The 2026 Hit List

The Best New Houston Restaurants That Opened in 2026 (So Far)

With Houstonia editors’ seal of approval.

06/26/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

New tables

The Newest Houston Restaurants Worth Adding to Your List Right Now

Spring has sprung, and so have the new restaurants: new yakitori, a Gulf Coast fisherman’s first restaurant, and a tasting menu from an acclaimed Thai chef.

05/27/2026 By Brittany Britto Garley

New eats

These Are the Houston Restaurants Replacing Superica, Paulie’s, and Camerata

Plus, a new family-friendly destination and a crawfish and pho collaboration in Chinatown.

03/10/2026 By Sofia Gonzalez

Check in

Hotel Daphne Brings Boutique Luxury to Houston’s Heights

Plus, a new Italian restaurant from Pass and Provisions and Elro chef Terrence Gallivan.

02/18/2026 By Sofia Gonzalez

New bites

Houston’s Kirby Ice House Opens Its Longest Bar Yet, Plus More August Restaurant Openings

This month brings a buzzy new sushi bar, sprawling beer gardens, and neighborhood hangouts worth the trip. Plus, a look into Bar Bludorn's expansion to The Woodlands.

08/27/2025 By Sofia Gonzalez

Let's eat

The Houston Burger Joint Everyone’s Talking About, Plus Other Restaurant Openings to Know Right Now

Boo’s Burgers is now slinging smashburgers in East End, Hong Kong Food Street's sister is here, and Chubbies is bringing beefy sliders to Memorial.

07/28/2025 By Sofia Gonzalez

Memory Lane

A Look Back at Houstonia’s Top Food Stories of 2024

Before we head into 2025, let’s take a quick second to remember some of your favorite—and most delicious—features of the year.

12/26/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

New Beginnings

The Owners of Now-Closed Café Louie Are Ready for What’s Next

After many name and concept changes, the Emilianis are hoping for a big comeback.

11/17/2023 By Daniel Renfrow

Houstonia Approved

This New Restaurant Is Defying Houston’s Bad Pizza Reputation

Nonno’s in Montrose is another slam dunk from the owners of Nobie’s and the Toasted Coconut.

09/28/2023 By Emma Balter

BISTRONOMY

Local Foods Owner to Open New French Bistro in Rice Village

Benjy Levit’s Eau Tour features a wood-burning oven, a relaxing retro-inspired atmosphere, and chef-driven, sharable feasts.

03/17/2023 By Daniel Renfrow

OH-MY-AKASE

Indulge in an Adventurous Dining Experience at 5Kinokawa

Chef Billy Kin creates an intimate culinary delight that features fresh ingredients flown in from Japan’s Toyosu Market.

01/18/2023 By Rosemary Akpan

COMING SOON

Kata Robata Team to Open New Sushi-Forward Restaurant in Montrose

Katami will introduce Houstonians to chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi’s take on the future of Japanese cuisine in America.

01/12/2023 By Daniel Renfrow

COMING SOON

22 Restaurants Opening in Houston in 2023

Restaurants opening in the Houston area in 2023 include Mediterranean concept Albi, upscale Thai restaurant MaKiin, and vegetable-forward restaurant Auden.

12/21/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

GOING SOLO

The Lymbar, Chef David Cordúa’s Solo Restaurant, Is Finally Open

The highly anticipated all-day Latin-Mediterranean concept is an homage to the chef’s famous family.

12/19/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

O-FISH-CIAL

Aaron Bludorn’s Navy Blue Is Finally Here, and It Was Worth the Wait

The Rice Village-located modern American seafood restaurant won us over through a dinner full of high notes like mussel bisque, swordfish au poivre, and spaghetti vongole.

12/06/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

SHAQ ATTACK!

Shaquille O’Neal’s Chicken Restaurant Is Headed to Houston

Big Chicken will open its first location in Houston in the Westchase area this fall.

08/31/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

“LITTLE ARMANDO”

Armandos Owners to Bring Cantina-Style Tex-Mex to Bellaire

Mandito’s, which will feature a menu stacked with Tex-Mex classics, will open in early 2023.

08/16/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

UNIQUE EATS

Houston's First Nikkei Concept Restaurant Is Now Open

Chef Masaru Fukuda’s Pacha Nikkei celebrates the unique combination of Japanese and Peruvian food culture.

08/12/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

COMFORT FOOD

Gatlin’s BBQ’s New Restaurant Is Dedicated to Texas Comfort Food

Gaitlin's new sister restaurant, Fins & Feathers, will showcase the best of both fish and fowl through a menu stacked with Texas comfort food and Gulf Coast seafood.

07/12/2022 By Daniel Renfrow

FOOD CITY

What’s New in Food This Week

Julep lands a national James Beard Award; popular wine bar Postino launches its own cult; a famous South African restaurant expands into Houston; plus more local foodie news.

06/15/2022 By Daniel Renfrow