food fix with their top-shelf meat and seafood. Whether you keep it simple or go all the way, you’re in for an evening of luxury. 

Owners Matti Merrell and her husband Rodney Perry have paved the way towards vegan eating. Unlike other vegan options, meals served at Green Seed Vegan are free of soy and processed vegan meats, and they offer fresh juices daily. The menu offerings are so good, you’ll be going back for seconds.