Texas BBQ · Spring · Michelin 1 Star, Texas Monthly Top 50
Spring BBQ trailer that earned a cult following smoking everything over Texas post oak with obsessive attention to detail. The brisket bark is shatteringly crisp, the pork ribs are fall-off-the-bone t...
Leonard Botello brought his Brenham BBQ operation to the Heights and immediately became one of the best in Houston. The brisket has a clean smoke ring and buttery texture, the ribs are competition-qua...
Pitmaster Ronnie Killen's destination BBQ joint in a converted school cafeteria. The beef ribs are legendary and the prime brisket draws crowds from across the state. Extended table service on weekend...
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4
Street to Kitchen
Thai · Second Ward · James Beard Winner (Best Chef: Texas 2023), Michelin Bib Gourmand
Chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter won Best Chef: Texas at the James Beards -- the first Houston chef to win the category. Bold, authentic Thai flavors in a casual Second Ward setting with a new happy ho...
94
5
Blood Bros. BBQ
Texas BBQ / Asian Fusion · Bellaire · Michelin Bib Gourmand, James Beard Finalist, NYT 50 Best
Three childhood friends from Alief fuse Asian flavors with Central Texas BBQ. Robin and Terry Wong and Quy Hoang smoke classic brisket alongside fried rice, chow fun, and sweet-and-sour ribs. A Housto...
94
6
Crawfish & Noodles
Vietnamese-Cajun · Chinatown / Bellaire · James Beard Finalist
The restaurant that invented Viet-Cajun crawfish. Chef Trong Nguyen's garlic butter crawfish launched an entire cuisine genre unique to Houston. Go during crawfish season (March-June) for the full exp...
Heights BBQ from Grant Pinkerton that earned praise for its brisket and creative sides. The prime brisket is smoked low and slow over post oak, the jalapeño cheese grits are a perfect complement, and ...
93
8
Mala Sichuan Bistro
Sichuan Chinese · Chinatown / Bellaire · Michelin Recommended, James Beard Nominated
The Sichuan restaurant that made Chinatown a destination for adventurous eaters. The dan dan noodles have proper mala numbing heat, the mapo tofu is authentically fiery, and the cumin lamb is addictiv...
92
9
Loro
Asian Smokehouse · Heights
Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole's Asian smokehouse -- a collaboration between the minds behind Franklin Barbecue and Uchi. Smoked meats meet Southeast Asian flavors with killer batch cocktails on a grea...
92
10
Underbelly Hospitality / Wild Oats
Southern / Global · Montrose
Chris Shepherd latest Montrose concept focusing on Southern comfort with global accents. The Korean braised goat is a signature, the bread service is outstanding, and the brunch is one of the most exc...