With rapid economic growth and one of the largest immigrant populations in the country, Houston has become an especially exciting culinary hub in recent years.
From a late-night vinyl-spinning dive to a BYOB Mexican tasting menu experience, there’s no shortage of options in and around Houston. Here are eight spots you shouldn’t miss.
Neo
Enter Glass Cypress, a reimagined luxury retail design studio in the Montrose neighborhood that's known for vibrant swaths of color and bold prints. Tucked away in the showroom is a gorgeous, 10-seat chef’s counter. Here, you can experience an avant-garde sushi omakase menu that highlights a dry-aging program throughout 16-plus courses.
Neo.Photo courtesy of Tock
Nobie’s
“We like to think of the dining room as a house party,” says the team at Nobie’s. It’s dark, loud, and the vinyl spins all day, every day. Named after chef Martin Stayer’s grandmother, Nobie’s offers a curated and constantly evolving menu that’s both comforting and innovative. Think Texas tartare, pull-apart dilly bread, and German potato salad-stuffed quail.
Nobie's.Photo courtesy of Tock
Tatemó
Tatemó’s mission is to restore the cultural and nutritional value of maíz by showcasing the diversity of heirloom corn from various landscapes and purveyors of Mexico. Chef Emmanuel Chavez, named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2023, crafts a seven-course tasting menu that revolves around nixtamalized corn, without additives or colorants.
Tatemó’.Photo courtesy of Tock
Hando
When in need of a casual neighborhood hang, Hando has you covered. This convivial hand roll bar specializes in temaki and skewers, plus craft cocktails, Japanese beer, and sake. It’s impossible not to enjoy yourself over matcha painkillers and nori-wrapped toro. Grab a seat at the counter and watch as the chefs personally prepare and serve these delicious bites.
Hando.Photo courtesy of Tock
The Blind Goat
Chef-author-entrepreneur Christine Hà made waves in 2012 as the first blind participant on MasterChef. She then went on to win the entire season. The Blind Goat is Hà’s vibrant Vietnamese eatery in Northwest Houston. The charmingly playful menu features dishes like Saigon street corn ribs, quexo and wontons, and Texas barbecue brisket fried rice.
The Blind Goat.Photo courtesy of Tock
Soma Sushi
Chef Omi Higa combines traditional Japanese cuisine with modern techniques and local influences. The eclectic menu has plenty of sushi classics, but also makes room for dishes like teriyaki Texas Wagyu beef tacos or panko-topped lobster mac n’ cheese.
Soma Sushi.Photo courtesy of Tock
Armandos + Mandito’s Tex-Mex
The iconic couple behind Armandos and Mandito’s have served the Houston area for decades, starting with the namesake Armondos in 1978. In recent years, they’ve opened not one, but three Mandito’s locations in Bellaire, Round Top, and Katy, bringing a new era of hospitality to Texas. All of Palacios’ concepts focus on quality, nostalgia, and personable service.
Armandos.Photo courtesy of Tock
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