The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in Houston: a monthly-updated (and expanded!) guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Houston Not to Miss This Month
- Michelin Mania: The famed restaurant guide has announced its selections for Texas, and many of the Bayou City’s finest made the cut. Among those that received a coveted star were Le Jardinier at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (to match the ones in New York City and Miami), Tatemó in Spring Branch, and CorkScrew BBQ in Spring. Resy spots Theodore Rex and Nancy’s Hustle also received Bib Gourmands, and perennial favorites Bludorn, BASO, and Hidden Omakase received recommendations. But Michelin nod or no, Houstonians already knew these and the other 22 selections were worth the hype.
- Now on Resy: Every year around this time, Johnny’s Gold Brick in the Heights transforms into an immersive Christmas cocktail bar rechristened as Miracle at Johnny’s Gold Brick. The over-the-top decorations and festive holiday-themed drinks are enough to get even the Grinchiest of Grinches into the holiday spirit. If you’re in Midtown, head to sister pop-up Miracle at Winnies for more wintry cheer. Also New on Resy — but certainly not new to the area — is 106-year-old Christie’s Seafood & Steaks, renowned for its 1917 famous fish “sandwich” and the fish en foil papillote with wine butter seafood stuffing. Find out what else is New on Resy here.
- Holiday Cheer: Is there anything better for the soul than gathering with loved ones over good food and strong drinks? Of course not. Fortunately, loads of places offer private spaces to celebrate and be merry. The private dining room at Navy Blue can accommodate cozy hangs and large parties, as can Doris Metropolitan – Houston, MAD Houston, Money Cat, Phat Eatery, and Traveler’s Table, just to name a few. Chinese restaurants specializing in banquet-style dining such as Ocean Palace, Fung’s Kitchen (get that lobster mountain), and Bamboo House (Peking duck is the thing) are also always reliable choices, as is the Vietnamese buffet at Kim Son on Bellaire. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
- Plan Ahead: If you love a boozy brunch buffet that also includes fabulous entertainment by the city’s most dazzling drag performers, mark your calendar for Chapman & Kirby’s monthly Queen Brunch on Dec. 21. Don’t feel like making a Christmas Eve feast? Book a table at Le Jardinier, with a five-course set menu featuring caviar, foie gras, black truffle, and Maine lobster for $185 per person. Then celebrate New Year’s Eve with a $125 per person prix-fixe menu at The Warwick, which includes a red carpet entrance and a 360-degree photo booth. Save your spot via the links above, and find more special events here.
New to the Hit List (Dec. 2024)
Blood Bros. BBQ, Pizzana, Shabu Zone, Triola’s Kitchen.
1. Ostia Montrose
Before Houston native Travis McShane’s solo foray debuted in 2020, the chef spent a decade under the guidance of acclaimed chef Jonathan Waxman, of New York’s Barbuto. Waxman is widely credited as a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement in New York, and Ostia — which serves New American cuisine with Mediterranean and Italian undertones — pays homage to this with a focus on local and sustainable ingredients. If you’re familiar with Waxman’s restaurants, you’ll also know of his famed roast chicken, of which McShane has made plenty. The version on Ostia’s menu, which also tips a hat to McShane’s longtime mentor, is beautifully simple with crisp skin and served with lemon and salsa verde. You won’t want to miss it.
2. neo Hyde Park
Even after four years, it still feels like a delightful secret to dine at Neo. Launched in the summer of 2020 by Jeremy Truong and former Uchi chefs Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo, the 10-seat omakase counter is discreetly tucked away inside luxury menswear boutique Glass Cypress. The specialty: an “avant garde-inspired” experience that highlights their dry-aging program, a process in which various types of fish are hung in a temperature-controlled refrigerator anywhere from days to months to remove moisture and enhance flavor and texture. Another perk? The 18 to 20 courses include complimentary beverages such as sake and wine. Resys go quickly so secure your spot, stat.
3. Triola’s Kitchen Greater Heights
When the locals consistently rave about a restaurant in social media food groups, it’s probably special. And chef Frank Triola’s Heights restaurant deserves all the praise for its warm service and classic Italian fare. It’s no surprise, because red sauce runs through Triola’s veins: Frank Azzarelli, his grandfather, is well known for opening one of Houston’s first Italian restaurants in 1945. At Triola’s Kitchen, we recommend starting with the veal-stuffed mushroom caps before moving on to the hearty pappardelle Bolognese and succulent grilled New Zealand lamb chops. End the meal with Triola’s famous Key lime pie — you won’t regret it.
4. Mastrantos The Heights
This charming restaurant from Venezuelan husband-and-wife team Xavier and Mari Godoy has become a Heights staple since opening in late 2018. Globally influenced flavors range from Latin American to European to Asian and are presented in the form of housemade pastas and shareable plates. The chorizo carbonara is a great example of how Mastrantos fuses cuisines, as is the tortelloni de elote, which reimagines how Mexican street corn would taste as a creamy pasta dish. The TexQueño — a thick cylinder of Venezuelan cheese housed inside fried dough served with cilantro sauce — is also a must.
5. Pizzana Houston Houston River Oaks
This acclaimed California-based chain opened its first Houston outpost in March, giving more cred to the city’s growing pizza scene. Originally from Naples, Italy, pizzaiolo Daniele Uditi partners with Candace and Charles Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes to serve thin-crust neo-Neapolitan pies meticulously made with the best ingredients, including stone-ground flour, consciously sourced toppings, and San Marzano tomatoes flown in from Uditi’s native land. The cacio e pepe pie is a customer favorite, but we’re also partial to the seasonal mushroom pizza. Also, save room for dessert: Candace Nelson’s dark chocolate olive oil cake à la mode is decadence personified.
6. Norigami West University
Originally a pop-up from the Hidden Group (Hidden Omakase and Sushi by Hidden), Norigami opened its first brick-and-mortar location in late September 2023. Like its sister concepts, it’s designed for intimacy, with seating for 24 at a wrap-around counter — ideal for observing the sushi chefs as they deftly compose lavish hand rolls that regularly make the rounds on social media. One in particular, the ménage foie gras, is stacked with lightly seared wagyu, toro, creamy uni, and foie gras, then topped with caviar and gold flakes. The restaurant also houses a speakeasy-style bar — accessed via a secret door — where diners can enjoy a selection of wine, beer, sake, and cocktails.
7. Tiny Champions EaDo
This chill pizzeria — from the team that gave us perennial EaDo favorite Nancy’s Hustle — doesn’t only serve pizza, although, most definitely come for that beautifully charred thin crust. Indeed, the restaurant also offers a host of rotating starters, vegetable dishes, pastas, desserts, and other shareable items inspired by what’s in season. Case in point: We suggest hightailing it over there before peak melon season ends, and the refreshing chilled melon salad and cooling labneh ice cream with melon granita bid adieu. That said, however, every season’s worth a visit (or several) to Tiny Champions.
8. Viola & Agnes’ Neo Soul Cafe Seabrook
The New York Times recently listed Viola & Agnes’ Neo Soul Cafe as one of its 50 favorite places in America right now — but this quirky Creole spot from chef Aaron Davis has long been a go-to for Houstonians since opening in 2015. Named for Davis’ grandmothers, the Seabrook restaurant honors the chef’s Louisiana roots, serving up soulful Southern fare such as crispy fried catfish, NOLA barbecue shrimp and grits, and a flavor-filled gumbo overflowing with chicken, sausage, blue crab, and more. Be sure to check the chalk wall for limited-time specials, too.
See what chef Davis is cooking on Instagram.
9. Riel Montrose
Seven years after its debut, Ryan Lachaine’s celebrated Montrose restaurant continues to deliver one of the city’s most exciting menus — one heavily influenced by the Texas Gulf Coast, Lachaine’s Ukrainian heritage, French-Canadian food, and other global cuisines. Start with Riel’s signature pierogies and caviar tots before digging into a comforting bowl of kimchi carbonara with grilled shrimp or the juicy butter burgers. Or head over Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for happy hour and enjoy deals on select drinks and light bites — you can’t go wrong with the French onion–inspired dip topped with salmon roe or the savory boudin balls.
10. Kata Robata Upper Kirby
This Upper Kirby institution has been serving Houstonians its mix of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine for the past 15 years, and what an exquisite time it’s been for diners so far. James Beard–nominated chef Manabu Horiuchi — endearingly known to all as Chef Hori, and whose other restaurant, Katami, has been garnering raves since opening in late 2023 — leads the charge here, ensuring that everything from the cold and hot dishes (the lobster and crab ramen is a crowd favorite) to the sushi and sashimi selections are executed to the nines. And with fish sourced from Japan multiple times a week, guests are all but guaranteed an exceptional experience.
11. Shabu Zone Chinatown
Real shabu-shabu enthusiasts don’t wait for the temps to drop before diving into this face-steaming, bone-warming experience. No, true fans eat hot pot year-round. At Shabu Zone, it’s all you can eat with individual pots, so you can choose your broth (there are eight flavors) and not have to share. Order premium meats off the menu and pick up seafood options, dumplings, noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauces from the buffet. Then cook everything in the simmering broth, and enjoy. Pro tip: Save any noodles to make last, as that’s when the broth is at its peak flavor — perfect for slurping and sipping.
12. Moon Rabbit HOU Houston Heights
Craving the homey goodness of Vietnamese food but don’t feel like going to Houston’s Asiatown district or Katy Asian Town? Head to Moon Rabbit in the Heights, from chefs Tam Nguyen and Rudy Vasquez. Alongside traditional offerings such as steaming bowls of pho and vermicelli or rice plates, guests will also find specialties like the bánh xèo tostada (a crisped-up Vietnamese crepe topped with shrimp, pork belly, lettuce, and coconut crema) and the salt and pepper squid served with a green sauce so fragrant and flavorful you won’t want to leave a single drop on the plate.
13. Kolache Shoppe Greenway
If there’s one thing Houstonians can’t get enough of, it’s kolaches — those delightfully fluffy, buttery pastries brought to Texas in the mid-1850s by Czech immigrants. Made with either a sweet fruit jam or a more savory filling, these breakfast staples can be found in dedicated storefronts and doughnut shops across the city. One longtime purveyor of the beloved pastry is Kolache Shoppe, which opened on Richmond Avenue in 1970, and now has locations in the Heights and Pearland as well. In addition to serving up more classic flavors — who doesn’t love a jalapeno sausage with cheese, or an apricot kolache? — the shop also partners with local restaurateurs for special collaborations. Follow Kolache Shoppe on Instagram to see what else they have in store.
14. Karne Korean Steakhouse Houston Heights
Local restaurateur Jason Cho first won over the hearts — and stomachs — of Houstonians with the seriously crispy and oh-so-juicy Korean fried chicken wings served at his Museum District restaurant Dak & Bop. At Karne, he levels up with a concept that reimagines the traditional American steakhouse and imbues it with the flavors of Korean cuisine. Here, patrons can order cuts of wagyu (American or Japanese) and prime beef (non-marinated, marinated, or dry-aged), alongside Korean-inspired dishes such as spicy seafood stew, chewy cold noodles, and hot stone bibimbap. Meats are cooked to order by tableside hosts.
15. KP’s Kitchen – Memorial Memorial
This charming spot from industry veteran Kerry Pauly has everything you’d want in an all-day bistro. Stop in during the week at the Memorial or Bellaire locations for lunch or dinner, where on the menu you’ll find hearty salads, satisfying burgers and sandwiches, and dishes from the grill, including 12-hour baby back ribs. Meanwhile, weekend brunch features all the staples such as crab eggs benedict, buttermilk pancakes, chicken and waffles, and a rotating lineup of freshly made quiches. Pro tip: Kids eat free at this family friendly establishment on Tuesdays and Saturdays at brunch.
16. Bar Bludorn Memorial Villages
After winning over loyal diners with Bludorn and Navy Blue, chef-restaurateur Aaron Bludorn (along with wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn and their partner Cherif Mbodji) decided to go slightly more casual here, with what they describe as the “quintessential neighborhood tavern.” With Bludorn’s longtime sous chef Alexandra Peña at the helm, it offers classic gastropub fare made with a modern, Texas Gulf–inspired touch. Need suggestions? Start with the country ham beignets filled with ricotta and whole grain mustard, then move on to the tender roasted duck with foie gras jus. For dessert, round out the decadence with a foie gras candy bar (trust us).
17. Nori Nori Bellaire
The Japanese-style hand roll boom has taken hold in Houston, and NoriNori from partner-chef Cong Nguyen is a welcome addition. The restaurant — which rebranded from its original name Nomi Nori — had been doing pop-ups at other local venues before launching its permanent location in Asiatown in May. Although NoriNori specializes in hand rolls — the scallop foie gras is a definite must — the menu also includes other selections such as a creamy truffle uni pasta and foie gras chawanmushi. Go on, you deserve a little luxury.
18. Blood Bros. BBQ Bellaire
Of all the restaurants honored in the Texas Michelin Guide, nine of the Houston area’s 30 total selections were full-on barbecue joints. Blood Bros. BBQ, which received a Bib, stands out for its Asian-influenced twist on traditional smoked meats. At this casual spot, pitmaster Quy Hong and co-owners Terry and Robin Wong bring to life through food what they (and many others in the city’s Asian American community) experienced growing up: a merging of their cultural heritage and Texas roots. From this happy marriage come dishes such as brisket burnt end steam buns and chow fun stir-fried with smoked brisket and Chinese broccoli — beautiful unions that benefit us all.
Keep up with the rotating specials on Instagram.
19. Tacos Doña Lena Spring Branch
The original Spring Branch location of this street-taco hot spot from husband team Angel Cabrera and Brian Ponce opened in April 2020 amidst the pandemic. It has survived and thrived — enough to launch a second outpost in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove area this year. Named for Cabrera’s mother, Magdalena “Lena” Cabrera, Tacos Doña Lena offers a taste of Mexico in every way — including the traditional papel picado banners and colorful piñatas. Lena used to make and sell tacos in her native Mexico before the family moved in 1992 to Houston, where she then fed hungry customers out of their apartment. The birria tacos are a favorite, and the ramen birria has been gaining buzz, too.
Call 713-993-6486 or find more info on Instagram.
20. Refuge Montrose
This intimate bar from industry vets Bobby Heugel and Tommy Ho sits in the building just behind acclaimed cocktail bar Anvil, in the space where Tongue-Cut Sparrow once operated. Expect to find the same kind of playfully innovative — and potent — drinks here that are already so revered at its sister concept. As with their classic Corn N’ Oil, which blends four high-proof Caribbean rums and combines it with housemade velvet falernum and Caribbean spices. And don’t sleep on martini Tuesdays, when a separate menu of featured iterations is available for the partaking.
