The best restaurants in Houston right now

What is it? The revival of a concept that launched in 2020, shuttered after a couple years, and then thankfully reopened in a new, larger space. Its casual digs contrast the incredible cooking happening inside the kitchen.

Why we love it: If there’s one restaurant that captures why Houstonians brag about the diversity of their culinary scene, it’s Belly of the Beast. Chef Thomas Bille is a native of Los Angeles, and he brings that city’s global influences to his Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning restaurant. Many of the dishes have Mexican roots, but Bille throws in touches of Southeast Asia, Italy, India and the Gulf Coast. It results in genius dishes like a “saag paneer” with a salsa verde mole or a bowl of cavatelli pasta laced with herbaceous hoja santa. Add on some warm service from Bille’s wife, Elizabeth, and the rest of the staff, and they’ve created an idyllic formula for a neighborhood restaurant. It’s a place you’ll want to put firmly atop your repeat list.

Time Out tip: Don’t be scared of any dish that reads “fusion” on the menu. The chef here is skilled in combining global flavors into cohesive plates.

Address: 5200 Farm to Market 2920 #180, Spring, TX 77388

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 5-9pm

Expect to pay: $75+ per person for dinner and drinks.

What is it? A pop-up turned brick and mortar bakery known for its perfect pastries, craft coffee and focus on heirloom corn.

Why we love it: This Heights bakery-slash-cafe opens early and plies the neighborhood with snacks and caffeine until 3pm. At Ema, you could start your morning with pastry chef Stephanie Velasquez’s fluffy and not-too-sweet Berlinesa, a doughnut bursting with horchata cream (and named one of the best desserts in America, according to The New York Times). But there’s also the temptation of pillowy conchas or danishes topped with seasonal fruit to pair with one of Marlén Mendoza’s coffee drinks. On the savory side, chef Nicolas Vera’s confit carrots swaddled in a corn tortilla, torta milanesa with fried chicken and earthy tetela made with mushroom-carrot tinga, blue corn masa, salsa verde and dill sour cream are all reasons to linger here for as long as possible.

Time Out tip: Order the café de olla. The rich coffee is spiked with dark sugar and spices and tastes like the holidays. It’s the perfect treat in the morning or any time you need a comforting pick-me-up.

Address: 5307 N Main St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77009

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-3pm; Sat-Sun 8am-3pm

Expect to pay: About $20 for breakfast and a coffee.

What is it? The latest opening from Local Foods Group is an Italian-American trattoria that serves up comforting dishes in cozy environs.

Why we love it: There’s no shortage of Italian restaurants in Houston, but none are quite like Milton’s in Rice Village. With its Art Deco touches, the narrow restaurant doesn’t feel like a place trying too hard to capture that red-sauce nostalgia that’s so trendy today. Instead, the food does the talking: Sicilian “tar tar” features a medley of fresh seafood that begs for more focaccia crostini because you want to finish every last bite. Chargrilled oysters, which are all over the city’s menus, become a vehicle to down copious amounts of Parmesan and pancetta. You can keep your meal light with any number of salads or just go ahead and dive into the 100-layer lasagna or chicken parm that easily serves two. By the time you finish a tiramisu or the olive oil cake, you're reminded that dining at an Italian restaurant doesn’t have to feel predictable—in fact, it can be a lot of fun. 

Time Out tip: Milton’s shares a space with Lee’s, a sister concept cocktail bar where you can continue your evening with small bites and fun, creative cocktails. Try the Goddess Green, an herbal drink featuring gin, citrus, basil, tarragon and chervil.

Address: 5117 Kelvin Dr Suite 200, Houston, TX 77005

Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm

Expect to pay: $75+ per person for dinner and drinks.

What is it? A beloved restaurant serving Houston’s trademark Viet-Cajun cuisine since 2008. The original is still going strong on Bellaire, and there’s a second location at the Houston Farmers Market.

Why we love it: Nothing says Houston like spicy Viet Cajun-style crawfish, and the Asiatown original introduced the dish to hungry residents before Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods” and David Chang’s “Ugly Delicious” brought the larger world’s attention to James Beard semifinalist chef Trong Nguyen. During crawfish season, it’s criminal not to order the namesake dish, a stir-fried buttery garlic delicacy with just the right amount of spice. Other worthy dishes include stir-fried blue crab, chicken wings and bo luc lac, stir-fried beef with rice. There’s no need to dress up for this casual spot, where it’s perfectly acceptable to eat with your hands. 

Time Out tip: Our favorite way to experience Crawfish & Noodles is to get a seafood boil loaded with your choice of crawfish, crab or shrimp, plus corn, potatoes and sausage. It’s spicy, saucy and delicious. Take a group for maximum ordering capacity, and be sure to ask for a bib.

Address: 11360 Bellaire Blvd #990, Houston, TX 77072

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Expect to pay: $25-40 per person, depending on how hungry you are.

What is it? An intimate omakase counter from chef Billy Kin, the man behind other top-notch Houston restaurants Blackbird Izakaya and Hidden Omakase.

Why we love it: Located in the historic Heights neighborhood, 5Kinokawa offers just 14 seats and puts guests right in front of the action. Fish is flown in weekly from Toyosu Market in Japan, and chef Kin sources other seasonal ingredients to ensure the menu is always fresh and exciting. The staff turns up the theatrics over the immersive culinary journey, which might feature coveted items like buttery otoro or the most marvelously marbled wagyu (you know it’s a special cow when it comes with a birth certificate sporting a nose print). Dinner usually runs 13 to 14 courses, and there’s always something new to try for repeat guests.

Time Out tip: If you can’t make an in-person dinner, the restaurant offers a $75 to-go omakase featuring assorted nigiri with house soy and fresh wasabi, all served in a wooden box. 

Address: 3119 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

Opening hours: Thurs-Sat seatings at 6pm and 8:30pm; Sun seatings at 5:30pm and 7:30pm

Expect to pay: $150 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

What is it? A fun-loving hangout and Bib Gourmand recipient that opened in 2017,serving an eclectic menu that defies categorization. 

Why we love it: This retro-cool bistro in the EaDo neighborhood delivers on-point shared plates, innovative cocktails and a nice natural wine list. The relaxed atmosphere feels modern and smart with great service and a reel-to-reel tape player producing background music at just the right level. The cozy spot is just as good for a weeknight dinner as a late Saturday night drink at the bar. In addition to neighborhood residents and the city’s foodie set, it’s a place where industry professionals eat and drink when they’re not on the clock. There’s a lot to choose from here, but don’t miss the chilled oysters, seasonal salads, cheeseburger on a brioche English muffin and the Nancy Cakes with housemade whipped butter and roe.

Time Out tip: The cocktails and wines are great, but hear us out. The best way to start a meal is with the glass of bianco vermouth served with lemon and olives, and the best way to close is with the $5 shot of chilled amaro.

Address: 2704 Polk St A, Houston, TX 77003

Opening hours: Tues-Sun 5-11pm

Expect to pay: $75+ per person for dinner and drinks.

What is it? A sexy Mexican steakhouse that’s slowly taking over the world. It planted its flag in Houston in 2024 and has quickly proved itself a worthy addition to the city’s restaurant scene.

Why we love it: Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Scottsdale may have gotten Toca Madera first, but everything’s bigger in Texas, and the Houston iteration is proof of that. The 14,000-square-foot space manages to feel cozy and chic with a dark wood interior, booths that curve around trees and photos hung over a recessed fireplace. There’s a lot happening here, both at your table and around the dining room. Drinks arrive in a dry ice haze or get topped with a flickering blue flame. Guacamole, wagyu striploin and truffle Manchego fries are so pretty, you’ll need a photo before diving in. The tomahawk steak is strung up, set alight and carved from the bone. Music thumps from the DJ booth, fire dancers heat things up tableside and performers stroll the restaurant, strumming guitars. It’s a dinner as much as it is a show.

Time Out tip: Save room for Dama de los Muertos—crack the chocolate skull, and you’ll find an even sweeter treasure inside.

Address: 1755 Allen Pkwy Suite 101, Houston, TX 77019

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 5pm-12am; Fri-Sat 5pm-1am

Expect to pay: $100 per person for dinner and drinks.

What is it? A Oaxacan-inspired restaurant from executive chef Hugo Ortega situated on the first floor of the Marriott Marquis Houston. 

Why we love it: Chef Ortega is a Houston culinary powerhouse behind Hugo’s, Caracol, Backstreet Cafe and Urbe, but Xochi is his greatest hit. The menu focuses on many of the culinary traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, and includes a variety of house-made masa and corn dishes, moles, grasshoppers and other ingredients representative of Oaxacan cooking. The mole tasting is a five-course menu covering pipián verde, amarillo, pasilla, mole negro and fig mole, and is one of the more fun Mexican tasting menus you’ll find. If you order a la carte, keep an eye out for occasional specials such as the suckling pig, sopa de piedra and tamal de huitlacoche, and be sure to end with the churros and chocolate.

Time Out tip: The $45 brunch buffet each Sunday is your chance to eat a smorgasbord of mid-morning favorites, including eggs, enchiladas, tamales, guacamole, ceviches, pozole and plenty of moles.  

Address: 1777 Walker St, Houston, TX 77010

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm; Sun 11am-3pm

Expect to pay: $75+ per person for dinner and drinks; $45 for brunch.

What is it? A Bib Gourmand winner from chef Justin Yu, serving what the restaurant calls “relaxed fine dining with a French touch.”

Why we love it: Housed between industrial buildings and artists’ lofts, the tiny 28-seat restaurant (plus 10 more on the patio) offers a unique dining experience focused on well-executed plates made with local, seasonal ingredients alongside one of the city’s most interesting wine lists. The menu changes often based on seasonality and the availability of local farm offerings, so the food is always fresh and innovative. Think tagliolini with cultured butter and oyster liquor, and a mushroom tare-brushed chicken leg roasted over hot coals. Because of the limited space, it’s best for those dining in pairs, as the restaurant’s single large table seats six people max, and reservations go quickly. 

Time Out tip: If you weren’t able to score a reservation, call the restaurant for estimated wait times. They keep tables open for walk-ins.

Address: 1302 Nance St unit A, Houston, TX 77002

Opening hours: Thurs-Mon 5-10pm

Expect to pay: $75+ per person for dinner and drinks.

What is it? An unassuming restaurant in a Little Saigon strip mall that specializes in Vietnamese street food from the central city of Hue.

Why we love it: Don’t let the facade fool you. This simple spot is home to some serious cooking. Add in the family-run establishment’s friendly staff and reasonable prices, and Nam Giao is a destination-worthy restaurant despite the driving distance. It’s perfectly fine to dine here alone or as part of a duo, but the best move is to bring a group so you can justify ordering the many delicious small plates. Get the banh beo steamed rice cakes appetizer combo platter, including all three varieties of the house specialty cakes: banh nam, banh bot loc la and banh beo chen. If you’re still hungry, the grilled flank steak with vermicelli should do the trick.

Time Out tip: Pick up a bag of pork floss on your way out. The savory, cotton candy-like dried pork makes a great snack while you’re on the road.

Address: 6938 Wilcrest Dr, Houston, TX 77072

Opening hours: Daily 9am-9pm (closed Thursday)

Expect to pay: $25+ per person for lunch or dinner.

What is it? A casual, indoor/outdoor barbecue joint from Grant Pinkerton, who aside from running his eponymous restaurant is an award-winning pitmaster on the national barbecue competition circuit.

Why we love it: Eating barbecue in Texas is a rite of passage for visitors and a staple for locals, and you know Houston has its fair share of award-winning contenders. Pinkerton’s has been open since 2016, and it’s a local favorite that has earned a spot on plenty of best-of lists. Lines are legendary for barbecue joints in Texas, but thankfully, this doesn’t apply to Pinkerton’s. There are no complicated rules to ordering, and you can enjoy a leisurely meal without the fuss of lines wrapped around the block. The hulking beef rib is a must. The beef brisket with a side of jalapeño-cheese rice is another necessity, and if you’re with a hungry crowd, the beef and pork ribs and duck and sausage jambalaya make nice additions, too.

Time Out tip: Items here will sell out, so if there’s something you absolutely want to try, like that beef rib, it’s best to show up early.

Address: 1504 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009

Opening hours: Sun 11am-9pm; Tues-Thurs 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10pm

Expect to pay: $40+ per person, depending on how much you order.

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What is it? A modern American restaurant that pulls from multiple culinary landscapes, including the Texas gulf coast, the chef’s Ukrainian heritage and French-Canadian cuisine.

Why we love it: This neighborhood spot in Montrose shows off the pedigree and unique culinary perspectives of its executive chef and co-owner, Ryan Lachaine. The rotating, made-to-share menu features dishes that make eating out feel like a worthy expedition, especially if you order across national boundaries and pair dishes with picks from the excellent cocktail and wine lists. Start with some Gulf Coast seafood like oysters or shrimp cocktail, add the pierogies and pork schnitzel, and throw in cabbage rolls stuffed with pork, rice, creme fraiche and dill if you’re still hungry. It’s a well-rounded meal, but nothing that can’t be improved by the kimchi carbonara.

Time Out tip: The wines go beyond the usual suspects, and Riel’s staff is happy to recommend a bottle. So now’s the time to try something new, like škrlet, a white wine from Croatia, or malagousia from Greece.

Address: 1927 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77019

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm

Expect to pay: $75+ per person for dinner and drinks.