9 Of The Best Houston Restaurants To Try This Year

Promising a ‘curated and elevated’ dining experience, this contemporary establishment serves upmarket, Mediterranean influenced cuisine in a sleek, industrial style setting. Warehouse 72’s vast dining room comprises glass walls and lofty ceilings with large scale original artworks adorning exposed brickwork. The pricey, Italian tinged menu includes angel hair pasta with truffle cream sauce, beef tenderloin carpaccio, and za’taar roasted chicken with Aleppo pepper. There is a good wine list, including a number of premium Italian labels. Artisan cocktails and craft beers are also available. An exterior patio with tables offers outdoor dining.

An upmarket restaurant in the central Texas Medical Center district, offering a ‘Modern Houstonian’ menu. This all day eatery sports a 6th floor contemporary restaurant, and an elegant terrace with city views for alfresco dining. A comprehensive menu features breakfast classics such as eggs benedict, with lunch/dinner options of beautifully presented red snapper ceviche, gorgonzola ravioli, and chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. Tempting desserts range from crème brulee to chocolate peanut butter pie. Function rooms are available for private events, and a business casual dress code applies.

This popular Houston food truck chain has bagged several awards, thanks to its distinctive Korean fare with a Mexican twist. Coreanos has two outlets in Houston’s Galleria and Almeda neighbourhoods, both serving up hot, freshly cooked dishes to go. Choose from beef, chicken or tofu bbq burritos, rice bowls, and tacos, all loaded with kimchi, cheese, and spicy mayo. Sides include an array of loaded fries, whilst diners with a taste for extra heat can opt for a side of ‘El scorcho’ sauce.

Roomy Indian restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining areas. Boasting a diverse menu from all regions of the Indian subcontinent, dishes span a breakfast Frankie, (a roti wrap hailing from Mumbai), Madras chicken wings with tamarind chutney and cumin yoghurt, rich Punjabi lamb keema, and Keralan seafood stew. Desserts include custard chai pie and an intriguing sounding avocado key lime tart. Located in the West Ave shopping complex in River Oaks, this all-day restaurant offers seating on a first come first served basis.

Located in the city’s Galleria neighbourhood, 2840 is a spacious mid-range eatery, serving brunch and evening meals from an internationally inspired menu. The restaurant’s brunch options range from quesadillas to blackened salmon with jambalaya, whilst the dinner menu includes Thai green curry chicken and lamb tikka masala, with vegetarian alternatives such as chickpea curry. An elegant patio bar serves a selection of cocktails, wine, and beers, and the venue has several function rooms available for private events.

An award-winning vegan restaurant based in Houston Heights which boasts an inventive lunch and dinner menu. Check out freshly made, globally inspired appetizers such as tempura battered cauliflower with daikon and orange chilli sauce. Mains range from salads and vegan burgers to ‘Wings and Waffles’: chicken-fried style tempeh wings, house waffles and chipotle maple sauce. A sizeable drinks menu includes a good range of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages, with several organic options. Cocktails are available by glass or by carafe.

This popular steak restaurant has been feeding Houston citizens for over four decades. In addition to award-winning home cooked fare, this Memorial City institution boasts an impressive wine list of over 350 labels, and an onsite store selling ‘grill at home’ dishes. The restaurant interior features traditional dark wood and stone, flickering fires, and artfully arranged rifles on whitewashed walls. Appetizers include baked brie and crab cakes, and guests can partake of the generously stocked salad bar. The main menu is a meat lover’s dream, boasting all manner of steak, plus chicken, quail and lobster dishes, with limited vegetarian dishes also available. Note, a ‘business casual’ dress code applies.

This cheerful, airy eatery, located in the plaza in Richmond Avenue shopping center, offers a promising choice of dishes and drinks. Breakfasts feature an assortment of health boosting juices, acai and yoghurt bowls, plus tacos, wraps and bagels stuffed with eggs, turkey and bacon. The extensive all day menu presents a classic range of pizzas, wraps and burgers, along with more novel offerings. Opt for the crispy duck fontina pizza, salmon and kale salad with Japanese ginger dressing, or a veggie ‘power bowl’ brimming with mushrooms, squash, broccoli, and avocado. The restaurant’s mantra is to produce freshly made, seasonal dishes incorporating ethically sourced, local ingredients, without skimping on taste.

Cavo Coffee is a duo of specialty coffee houses serving breakfast and lunch from their respective Greenway and West University neighbourhoods. An extensive drinks menu contains 13 varieties of coffee, all brewed in-house at the neighbouring Cleo Roasting Company ‘coffee lab’ using ethically sourced beans. Cavo serves breakfasts and lunches up till 2pm, with dishes ranging from fresh croissants, and avocado and eggs on sourdough toast, to nourishing vegetarian and beef filled tacos. Generous portions, competitively priced and tasty.