"One of the newest additions to Houston’s thriving food scene is this little Israeli restaurant, which opened in May 2022 in the city’s Southampton neighborhood near Rice University. Hamsa’s menu (and its atmosphere) represents a posh, modern concept of Israeli cuisine—stylish and contemporary with big, classic flavors. The portions at Hamsa are huge and most dishes on the menu are meant to be shared, so bring a pal along to tackle lunch or dinner. Hamsa’s signature skewers are served on miniature swords; choose from offerings like beef tenderloin, lamb, and shrimp as well as vegetarian options like king oyster mushrooms. Dips like baba ghanoush and matbucha can be ordered individually, or you can try them all at once with the “Wholeshebang,” which comes with samples of everything and three pitas." - Mae Hamilton
