Best Restaurants in Houston

Born from a molino and tortilla table, Tatemó channels Houston’s creative energy into a corn-driven tasting menu that earned a Michelin star. Chef Emmanuel Chavez spotlights heirloom maíz with inventive courses and BYOB hospitality. Praised by the Houston Chronicle and Food & Wine, it’s a tiny room with outsized impact on the city’s culinary identity.

March’s elegant journey through the Mediterranean changes twice a year, pairing deeply researched flavors with one of the city’s strongest beverage programs. Awarded a Michelin star and celebrated by local critics, it’s refined without being fussy—cocktails and snacks in the lounge segue into precise, artful courses that show Houston’s cosmopolitan side.

EaDo’s beloved bistro spins Houston produce and pantry staples into craveable plates, from spicy beef-and-butter dumplings to the cult-favorite Nancy Cakes with trout roe. A Michelin Bib Gourmand and frequent Chronicle favorite, it’s also been lauded nationally by Food & Wine and Esquire—proof that casual can be exceptional.

Benchawan Jabthong Painter’s fiery, faithful Thai cooking made waves from a tiny East End spot and now sings in a larger address. A Michelin Bib Gourmand and James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Texas, the kitchen leans into layered curries, wok char, and real-deal spice—Houston heat with Thai soul.

Three Alief natives reimagined Texas barbecue with Houston’s Asian flavors—think gochujang-glazed ribs, brisket fried rice, and char siu bao alongside textbook brisket. A Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient and featured by The New York Times, this is the city’s multicultural story told through smoke, spice, and daily specials.

Trong Nguyen helped define Viet-Cajun boils: garlicky, buttery crawfish tossed with Vietnamese aromatics and Cajun heat. A Houston Chronicle essential and spotlighted on national TV, it’s where locals take visitors to understand the city’s flavor mashups—order tamarind crab and wings if crawfish isn’t in season.

From the team behind some of Houston’s most influential kitchens, Squable is a polished neighborhood spot where French cheeseburgers, smart pastas, and playful vegetables share the table. A regular on the Houston Chronicle’s best lists, it nails the balance of comfort and creativity—plus a can’t-miss happy-hour martini.

An intimate listening-bar vibe meets precise sashimi, donburi, and temaki at this Upper Kirby counter. Lauded by Texas Monthly’s Best New Restaurants 2025 and covered by Eater, Kira’s vinyl soundtrack and disciplined service create a uniquely Houston take on modern Japanese dining.

Chef Manabu Horiuchi’s flagship remains a benchmark for Houston sushi and modern Japanese cuisine. Revered by the Houston Chronicle, it’s where pristine fish meets Texas sensibility—excellent chirashi, deft hot dishes, and real wasabi on request. A long-running standard-bearer that still feels current.

Justin Yu’s intimate warehouse-edge dining room delivers deceptively simple plates layered with seasonal nuance, an approach that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Warm service, a thoughtful wine list, and signatures like tomato fondant on fried bread have made T. Rex a modern Houston classic.

In Houston’s Little Saigon, this family-run spot focuses on the elegant cuisine of Huế—banh beo chen, banh ram it, and herb-bright crepes. Recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand and praised by local critics, it’s a masterclass in central Vietnamese flavors at everyday prices.