Chef Nick Wong and partner Lisa Lee created this long-awaited Asian American diner. Named for Wong’s parents, Agnes and Sherman explores a blend of Wong’s Chinese and American heritage with a lineup of playful fusion dishes: scallion waffles topped with sambal honey butter, a wedge salad peppered with Chinese sausage and Taiwanese-style doughnuts, chicken-fried steak with Vietnamese gravy, French toast infused with pandan, and good-at-anytime egg foo young (an assembly of an egg-loaded crawfish gumbo gravy over rice, best experienced in-house). Cocktails get just as inventive, with a Lean Kwai Fong old-fashioned, a clever ode to both Hong Kong and Houston’s cough syrup culture.

Helmed by Jassi Bindra, Amrina offers an eccentric take on Indian cuisine with playful technique and dramatic presentations. Wagyu grilled over white charcoal, tandoori stuffed quail, and scallops paired with a curry-leaf sauce showcase the chef’s bold style. Desserts and cocktails are equally theatrical, with chocolate mousse crowned by a 24k gold kiss or a cardamom-infused old-fashioned.

At Bamboo House, Beijing duck takes center stage, served with crisp skin and a warming duck soup. Diners also turn to hearty Sichuan dishes, from salt-and-pepper shrimp to the spicy house beef noodles. Big portions and flavor make it a draw even for those who aren’t on their way to IAH.

BCN transports diners to Spain with precise, elegant cooking that earned a Michelin star. Start with its sleek version of patatas bravas or the Iberico ham on tomato-rubbed bread before moving on to the sleeper-hit roasted fideo pasta with lobster or grilled duck breast with quince and Idiazábal cheese sauce. Finish with lemon tart or chocolate cake with passion fruit ice cream for a sweet finale.

Chef Thomas Bille reimagines New American cooking through his Mexican American heritage, resulting in a menu that’s both personal and refined. Go for the menu staples like potato-Comté empanadas with caviar, birria tacos, and passion fruit tres leches cake. Return for seasonal favorites like corn agnolotti and spiced yams.

After years of pop-ups, chef Joseph Boudreaux opened his first brick-and-mortar restaurant in the neighborhood where he grew up. Nestled on Navigation Boulevard, the colorful stand offers walk-up service with burgers (beef and mushroom), crispy fries, and bottled sodas. Diners who opt for the cheesy smashburger are guaranteed a juicy, grilled patty topped with fresh “shrettuce,” tomato, and shaved onion, all piled onto a slightly sweet, buttered Cake & Bacon challah bun with its signature smoky OG burger sauce.

Abbas Dhanani began his own food career as a social media influencer under the name HoustonEatz, spotlighting some of the city’s most exciting chefs and restaurants. Before long, he stepped behind the griddle himself, launching his smashburger pop-up, Burger Bodega. In 2022, Dhanani opened the concept’s first brick-and-mortar on Washington Avenue, channeling the gritty charm of New York bodegas with crispy-edged, cheese-laced burgers slathered in special sauce, alongside loaded fries and milkshakes. While burgers are the headline, the chopped cheese is a sleeper hit. Ever the tinkerer, Dhanani continues to evolve, most recently with his Bas’s Cheesesteak Window pop-up, which dishes out his version of another iconic sandwich: the cheesesteak.

Shawn Gawle’s “fine-casual” restaurant is built on sharing. French technique underpins American flavors: Manchego cheese curls, tarte flambée with bacon lardons and fromage blanc, Instagram-worthy salt-baked celery root, heirloom tomato pie, and carrot cavatelli. In 2025, the prix fixe menu, available for two or more diners, featured similar bites, along with a tender veal osso buco, a savory skate wing Basquaise plated with blistered shishito peppers, and mouthwatering beeswax gelato with candied almonds and meringue.

Tucked inside the Thompson Hotel, this sleek dining room brings modern French cooking with Texas flair. Chef E. J. Miller’s delivers refined small plates—think airy gougères stuffed with aged Comté and topped with Iberico ham, Gulf shrimp poached in spices with a sharp gin cocktail sauce, and wild boar paired with pecan-muscadine gelée. Larger entrées include rich wagyu beef cheek bourguignon, layered with lardons and pearl onions; steak frites, available with several premium cuts; and a shareable lobster au poivre. Desserts embrace French tradition with a touch of theater: a roving cheese trolley, profiteroles with caramel ice cream and chocolate drizzle, and Le Grand Macaron au Chocolat, presented with raspberries and hazelnut gianduja mousse.

Chef Ope Amosu’s fast-casual flagship channels West African flavors into a vibey, plant-filled Montrose dining room. Dishes like jollof jambalaya, suya skewers, and Blo. k pairing bowls with plantains show off bold mash-ups rooted in tradition. Cocktails spotlight African spirits, with playful sips like the plantain-infused Dodo old-fashioned.

ChòpnBlọk can also be found in Post Houston.

High design that channels Blade Runner and Kill Bill meets Asian-diasporic flavors at this futuristic lounge. An upside-down bonsai tree and video installations set the scene for inventive sushi, like the Murakami roll—king crab, A5 wagyu, and caviar, with a dripping crab butter candle—plus vegetarian nigiri made with bell pepper and eggplant that will have you fooled; fried ube balls that double as a side or dessert; and thrilling cocktails, including creamy purple-hued ube espresso martinis. Guests can also explore its extensive lineup of sake and Japanese whisky, and for nondrinkers: a charming pear-based, alcohol-free lychee “Champagne.”

Now run by Johnny Cheung, the founders’ son, this revival of a Bellaire favorite offers classics like congee, roasted Berkshire Peking duck with pancakes, and pi pa tofu stuffed with shrimp. Indulge in Chinese American hits, including honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, and the beloved wonton noodles. Opt for something special: Arrange to bring your own seasonal seafood and let the chefs prepare it to order.

Chef David Skinner’s Kemah tasting menu celebrates Native American ingredients and traditions with a modern edge. The multicourse experience sets the stage with smudge stick salad to clear the energy, braised rabbit over mole, and multilayered corn cake tres leches. With limited seating Thursday through Saturday, reservations are essential for this immersive culinary journey. For a different experience, visit Skinner’s reimagination of Eculent, a display in molecular gastronomy that earned him his nickname as the Willy Wonka of food.

Mississippi chef Lucas McKinney draws on his knowledge of seafood, Southern cooking, and seasoning techniques to craft a menu that celebrates everything we love about Gulf cuisine. Comfort-driven dishes such as fluffy biscuits with housemade jam, chicken on a stick, smoked redfish dip with ranch saltines, and fried chicken skins set the tone. Seafood lovers should build their spread around Jamaican jerk–rubbed redfish collars slathered in chile butter, baked macaroni and cheese finished with hot honey, and the restaurant’s well-loved seafood boils. A visit during crawfish season is an absolute must for McKinney’s mudbugs, served wet.

What started as a Westchase strip-center gem has grown into multiple locations without losing its family-style charm. The portions are generous—think kubideh kebabs big enough for leftovers—and the menu runs the gamut, from pomegranate-walnut fesenjan stew to tender lamb shank with dill-fava rice. Every table gets pillowy taftoon bread with herbs, feta, and radishes, and even vegans have plenty to choose from.

Kasra can also be found in Nassau Bay and Rice Village. 

Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi builds on Kata Robata’s reputation with Katami, flying in pristine fish from Japan almost daily. Diners can explore sashimi, wagyu served robata-style or in shabu shabu, and inventive dishes like the foie gras PB&J milk bread. Desserts and drinks are equally showstopping, from imported Japanese shaved ice to the Umami Manhattan.

Pastry chef Vanarin Kuch built his cult following on inventive bakes like Hot Cheetos croissants and pho kolaches, which might as well be Houston’s official pastry. Weekend brunch goes deeper with Cambodian-inspired plates, from prahok K’tiss pupusas to twako taco machetes and salted lemon sodas. Visit the original East End café or swing by the Spring Branch outpost for a quicker fix.

Chef Ford Fry blends Gulf Coast seafood with Southern comfort, offering oysters, peel-’n’-eat shrimp, and some of the city’s crispiest fried chicken. The Pharmacy Burger and wood-roasted Gulf oysters are local favorites, while seasonal jams and biscuits make the meal feel homey. Pair it all with the frozen La Lucha margarita, a refreshing mix of mezcal, tequila blanco, hibiscus, and lime.

Often credited with helping establish Houston’s Gulf Coast cuisine, chef Bryan Caswell returned to the local dining scene this year with Latuli. Appetizers serve as the perfect reintroduction, featuring a smoked redfish dip and an heirloom tomato and burrata salad. Seafood shines with roasted grouper served with a housemade corn pudding, but the ultratender wagyu barbacoa, crowned with slices of pear and jalapeño, also impresses. Hot yeast rolls, Gruyère corn bread, and peach cobbler à la mode make the bread and dessert programs standouts.

Inside the MFAH, Le Jardinier channels its “gardener” namesake through vibrant, produce-driven French plates. Choose the refined tasting menu for a well-rounded sampling, or à la carte standouts like the colorful whipped burrata plated with stone fruit, foie gras parfait, and proteins like grilled swordfish and braised pork belly. (Even the burger here, served with piped pommes dauphines, is exceptional.) By day, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with light; by night, the Cullen Sculpture Garden sets the backdrop.

With its well-deserved Michelin star, March remains one of Houston’s most ambitious fine-dining experiences. This Goodnight Hospitality tasting-menu restaurant reinvents itself each season, delving into the culinary traditions of a different Mediterranean region. In 2025, menus, cocktails, and wine pairings explored Venice and the Levant, featuring dishes like chamomile yogurt and caviar and beef cheek fattoush.

First opened in August 2023 as a taco-focused restaurant with an intricate masa program, Maximo reemerged in January 2025 under then-26-year-old executive chef Adrian Torres with a completely rebranded menu of “progressive Mexican” dishes. Find thick shrimp-chorizo queso fundido, a zingy and refreshing hearts of palm salad, brisket suadero tacos, decadent masa corn bread crowned with caviar and a nutty chicatana butter, and banana pudding buñuelo served with housemade banana ice cream. Torres calls it Maximo 2.0—a revival worth celebrating.

Netflix-famous chef Luis Robledo Richards and Culinary Khancepts (Liberty Kitchen and Leo’s) opened this Mexico City–inspired restaurant in Autry Park. Tacos Mar y Tierra—cheese-crusted tortillas filled with beef cheek confit, Gulf shrimp bathed in adobo, and avocado—headline a vibrant menu that also includes dishes like bluefin tuna tostada and slow-cooked carne asada. Named for the Aztec goddess of agave and fertility, Mayahuel pays homage with sips made with additive-free agaves, including G4 tequila, agave-based vodka, and Derrumbes mezcal.

Great ramen isn’t hard to find in Houston, but this Michelin-recognized spot remains one of our favorite places to secure a truly steamy, soul-warming bowl. Mensho draws in steady crowds to its intimate 30-seat home in Dun Huang Plaza for springy noodles swimming in tori paitan, a creamy Japanese white chicken broth. Here, every ingredient pulls its weight—from thinly sliced smoky duck and wagyu to soft-boiled eggs and fried burdock root—making each bowl satisfying, down to the last slurp. Keep an eye out for the restaurant’s second location, slated to open soon in Montrose.

With two area locations, Michy’s Chino Boricua has become a must-visit in Katy for its Chinese–Puerto Rican menu. Diners line up for crispy carne frita, garlicky tostones, pepper steak, and mofongo. Switch things up with its Caribbean-inspired sushi rolls featuring ingredients like plantains, churrasco, and guava sauce.

The restaurant also has a Katy location.

Tucked above Local Foods, this Italian restaurant leans into indulgence with handmade pastas, shareable plates, and polished cocktails. Highlights include the 100-layer lasagna, cresta di gallo loaded with tangy mushrooms, and one of the city’s best chicken Parmesans. Blue velvet booths and family photos that lead upstairs give the space a cozy, secret-neighborhood feel that balances comfort and refinement.

This no-frills spot introduces Houstonians to Nepali flavors with a menu centered on momos—dumplings stuffed with chicken, vegetables, or water buffalo. Popular orders include jhol chicken momo in curry broth and spicy chicken “chilly momos” tossed in a red chile paste. Thali sets with sides and entrées, plus chow mein and fried rice, make it a complete meal.

Chef Aaron Bludorn made his mark in Houston with his namesake restaurant, Bludorn. His follow-up, Navy Blue, also shines with Gulf Coast classics and elegant staples. Expect oysters prepared in various ways, seafood gumbo, lobster ravioli, and a classic Dover sole. Desserts here never disappoint, making Navy Blue a polished yet comforting stop.

When Austin-based group Bunkhouse Hotels debuted Hotel Saint Augustine in January, it also launched Perseid, with chef Aaron Bludorn and director of operations Cherif Mbodji at the helm. Named for the annual meteor shower, this hotel restaurant nods to both the skies and Houston’s space history while fusing French cuisine with flavors of Houston and the Gulf Coast. The result? A signature burger layered with duck liver mousse, foie gras served with biscuits, and crawfish sausage with a Creole sauce. For dessert: plump beignets and an éclair brightened with raspberry ganache and pistachio ice cream. Early risers can get in on the fun, too, with pancakes, collard greens and duck confit quiche, and omelets.

Founded by the late chef Alex Au-Yeung, Phat Eatery made Malaysian street food a Houston-area staple that’s best enjoyed at a table with some of your favorite people. Signature family-style dishes include roti canai, sizzling black pepper beef, and richly flavored Hainanese chicken rice.

Phat Eatery also has a location in The Woodlands. 

Anyone who loves a wallet-friendly, stick-to-your-ribs meal knows about this local legend. Famous for large portions and low prices, San Dong promises an assortment of dumplings—pan-fried pot stickers, Wenchou wontons, boiled chive and pork dumplings, and more—all available for around $10. Venture beyond the doughy delights and try the beef stew noodle soup or the chicken steak bento box. Can’t make it to Bellaire Boulevard? A smaller outpost inside 99 Ranch Market on Blalock offers a quicker fix.

Take a trip to this Sugar Land supermarket for a first-class lesson in Filipino flavors. The lively food court overflows with halo-halo, roasted pig, meaty skewers, and freshly fried chicharrónes. After sampling rice bowls and hot dishes, wander the aisles of Filipino staples and end with ube-filled pastries from the Baker’s Son.

Since 1994, Seoul Garden has anchored Houston’s Koreatown with grilled meats, bubbling kimchi stews, and seafood hot pot. Tables fill up with galbi, pork belly, and a full spread of housemade banchan from sesame spinach to aged kimchi. Vegetarians will find comfort in soft tofu soups and sizzling stone bibimbap.

Led by James Beard Award–winning chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter—known to many as Chef G—this second iteration of her Thai restaurant is boldly uncompromising. Each dish features layered flavors with an “unapologetic” heat, with familiar favorites like pad see ew, a bracing tom yum, and richly spiced curries. Some of the most distinctive entrées stem from Chef G’s Northern Thai upbringing, including an elaborate steak crusted in sticky rice and seasonings and served alongside vibrant vegetables. Desserts extend beyond the classic mango sticky rice (though that, too, remains a highlight), encouraging diners to venture further with options such as moist taro cake or coconut ice cream, garnished with fried shallots and caviar. The drink list leans playful, featuring Thai iced teas (both classic and boozy), G&Ts on tap, and a mood-based mocktail list.

Most Nigerian restaurants in Houston belong on this list. But the mackerel option edged Taste of Nigeria into our top 25, because we can’t get enough of our favorite oily fish. Try it mixed into one of the many well-spiced soups, like the egusi, made with ground melon seeds, or yam porridge. The beauty of the menu here is that basically everything on it is total comfort food, suitable for any season.

Spot the doughnut shop sign in this Spring Branch shopping center, and you’ll know you’ve arrived at one of the best tasting-menu restaurants in the Houston area. James Beard Award finalist Emmanuel Chavez showcases the diversity of masa in seven courses, featuring a delicate tuna tostada and his signature Oaxaca cheese–filled quesadilla. Seasonal spins keep the menu fresh, while staples like Chavez’s complex mole and plantain tortilla showcase the chef’s inventive touch. The intimate setting and BYOB policy make the experience both personal and celebratory.

Fulfill any seafood craving at this Kemah-Seabrook institution. Tookie’s is known for its oysters, served raw, grilled, or topped with shrimp and cheese sauce, but the menu also features a variety of Gulf favorites like fried alligator, redfish, jumbo shrimp, and gumbo. Sister restaurant Tookie’s Hamburgers is just down the road for those craving land over sea.

Following its 2014 launch in Brenham, Leonard Botello IV’s Truth BBQ is now one of Houston’s most celebrated smokehouses. Build a plate of expertly smoked meats (tender brisket, pork ribs, brisket boudin, and turkey) with sides like the corn pudding, macaroni and cheese, and tater tot casserole, and check this barbecue joint off your Texas barbecue bucket list.

Chef Aaron Davis honors his grandmothers with a soulful, BYOB spot serving Creole and Southern favorites. Gumbo, barbecue shrimp and grits, and fried chicken with waffles headline the menu, while daily chalkboard specials showcase his creativity—from jerk-marinated short ribs to slow-braised oxtail.

Beloved hospitality group Pappas Restaurants is known for chains that have mastered Tex-Mex, burgers, barbecue, and more, but this year it opened an homage to its Greek roots and family matriarch Yiayia Mary. The kitchen dishes out savory keftedes (beef and lamb meatballs), crispy calamari, refreshing oysters, a classic seafood youvetsi, and a hearty heritage chicken souvlaki with tomato, pickled fennel, and tzatziki. Desserts steal the show, with baklava cheesecake, cocoa-soaked chocolate sokolatopita, and brûlée panna cotta with citrus-honey spice cake.