Foodie News

Where to eat right now: 10 must-try restaurants for March

Belly up at Hay Merchant to take advantage of a truly outstanding list of craftbrews, plus a clever menu that’s well executed by chef Antoine Ware. Shown:Fried chicken and waffles
Photo by Alex Gregg/Flickr
Part of the fun at Uchi is watching the line in action.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
MENU SNEAK PEEK: Underbelly's burrata
Photo by Julie Soefer
The ceviche mixto at Latin Bites is as gorgeous as it is delicious.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
The creative Burger Guys menu is now available at Cafe Luz downtown.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
We’ve really enjoyed Roost's farm-to-table style in the restaurant's first fewmonths of service. Mains and vegetable sides are tasty, and the menu changesweekly.
Roost/Facebook
A grab-and-go lunch at the new Georgia's Market downtown
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller

Spring is springing, and Houston’s restaurant scene is jumpin’. So get out there and try some of the fantastic new spots.

Here are 10 hot places to get you started . . . Some are new restaurants entirely, while others are a bit more seasoned, but all are well worth a visit.

Uchi
The venerable Austin gem has opened a new location in Houston, taking over the old Felix’s space on Westheimer at Montrose. The painful waits for reservations common in the first few weeks of service seem to be under control, so diners are now free to revel in the creative Japanese food, top-notch service, rice wines and lovely space.

Hay Merchant
Beer lovers are already professing their eternal love for this new bar on Westheimer in Montrose. Belly up to take advantage of a truly outstanding list of craft brews, plus a clever menu that’s well executed by chef Antoine Ware.

Much like its cocktail counterpart Anvil, Hay Merchant pays close attention to the details — like glassware, seating and snacks.

Underbelly
Whether you follow the food scene or not, it’s hard to avoid the anticipation, speculation and early adulation for former Catalan chef Chris Shepherd’s new home, Underbelly. The wine bar (which also offers cheese, charcuterie, and small bites) opened at the end of February to high praise, and the restaurant plans to begin regular service on Monday.

Latin Bites Café
This Peruvian place has quietly and consistently turned heads in Houston — so much so that it just graduated from its tiny spot in the Warehouse District. While the new location (on Woodway in Tanglewood) is roomier and open, it’s already packing quite a crowd.

The menu features a fantastic selection of ceviches, chifas, empanadas and other South American specialties.

The Burger Guys
Great news for Houston’s burger-philes: The Burger Guys has opened a “pop-up” second location. If you can’t make it out to their regular spot in Westchase, you can now get the deliciously gourmet burgers, hot dogs and fries Wednesday through Friday at Café Luz on the northern side of downtown.

Follow them on Twitter for menus and updates.

Georgia’s Market
Downtown’s got a new meal spot and market. Georgia’s Market has moved in on Main Street, offering a decent array of organic produce, local coffee beans and natural products, in addition to lunch and dinner service.

There’s a hot buffet, a daily soup, a salad bar, and some grab-n-go sandwiches.

Happy Endings
2012 just might be the year of the hot dog — and the Happy Endings food truck sure wouldn’t mind. Follow them on Twitter for a lunch or dinner location; then stop by for their inspired Asian-American fusion dogs.

We sure like the kimchi-seaweed dog, but there are several to choose from, including one with bonito flakes, and another with cream cheese and bacon.

Artisans
From the owners of Le Mistral comes Artisans, a new upscale restaurant on Louisiana in Midtown. Grab a date (it’s a bit of a splurge, after all) and take your seat in the intimate, open space for a classically French meal of lovelies like pan-seared scallops, foie gras with poached pears, roast duck and quail leg confit.

JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers
Houston’s burger demographic continues to expand with the new JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers on Holcombe near Buffalo Speedway. These guys offer organic, all-natural meats and ingredients in a style that’s vaguely reminiscent of The Counter.

Pick your meat, pick your toppings, pick your bread . . . and voila, your custom-designed burger arrives.

Roost
We’ve really enjoyed this farm-to-table neighborhood gem in its first few months of service. The roasted cauliflower continues to impress, as do the bread service and charcuterie plate. Mains and vegetable sides are tasty too, and the menu changes weekly.

Roost does not accept reservations, so plan to arrive on the early side.

Need more recs? Try our lists from previous months:

August – September – October – November – December – January

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q