This Week's Hot Headlines

Houston's best restaurants, wealthiest ZIP code and Montrose barbecue joint lead the week's top stories

Editor’s note: Another week come and gone, so we’ve rounded up the five most popular stories on CultureMap from this past week:

1. Houston's Best Restaurants: These 7 eateries lead city's dining scene to greatness. As part of CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards 2015, a panel of industry insiders selected seven restaurants that are leading Houston's culinary movement. Learn about the each of the Restaurant of the Year contenders — BCN Taste & Tradition, Caracol, Coltivare, Kata Robata, Oxheart, Pax Americana and Underbelly — with detailed profiles of each of the nominated restaurants.

2. Montrose makeover continues: Acclaimed BBQ pitmaster plans new restaurant in former porn shop. Native Houstonian and pitmaster John Avila and his wife Veronica are planning to convert the building located at 1201 Richmond — which formerly housed an adult bookstore — into his own Montrose-based barbecue restaurant. The restaurant will serve traditional, slow-smoked meat, but Avila envisions a restaurant that celebrates all of the flavors of Texas by blending Gulf Coast seafood, Tex-Mex and European influences.

3. Best Bar of the Year: Tastemaker Awards highlight 7 special Houston watering holes and hangouts. CultureMap's food editor Eric Sandler profiles the seven nominees for the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards 2015 Bar of the Year award, including standout spots Camerata, El Big Bad, Julep, Lei Low, Mongoose versus Cobra, Moving Sidewalk and Neil's Bahr.

4. The wealthiest ZIP code in Texas is in an unexpected part of Houston. According to a new report, the wealthiest ZIP code in Texas is located in Houston, although it probably isn't where you'd think. The 77010 ZIP code in downtown, which encompasses only around 30 square blocks, includes Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center — as well as a number of luxury residential highrises — was found to have an adjusted income of $670,198 based on the 247 tax filings from the ZIP code area.

5. Tastemaker Awards winners revealed: Best restaurants, chefs, bar, service and more. Following a month-long buildup, the winners of the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards 2015 have finally been announced. Find out which restaurants and bars were deemed by industry insiders to be the best in Houston and which chefs and bartenders are ones to watch.

Midtown bar Mongoose versus Cobra was just one of the nominees for Bar of the Year at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards 2015.

VJ Arizpe, the photoshop

Midtown bar Mongoose versus Cobra was just one of the nominees for Bar of the Year at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards 2015.

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ON THE MOVE

Houston ranks No. 1 on new list of America's top moving destinations

Father and son lifting moving boxes at new home

Getty Images

Houston remains the nation's top moving destination.

Drawn by its vibrant culture and growing job market, nationwide movers have increasingly chosen Houston as their new home. Based on national relocation trends, a new s tudy by leasing company Penske Truck Rental ranks the Bayou City No. 1 among the top 10 moving destinations in the United States for 2024.

Four Texas cities ranked among the top 10 moving destinations. Following Houston, San Antonio ranks No. 3 with Dallas at No. 4. and Austin at No. 9.

According to the study, the primary reasons for relocation in 2024 include better job opportunities and a lower cost of living. Movers were also driven by more personal reasons for relocation, such as enjoying a closer proximity to loved ones and more space.

With thriving job opportunities, no state income tax, and a lower cost of living, Houston offers appealing advantages for relocation, giving residents plenty of reason to take pride in calling the city home. Unsurprisingly, two Florida cities also made the top 10, as the state shares the same tax benefit.

Recently, Houston was left off British gambling platform Betway.com's list of the 15 coolest cities in America — a ranking based on the number of tattoo shops, record stores, and vegan restaurants. While those factors may contribute to the quality of living, Penske's data suggests economic considerations hold far more sway than kale smoothies.

Penske compiled the data by analyzing one-way truck rental reservations made through the company website, following up with a customer survey. The report said 69 percent of its customers preferred renting and driving their own vehicle, but didn't state whether that decision was motivated by cost.

Houston has remained at the top of the list for four consecutive years. The rest of the top destination places were spread throughout the country. This is the complete list:

No. 1 — Houston, Texas
No. 2 — Atlanta, Georgia
No. 3 — San Antonio, Texas
No. 4 — Dallas, Texas
No. 5 — Orlando, Florida
No. 6 — Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 7 — Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 8 — Chicago, Illinois
No. 9 — Austin, Texas
No. 10 — Tampa, Florida

population growth trends texas job market economy growth rankings penske moving