The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat in May 2024
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 newly expanded!) guide to the restaurants in that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Houston Not to Miss This Month
- All in the Family: Chef Aaron Bludorn, along with wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn and their partner Cherif Mbodji, have added another restaurant to their burgeoning dining empire that already includes local faves Bludorn and Navy Blue. Bar Bludorn — described as the “quintessential neighborhood tavern” — opened its doors in Memorial in late March to great fanfare, and with Bludorn’s longtime sous chef Alexandra Peña at the helm, diners can expect the menu’s vibe to be similar to its sister restaurants: classic dishes reworked with a modern, Texas-inspired touch. (Think roasted duck drizzled in foie gras jus, and crispy-juicy fried chicken served with peanut butter gravy.) Book here, and find more openings in New On Resy.
- Mother’s Day Out: On Sunday, May 12, treat the mom in your life to a special brunch at gorgeous River Oaks District hot spot Little Hen, where for $65 per person, guests can enjoy drip coffee and a tower of the restaurant’s signature pastries alongside a main dish from the prix fixe menu. Spots are going fast, so book here to secure a table, and find more exciting experiences on Resy’s Events page.
- Pizza Party: The first Houston outpost of acclaimed California-based chain Pizzana opened in River Oaks in March, and it’s a welcome addition to the city’s ever-expanding pizza scene. Neapolitan-born pizzaiolo Daniele Uditi partners with Candace and Charles Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes to dish out airy, thin-crust Neo-Neapolitan pies that utilize the freshest ingredients, including stone-ground flour and San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella flown in from Italy. The cacio e pepe pie — a play on the traditional pasta dish — is a customer favorite. Book here, and check out more new openings here.
- Taste of Mexico: Pastry devotees who lined up for Mexican-inspired baked goods and coffee at popular pop-up Ema — from James Beard-nominated pastry chef Stephanie Velasquez, chef Nicolas Vera, and coffee entrepreneur Marlén Mendoza — can now satisfy their hankerings at the new brick-and-mortar location in the Heights. There, pillowy conchas and horchata cream-filled berlinesas can be found on the daily breakfast and lunch menus along with savory dishes in which heirloom corn is the star. Pro tip: Go early, and go often.
New to the Hit List (May 2024)
Hidden Omakase, Phat Eatery, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, Stuffed Belly.
1. MARCH Montrose
It’s not hyperbole to say dining at March every season is like dining at an entirely new restaurant. That’s exactly the novel experience Goodnight Hospitality partner and chef Felipe Riccio aims to provide guests. In order to accomplish this gargantuan feat, Riccio and his team shut down the dining room for a one-month break each quarter, and dive into researching their next Mediterranean culinary destination. So far, diners have been transported from Northwest Africa and Andalusia to Greece and Italy, with each nuanced tasting menu divulging the gastronomic history of the region. The current focus lies on the Catalan countries, and if past experiences are any indication, prepare to be charmed — and then return next season (and the next) to be wowed all over again.
2. Phat Eatery Katy
When the late chef Alex Au-Yeung opened Phat Eatery in Katy Asian Town in 2018, he aimed to share his passion for Malaysian cuisine with a broader community. Today, diners regularly flock to the restaurant for its hawker-style Southeast Asian street food, which includes tender beef rendang, soft and flaky roti canai with savory-sweet dipping curry, and fragrant Malaysian fried rice. Au-Yeung had been working with teammates Kevin Lee and Marvin He to open a second location in The Woodlands when he died in March after a private battle with cancer. Lee and He will keep Au-Yeung’s legacy alive with plans to open the Woodlands outpost in late May.
3. Truth Barbecue Heights
The city is awash in first-class barbecue options, but Truth is truly a cut above. This revered restaurant originally hails from Brenham, Texas, where pitmaster Leonard Botello IV’s small roadside shack won raves soon after launching in 2015. He chose the Heights for a highly anticipated second location, opening the doors in 2019. The crowds descended and haven’t stopped. Botello’s incredibly tender, peppery-barked brisket is, of course, the main attraction. But don’t sleep on the sides, either: The buttery tater-tot casserole and sweet corn pudding deserve accolades of their own.
No reservations.
4. Bludorn Montrose
Since debuting in 2020, Aaron Bludorn’s eponymous restaurant has become a dependable favorite of Houstonians — a place you can easily go to for a casual weeknight meal (pop in on the last Tuesday of every month for their fried chicken dinner) or a celebratory occasion (lobster-chicken pot pie, anyone?). That it so quickly has become a mainstay of the city’s dining scene isn’t surprising given Bludorn’s pedigreed background — he was executive chef at Manhattan’s acclaimed Café Boulud (where he met now-wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, whose family is Houston restaurant royalty). A seasonally changing menu and collaborations with local chefs keep things fresh and exciting.
5. Crawfish & Noodles – The Heights Houston Heights
Houstonians are serious about their crawfish, and with the season running from January to July, there’s ample opportunity to enjoy the mudbugs, not to mention a host of places at which to get them. Houston institution Crawfish & Noodles, from chef-owner Trong Nguyen, is one such place and is well-known for its finger-licking Viet-Cajun fare. At both the original location in Asiatown as well as the second outpost at the Houston Farmers Market on Airline Drive, the crawfish are boiled first in seasonings before getting drenched in a flavorful concoction of Cajun spices and loads of garlic and butter. Pro tip: No one will judge you if you suck the heads.
6. Hidden Omakase Galleria
Diners might never guess the luxury that awaits at Hidden Omakase based solely on its location in a nondescript shopping center near the Galleria. There’s no signage either, so you’d have to know exactly what you’re looking for as well. Hint: It’s a display of comic books in the window. Once inside, you’ll find an intimate, 18-seat sushi counter and one of the most unique omakase experiences in town. Executive chef Marcus Juarez leads the curation of the multi-course tasting after the recent departure of fellow Uchi alumnus Niki Vongthong in the role. In addition to the signature sushi courses, the updated menu utilizes seasonal ingredients to create more composed dishes. It’s BYOB, but the restaurant does offer a selection of mocktails that you can spike yourself if desired.
7. Squable Heights
The team behind Better Luck Tomorrow — bar mogul Bobby Heugel (Anvil, Refuge) and award-winning chef Justin Yu (Oxheart, Theodore Rex) — opened this cozy Heights spot in 2019, and the restaurant has yet to slow down. In the kitchen, executive chef-partner Mark Clayton runs the show, serving up casual, unstuffy “European fare with American influences” that transforms with the seasons. That said, longtime faves such as the marinated mussels on crusty grilled bread and the decadent French cheeseburger with gooey raclette remain constant menu staples.
8. Tatemó Spring Branch
Houston-raised chef Emmanuel Chavez and co-owner Megan Maul’s intimate Spring Branch spot has consistently won raves since opening in 2022 (though, Chavez’s tortillas alone already had a following by this time). For $125 per person, diners can experience a seven-course tasting that showcases Chavez’s adept use of different heirloom corn varieties from Mexico. Indeed, maize is the main star of Tatemo’s progressive, Mexican-inspired menu, which includes quesadillas, tamales, and tacos thoughtfully filled with the season’s best local ingredients. Pro tip: It’s BYOB, so plan accordingly.
Follow Tatemó on Instagram to stay in the know.
9. MAD Houston River Oaks/Galleria
Ignacio Torras and Luis Roger’s BCN Taste & Tradition gave Houstonians a genuine taste of Spain. With MAD Houston, the restaurateurs take Spanish tapas to greater heights with a menu that combines the classics (buttery Iberico ham and wood-fired rice paella) with more artsy interpretations (steak tartare wrapped in an edible Houston Chronicle newspaper). Meanwhile, the interior — with its postmodernist bursts of color, original Picassos, neon signs, and fun house-like hallways — only adds to the overall experience. And whatever you do, don’t leave without visiting the bathroom. Just trust us.
10. 5Kinokawa Heights
Chef Billy Kin, formerly of Blackbird Izakaya and Hidden Omakase, poured a great amount of passion into 5Kinokawa, his Edomae-style omakase restaurant on White Oak Drive. A master carpenter, Kin even carved and built the 14-seat rare wood countertop at which he personally prepares, serves, and entertains guests. (It’s dinner and a show!) The multi-course menu here is constantly changing, with ingredients like buttery otoro, creamy uni and magnificently marbled A5 wagyu sourced and flown in weekly from places including Japan. It’s rare you’ll have the same experience twice, so visit regularly.
11. Breakfast Klub Midtown
This Houston institution, opened in Midtown by radio host and restaurateur Marcus Davis in September 2001, regularly has a long queue out the door for a reason: It’s traditional soul food at its very best. People come in droves from around the city — and from out of town — for a taste of the Breakfast Klub’s famous fried chicken wings and golden Belgian waffles. (Though, we’re also partial to the fried seasoned catfish and grits, and the buttery biscuits smothered in pan sausage gravy.) If you haven’t gotten up at the crack of dawn at least once to stand in line with your friends at the Breakfast Klub, are you truly a Houstonian? You know what you need to do.
Call 713-528-8561 for more info.
12. Doris Metropolitan – Houston Montrose
There’s no shortage of steakhouses in Houston, but Doris Metropolitan stands out as it draws inspiration from owners (and 2024 James Beard Award nominees) Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy’s Israeli roots. Sure, there are succulent premium dry-aged cuts of meat on hand, but the menu also offers a wealth of bright, plant-forward appetizers and sides such as the artichoke flower salad, the roasted cauliflower-starring Jerusalem salad, and carrots dressed with mint labneh and honey harissa glaze. Come hungry.
13. Pho Dien Asiatown
If there’s one thing Houston doesn’t lack, it’s top-rate Vietnamese food. And when it comes to a steaming bowl of pho, the options are limitless. But there is one reliable Asiatown standby we keep returning to: Pho Dien, where pho is the only thing on the menu. The nourishing bone broth is aromatic and clear, the noodles have just the right amount of chew, and the protein is plentiful. Just choose the size of your bowl (small, large or extra-large) and your meats — anything from tender marinated steak and meatballs to tendon and tripe — add the accoutrements, and slurp to your heart’s content. Pro tip: Order the bone marrow and egg on the side, mix it up, and add a spoonful or two to your broth for a richer taste.
Call 281-495-9600 for more info, or check the website.
14. Theodore Rex Downtown
Chef-owner Justin Yu’s downtown darling never stops innovating, even with the recent departure of head chef Kaitlin Steets. In February, for instance, the restaurant is returning to its would-be roots and changing half the menu to be vegetable-focused and vegan. That means warming cups of delicate broth painstakingly made from kombu and brassicas. It means Pink Lady apples nixtamalized and poached in sherry. And it means Theodore Rex’s signature tomato toast, which will forever be a fan favorite. Then again, whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, diners can rest assured they’re being served the finest ingredients on offer in the most inventive ways the Theodore Rex team can dare to dream up.
15. Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House San Leon
Is there a better place to savor the bounty of the Gulf Coast than right by the water? This San Leon hotspot from second-generation oysterman Raz Halili of Prestige Oysters overlooks Galveston Bay and has no shortage of locally sourced seafood for those needing a fix. Start with freshly shucked oysters, of course, raw on the half-shell or wood-grilled four ways. Then move on to customer favorites like the piri-piri grilled shrimp, or redfish on the half-shell with chimichurri sauce. The restaurant has also partnered with Great Escapes Yacht Charters to offer Wine Down Wednesday Yacht Cruises on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Each excursion only accommodates 12 passengers, so make your Resys in advance.
16. Stuffed Belly Spring Branch
“MasterChef” winner Christine Ha (The Blind Goat) and husband John Suh opened this casual drive-thru sandwich shop in Spring Branch for one simple reason: They love a good sandwich, and wanted to share their fresh takes on comforting, all-American classics with other sandwich enthusiasts. These include a gooey grilled cheese on buttery Texas toast (featuring three types of cheese), a tangy-creamy egg salad, a patty melt with two all-beef patties, and more. Complete your order with loaded tots (a meal in and of itself) and a refreshing strawberry cream soda. Stuffed Belly also occasionally does collaborations with other local chefs — follow the sandwich shop on Instagram to stay in the know.
17. Bamboo House Humble
Humble is likely not the first Houston-area suburb that comes to mind when looking for good Sichuan cuisine. But it should be, namely because of Bamboo House. Truly a neighborhood gem, the restaurant is tucked away off a quiet stretch of North Sam Houston Parkway East and serves one of the best — if not the best — Peking duck meals in the city. The chef’s careful preparation and skilled slow roasting of the bird yields a beautifully red, paper-thin skin that’s oh-so-crisp, and meat that’s tender and succulent. Wrapping the duck in pliable pancakes rather than steamed buns means you can enjoy more without filling up too quickly. If there’s one thing you travel outside city limits for, let it be this.
No reservations. Call 281-441-3456 or check here for more info.
18. Urbe Uptown Park
This casual hot spot from award-winning chef Hugo Ortega (Backstreet Cafe, Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi) and his wife, restaurateur Tracy Vaught, pays homage to Ortega’s childhood experiences of selling street foods such as flan, guisados, and wood-oven baked bread from a neighborhood stall in his native Mexico. The menu at Urbe includes all the usual favorites — like juicy al pastor, barbacoa, and birria tacos — alongside more modern takes, like the Urbe burger topped with Chihuahua cheese. Pro tip: Come for happy hour Monday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., where you can enjoy $5 tacos, $9 classic cocktails, and other delectable deals.
Find more info here.
19. Jun Heights
This Heights gem may only be a year old, but it’s already won the hearts and stomachs of Houstonians — and gained national recognition, thanks to a 2024 James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant. The secret to Jun’s success is in the skilled and flavorful way in which chefs Evelyn Garcia (a former “Top Chef” contestant) and Henry Lu have fused their diverse backgrounds — Garcia grew up in Houston in a Mexican-Salvadoran household, while Lu hails from a first-generation Chinese American home in the Bronx — to create what they describe as “new Asian American” cuisine. The result: compelling dishes (like the fried chicken marinated in fermented shrimp paste, and sweet potato topped with toasted cumin labneh) that have customers returning often.
Call 832-469-7664 for more info.
20. Coltivare Pizza & Garden Heights
This rustic trattoria by Ryan Pera, Morgan Weber and Vincent Huynh — the team behind Agricole Hospitality, which also bestowed upon us Eight Row Flint and Vinny’s, among others — has been winning over Houstonians since 2014. Now in its 10th year, the restaurant’s wood-fired pizzas and comforting Italian cuisine (made with fresh produce from the backyard garden) still hits every time. Of course, you can’t go to Coltivare without ordering the cacio e pepe. Made with just four ingredients, including freshly cracked Tellicherry peppercorns and sharp-nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this homey pasta dish is undeniably simple, but magical, nonetheless. When people are willing to wait to score a bowl, that’s love.
