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    Happy hour Deals

    9 best new happy hour deals in Houston let you drink and eat well on the cheap

    Marcy de Luna
    May 30, 2017 | 10:12 am

    There's no better time than the present to sneak out early for happy hour. And while there’s no shortage of killer happy hours in H-Town, we could always use a few more. Read on for the nine best new happy hour specials in H-Town, both at recently-open spots and at familiar faves. Because all work and no play would be pretty dull.

    FM Kitchen and Bar
    All our happy hour goals come true at FM Kitchen and Bar, near Washington Ave. Every beer in the house — there are more than 40 total by the can, bottle and tap — is on special ($1 off), along with a half dozen craft cocktails ($1 off), like the watermelon mule mixed with melon vodka, fresh watermelon juice, and ginger beer. Work up a thirst while you play a game of Bocce, Connect Four or cornhole on the patio. (Weekdays; 4-7 pm)
    1112 Shepherd Dr.; 832-804-6006

    Worcester's Annex
    Happy hours are a dime a dozen, but Heights bar Worcester's Annex takes it to a whole new level, offering all 26 house cocktails, including the Fino Fresca with sherry, watermelon juice, Absinthe, lemon juice and cucumber ($4) and Ten Cent Pistol ($6), a blend of rye whisky, aperitif, dry vermouth, and muddled peaches, for 50 percent off. (Weekdays; 4-6 pm)
    1433 N. Shepherd Dr.; 713- 862-4748

    Le Colonial
    You don’t have to settle for mediocre sips and bites when you can score delicious eats ($8), like banh mi sliders and crispy frites with Vietnamese spices served with spicy aioli, and refreshing cocktails ($8), including the Crimson Crush made with pink grapefruit flavored vodka, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, and topped with Sprite, for a deal during social hour at posh River Oaks District spot, Le Colonial. (Monday-Saturday; 5-7 pm)
    4444 Westheimer Rd G-140; 713-629-4444

    Relish
    At Upper Kirby’s Relish, drinks deals abound on the happy hour menu. All 20 cocktails, both classic and creative like Relish Rosé 75 made with gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and sparkling rosé, are on special ($6 each), as well as craft beers ($5). Also on the menu: a burger and fries combo ($10), kale salad ($10), and deviled eggs ($1 each). (Weekdays; 3-6 pm)
    2810 Westheimer Rd.; 713-599-1960

    Provisions
    Provisions, which shares a roof with its more upscale sibling The Pass, throws it back with “The Original Po' Boy,” stacked with mortadella, capocolla, provolone, mayo, chow chow, pepper relish, lettuce, and tomato ($10), a nod to the original Antone's Famous Po' Boys & Deli, which occupied the building for more than 50 years. The roster of seven bites also features a kale and red oak salad ($8) and a margherita pizza ($12). Thirst quenchers include an Old Fashioned ($6), red and white wines by the glass ($5), and beer ($4). (Daily; 2:30-6 pm)
    807 Taft St.; 713-628-9020

    Heights Bier Garten
    This laid-back neighborhood spot’s name doesn't lie. At Heights Bier Garten, there are more than 45 beers on tap, with nearly half, including hoppy Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale and Brash Cortado coffee milk stout, available for a mere $3 each during happy hour. What’s more, wines by the glass are 50 percent off. (Weekdays; 3-6 pm)
    1433 Shepherd Dr.; 713-862-4940

    Killen’s Steakhouse
    Time flies when you're having fun, which makes the newly revamped — and extended — happy hour menu at Killen’s Steakhouse all the more alluring. Dig into fare (think shrimp po' boy sliders, $12, and chicken fried steak bites, $12) and imbibe craft cocktails like the St. Rita, a combination of tequila, elderflower liqueur, and fresh lime juice ($7). (Monday-Tuesday from 3:30-9 pm; Wednesday-Friday from 3:30-6:30 pm)
    6425 Broadway St., Pearland, 281-485-0844

    King's BierHaus
    During happy hour at the Heights locale of King's Biergarten, the kitchen serves up specialty bites ($5) like a giant beer pretzel and Bavarian fried pickles, while the bar offers draft beers ($6) and cocktails ($7), from a strawberry mojito to a frozen Dark and Stormy. (Weekdays; 3-6 pm)
    2044 East T C Jester Blvd.; 281-990-3042

    Star Fish
    Martinis and oysters go together like peas and carrots. Making the killer combo happen for a deal during happy hour is Star Fish restaurant. Discounted Gulf ($1) and Atlantic ($2) oysters are joined by five different martinis ($5 each) from traditional to the Debutante made with cranberry vodka, vermouth, and lime juice. Specially priced wines by the glass ($5), craft beers ($5), and a house Old Fashioned ($5) can also be yours. Here, happy hour launches Thursday. Good things come to those who wait. (Weekdays; 4-6 pm).
    191 Heights Blvd.; 832-831-9820

    The Watermelon Mule at FM Kitchen and Bar is mixed with melon vodka, fresh watermelon juice, and ginger beer.

    Houston, new happy hour deals, May 2017, Watermelon Mule, FM Kitchen and Bar
    Courtesy photo
    The Watermelon Mule at FM Kitchen and Bar is mixed with melon vodka, fresh watermelon juice, and ginger beer.
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    meet the tastemakers

    Houston's 11 best chefs of 2026 are leading the city's rise to prominence

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 13, 2026 | 5:02 pm
    Felipe Riccio March
    Photo by Zachary Horst
    Felipe Riccio, March.

    We’ve reached the final category in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. These are the nominees for Chef of the Year.

    This year’s nominees are an accomplished group. They hold Michelin stars and received Bib Gourmand designations. They are James Beard Award semifinalists, finalists, and winners. They’ve competed on Top Chef.

    Of course they all serve consistently well-prepared dishes that keep diners coming back again and again. They’re also leaders and mentors who are guiding the next generation of cooks who will make their own mark on the dining scene. Many are involved in a number of local nonprofits, including I’ll Have What She’s Having and the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    Who will win? Find out this Thursday, April 16, at the Tastemaker Awards party at Silver Street Studios. We’ll dine on bites from this year’s nominated restaurants and sip cocktails from our sponsors before revealing the winners in our short and sweet ceremony.

    A limited number of tickets remain. Buy yours before they sell out.

    Here are the nominees for Chef of the Year:

    Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen
    The first Houstonian to win the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas, Chef G, as she’s known to friends and supporters, continues to make Street to Kitchen one of Houston’s destination restaurants. Regular travels back home to Thailand inspire new dishes on the menu, and G has also embraced her inner Texan with a rotating selection of steaks and chops. Her warm personality also sets the tone for the friendly service diners can expect at Street to Kitchen.

    Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, Jūn
    The two friends and business partners have come a long way since their days of serving meals under a tent at area farmers markets. Now, they’re James Beard Award finalists for Best Chef: Texas, Top Chef alumni, and they successfully spun up a daytime concept, Third Place, that hosts the city’s most intriguing roster of pop-ups. If that weren’t enough, they released debuted Loaded Potatoes, a new podcast that showcases their distinct perspectives on food and culture.

    Felipe Riccio, March
    As the leader of Houston’s one-star, Mediterranean-inspired tasting menu restaurant, Riccio leads the ultra-ambitious team that changes its entire menu twice per year. Not only does this effort require extensive research, training, and preparation, it only requires the discipline necessary to execute at a consistently high level to meet the expectations of diners who are fully aware of the restaurant’s lofty reputation.

    Jassi Bindra, Amrina/Kitchen Rumors
    Houstonians already knew Bindra could execute fine dining cuisine based on his success at Amrina, but the chef also showcased his adeptness with casual fare at twin concepts Bol and Pok Pok Po. He dialed up the creativity at Kitchen Rumors, bringing Indian flavors to everything from pot roast to ramen. Although his Top Chef experience came to an abrupt end in only this season’s second episode, he’ll remain a local chef whose future projects will always be worth sampling.

    Lucas McKinney, Josephine's
    Already a winner of Rising Star Chef of the Year, McKinney steps into Chef of the Year consideration after leading Josephine’s to a Recommended designation in the Michelin Guide. The inspectors praises dishes like the crab fat rice bowl and shrimp po’ boy, but they neglected to include McKinney’s world-class crawfish. That just means more for us.

    Manabu Horiuchi, Katami/Kata Robata/Sushi Horiuchi
    Known to all as Hori-san, your favorite chef’s favorite chef is riding higher than ever. Katami, his ode to contemporary Japanese fine dining, quickly established itself as one of Houston’s most sought after reservations and earned the chef a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for America's best chef. More recently, he opened Sushi Horiuchi, a six-seat omakase counter that gives diners an even most personal experience. While diners should certainly engage with him about the dishes they’re eating, we also suggest asking him about his favorite karaoke songs.

    Mayank Istwal, Musaafer
    As the leader of Houston’s only Michelin-starred Indian fine dining restaurant, Istwal oversees an impressive restaurant that offers both a la carte and tasting menus. With Musaafer’s recent expansion to New York City, he’s also the only nominee to be dividing his time between two cities. Thankfully, he’s built a strong team who can ensure Musaafer remains consistent even when he’s in the Big Apple.

    Nick Wong, Agnes and Sherman
    Known for leading UB Preserv to a best new restaurant award from Texas Monthly, Wong returned to the kitchen with this Asian American diner in the Heights, which also earned best new restaurant nods from both Texas Monthly and finalist status in the James Beard Awards. The wide-ranging menu applies his unique perspective to everything from fried chicken and club sandwiches to egg foo young and pasta bolognese — made with Korean rice dumplings, natch. While his commitment to make Agnes and Sherman a good place to work is certainly worthy of respect, he deserves this nomination simply for introducing Houston to cheeseburger fried rice.

    Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie
    A former Pastry Chef of the Year winner for his work at Goodnight Hospitality, Gawle has been showing off his savory chops at this restaurant in the Heights. The restaurant’s prix fixe menu reflects the style of dining Gawle enjoys the most, where friends share a meal and conversation. Recently, the chef has been inviting guest chefs such as Rebecca Mason and Raffi Nasr in for can’t-miss collabs.

    Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast
    As the winner of Best Chef: Texas in the 2025 James Beard Awards and a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide, Belly of the Beast no longer qualifies as a hidden gem. Still, Bille isn’t resting on his laurels. He added a tasting menu to Belly of the Beast’s offerings and continues to roll out new dishes that explore the intersection of Mexican flavors with other immigrant cuisines.

    ----

    The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Maker's Mark, Culinary Khancepts, Herradura Tequila, Ritual Zero Proof + Seedlip, Shutto, NXT LVL EVENT, and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    Felipe Riccio March
    Photo by Zachary Horst
    Felipe Riccio, March.
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