Souper Way to Eat
Dine in or take out: A dozen celestial soups to combat the cold
- Houston's soups await you.
- Chuy's tortilla soupPhoto by Ruthie Johnson Miller
- Pho at Pho Binh TrailerPhoto by Ruthie Johnson Miller
I have a year-round soup craving, Winter weather or not, but now that the temperatures have dropped to sub Arctic — well, almost — that craving kicks in with a vengeance. Here are some of my favorite soups around town. What are yours?
T’afia is semi-famous for delicious seasonal soups. And since it’s t’afia, you know they’re made fresh with local produce. The soups change daily, but recent ones included split pea and miso vegetable.
A classic French onion is hard to beat, and the one at Croissant Brioche is tremendously awesome. The beef broth gives the soup a rich flavor, and the sweet caramelized onions fit perfectly with the sharpness of the cheese.
Shade makes three fabulous soups in house daily. Choose your favorite, or get the awesome soup trio: mini cups of all three, artfully arranged together.
Who doesn’t love a classic minestrone? The version at Giacomo’s is a clean and delicious combination, heavy on the carrots and kale, swimming in a complex vegetarian broth that’s made in house daily.
But the weather seems to demand a heartier soup these days, and few soups are as comforting and delicious as a good Cheddar-beer. The version at the Black Lab is rich, smooth, creamy, and deliciously fantastic.
The chili at Becks Prime is simple and straightforward, with nothing fancy-like to cloud the flavor. Some like it over a baked potato or hotdog, but we like it just fine on its own. Be sure to add a few onions for a wee crunch!
If you‘re ready to spice it up a bit, how ‘bout gumbo? Rich and hearty, gumbos are comfort with a kick. Louisiana Foods offers two versions — a seafood and a chicken-andouille. Both are tasty, warm , and beautifully inexpensive.
Too much? Well, there’s always the fabulous Poblano Corn Chowder at Central Market.
Looking for something a little more ethnic? The Tortilla Soup at Chuy's is a thing of beauty, a golden broth studded with avocado, corn, fresh chicken, tomatoes, chili peppers, cheese, and cilantro. Semi-picante, fully delicious.
Or try a more mild pho. Pho is precisely what you need to soothe a head cold or subdue a sore throat, and the one at Pho Binh Trailer on Beamer is the best version in town. Keep that in mind — it is sick season, after all.
Or you might like Tom Kha Gai, the quintessential Thai soup — a brothy bowl of lemongrass and chicken, topped off with coconut milk. Vieng Thai’s version is a knockout; fresh herbs give it a beautiful punch.
Still not warm? Try the Hot Pot at Hot Pot City, or the Bun Bo Hue at Huynh.