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    Best Thanksgiving Take Out

    Thanksgiving to-go: Take the stress out of Turkey Day with these 11 restaurant take-out options

    Elizabeth Rhodes
    Nov 13, 2017 | 11:40 am

    Who needs the hassle of trying to prepare a Thanksgiving feast? Stop worrying and let one of Houston's top restaurants take all the stress out of your Thanksgiving meal.

    With choices ranging from traditional selections with a Southern flair to Mexican-inspired fare and everything in between, these take-out options will have the whole family begging for seconds. No debates about brining techniques required.

    Frank's Americana Revival
    The fare: The River Oaks restaurant offers traditional Thanksgiving entrees, shareable a la carte sides — including cornbread-sage dressing, green bean casserole, and roasted butternut squash — and dessert offerings like Maria's Tres Leches or cranberry-pecan bread pudding.
    Pricing: French cut turkey breast (serves 6-8) for $60, bone-in spiral ham (serves 8-10) for $95, and a la carte sides starting at $45.
    Availability: Orders must be placed by 9 pm on November 14 for pick up on November 22 or 23.
    To order: Online or by phone at (713) 572-8600.

    Jonathan's The Rub
    The fare: Chef Jonathan Levine offers a fried turkey that's brined for 48 hours in his special herb and spice blend. Traditional homemade sides and desserts are also available.
    Pricing: A 12-14 pound fried turkey for $75; A la carte sides start at $10 and pies are $38.
    Availability: Place order before November 19 for pick up on November 23 between 10 am and 3 pm.
    To order: Order via email at jonathansthanksgiving@gmail.com. Call (713) 467-9000 for more information.

    FM Kitchen & Bar
    The fare: Chef Ryan Hildebrand's Washington Avenue hotspot gets in touch with its Southern side with dishes like smoked turkey, stewed green beans and onions, and cornbread stuffing with sausage and mushrooms (portions designed for eight to 10 people). Preview the items — and shop 15 local vendors — during a special Sunday farmers market on November 19 from 11 am to 3 pm.
    Pricing: Smoked turkey and gravy $70; sides $35 or $40; bread pudding $45
    Availability: Orders accepted through November 19 with pick-up on November 22.
    To order: Email media@fmkitchenandbar.com or call (832) 804-6006

    Junior League of Houston
    The fare: An under-the-radar choice, The Pantry at the Junior League of Houston offers holiday classics, including roasted turkey, cheesy broccoli rice casserole, and mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and pecans, as well as a la carte options such as Quiche Lorraine or a sausage breakfast tart.
    Pricing: One 22-pound turkey for $75; a la carte sides start at $16; packages for 10-12 start at $250.
    Availability: Orders accepted until November 16 with pick-up on November 22 between 10 am and 1 pm.
    To order: Visit jlh.org or call (713) 622-5965

    Hugo's
    The fare: Take things south of the border this Thanksgiving with a variety of tamales (including wild mushroom, chicken and mole and seafood), chile rellenos and enchiladas from Hugo's. Spice up the table with the restaurant's mole cornbread.
    Pricing: Tamales start at $24/dozen. Chile rellenos start at $84/dozen. Enchiladas start at $32/dozen.
    Availability: Order by November 20 for pick up on November 22.
    To order: Call (713) 524-7744 to order.

    Ouisie's Table
    The fare: Known for delicious eats with an upscale southern twist, Ouisie's Table offers up favorites like garlic and pepper-crusted prime rib, honey glazed ham and roasted turkey, as well as tasty traditional sides and dessert options.
    Pricing: Full packages start at $175; a la carte options vary in price.
    Availability: Order by November 16 for pick up on November 22.
    To order: Call (713) 528-2264 to order.

    Goode Company
    The fare: Let Goode Company deck out your Thanksgiving table with a mesquite-smoked turkey, their famous smoked BBQ meats, or their signature pecan pie.
    Pricing: $75 per 10-pound turkey.
    Availability: Turkeys can be pre-ordered through Goode Company’s three barbecue locations. Drive-through pie booths will be open at all Goode Co. BBQ locations the two days before Thanksgiving from 8 am to 5 pm.
    To order: Place an order online, call (713) 224-6633, or stop by the pie booth.

    Rainbow Lodge
    The fare: In addition to classic dishes and roasted turkeys, get adventurous with Rainbow Lodge's wild game options — including buffalo tenderloin, roasted quail and even a whole roasted suckling pig — as well as a la carte choices such as croissant bread pudding and their signature smoked duck gumbo.
    Pricing: Whole turkeys start at $89; a la carte options vary in price.
    Availability: Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance.
    To order: Call (713) 861-8666 or email info@rainbow-lodge.com.

    Luby's
    The fare: Get a down home feast of sliced roasted turkey, sliced baked ham, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and giblet gravy at Luby’s. Traditional desserts and additional sides are available as well.
    Pricing: Created for groups of 10 or more, packages are priced from $6.99 to $10.99 per person.
    Availability: Multiple locations. Advance notice of 48 hours is requested.
    To order: Lubys.com or (877) GO-LUBYS.

    Etoile Cuisine et Bar
    The fare: For a French-inspired holiday feast, Etoile Cuisine et Bar is offering take-out packages — complete with organic oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole and more — as well as a la carte options including foie gras torchon, mushroom, leek and potato soup, and vanilla bourbon pecan pie.
    Pricing: Complete package costs $190; a la carte options vary in price.
    Availability: Place orders by November 20.
    To order: Call 832-668-5808 to order.

    Lucienne
    The fare: Lucienne at Hotel Alessandra has prepared a stunning take-out feast featuring pumpkin soup, green beans, brussel sprouts, sweet potato puree, mashed potatoes, and gravy, all to accompany a delectable 20-pound stuffed turkey.
    Pricing: Packages are priced from $200 (for 4 to 6) to $400 (8 to 10). Pies are $25 each.
    Availability: Place order before November 20 for pick up on November 23 between 11 am and 2 pm.
    To order: Order via email at lpoirier@valenciagroup.com or via phone 713.242.8555 ext 6026.

    Mesquite-smoked turkey from Goode Co.

    Goode Company Smoked Turkey
    Courtesy photo
    Mesquite-smoked turkey from Goode Co.
    Mesquite-smoked turkey from Goode Co.
    dinnerholidaysnews-you-can-eat
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    firing up Montrose

    New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

    Eric Sandler
    Dec 3, 2025 | 10:02 am
    Casa Kenji restaurant
    Photo by Becca Wright
    Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

    An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

    Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

    “My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

    The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

    “Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

    Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

    “It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

    One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

    Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

    “We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

    Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

    Casa Kenji restaurant

    Photo by Becca Wright

    Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

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