The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat in June 2025

Houston thrives on fusion cuisine, and Da Gama exemplifies how to do it right. Husband-and-wife chefs Rick and Shiva Di Virgilio pay tribute to their respective backgrounds with the restaurant — located at the M-K-T mixed-use development — merging the flavors of Portugal and India to great effect. (The couple also owns Portuguese mainstay Oporto Fooding House & Wine in Midtown.) You can’t go wrong with any of the aromatic curries, including the Goan fish curry, lamb keema, or Mum’s chicken curry. Small plates like the samosas, crab pani puri, and aloo gobi bravas (crisp potatoes and roasted cauliflower in a spicy curry) are also consistent crowd-pleasers. End with a steaming cup of housemade chai and thank us later.  

Katami means “gift” in Japanese — and it’s one you’ll want to treat yourself to over and over again. The restaurant is chef Manabu Horiuchi and business partner Yun Cheng’s ode to “the future of Japanese cuisine,” and gives chef Hori (as he’s known in these parts) more freedom to innovate on what he started at Kata Robata 16 years ago. With fish flown in from Japan almost daily, the sushi-driven menu promises exceptional quality. An additional focus on A5 wagyu also yields a number of outstanding dishes, including a shabu-style preparation that’s guaranteed to have you slurping up every drop of the delicate broth. And don’t sleep on dessert: The kakigori (Japanese-style shaved ice — with ice flown in from Japan) comes piled high in popular flavors like green tea and strawberry Nutella. Meanwhile, those who prefer to leave it up to the chef can make Resys in advance for omakase with chef Hori.

This exciting genre-bending restaurant opened just after the new year, claiming the space in Montrose once occupied by celebrity chef Nikki Tran’s Viet-Cajun spot Kau Ba. Run by two married couples — Ngoc Tran and Louis Quy, and chefs Diego and Makayla Ponce — Alora (which means “beautiful dream” in Latin) fuses the cuisines of Peru and Vietnam with delicious ease, borrowing vibrant flavors from both cultures. The most prominent examples of this are the ceviche with leche de tigre and fish sauce vinaigrette, and shaking beef-style lomo saltado, which is served with huayro potatoes and garlic rice. Chefs in Houston have garnered a reputation for pushing the boundaries of fusion, and Alora continues that tradition. 

This cozy neighborhood gem from the award-winning team behind Theodore Rex, Better Luck Tomorrow, Anvil, and Refuge recently celebrated six years of service, and the restaurant still hasn’t lost its creative edge. Executive chef-partner Mark Clayton is a whiz in the kitchen, summoning up inventive yet approachable “casual European fare with American influences.” Seasonal dishes — like ricotta-stuffed spinach and artichoke dumplings drenched in umami-rich crab butter, and sweet roasted beets tossed in blueberry vinaigrette — are just a few reasons to make a return visit if it’s been a while. Though, trusty mainstays like the marinated mussels on crusty grilled bread and the decadent French cheeseburger with gooey raclette also keep loyal diners coming back for more.

Pastry devotees who lined up for Mexican-inspired baked goods and coffee at popular pop-up CasaEma — from James Beard-nominated pastry chef Stephanie Velasquez, chef Nicolas Vera, and coffee entrepreneur Marlén Mendoza — can now satisfy their hankerings at the trio’s brick-and-mortar location in the Heights. There, pillowy conchas and horchata cream–filled doughnuts can be found on the daily breakfast and lunch menus along with savory dishes in which heirloom corn is the star. The mushroom tetela alone is worth regular return trips. Pro tip: Given the recent acclaim. it’s even more imperative to go early.

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This swanky Italian chophouse from Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group — whose other properties include classic seafood tavern Loch Bar and contemporary Japanese restaurant Azumi, both in the River Oaks District — is known for its housemade charcuterie, hand-rolled pastas (the squid ink campanelle with blue crab is perfection on a plate), and beautifully marbled dry-aged steaks (Marmo does mean “marble” in Italian, after all). But for the best value, visit during the daily happy hour, when diners can try bites from the regular menu for a fraction of the price, plus enjoy a selection of cocktails, beer, and wine for $8 or less. Creamy, al dente rigatoni alla vodka for $5? Count us in.

Drawing on the spirit of friendship, trust, and loyalty he experienced working in acclaimed kitchens across the country, chef Shawn Gawle made it a central mission of his highly anticipated Heights restaurant to recreate that same warm, welcoming environment for guests. Camaraderie delivers on that promise—and more. Gawle most recently impressed Houstonians as the executive pastry chef for Goodnight Hospitality, the group behind  fine-dining destination March. With Camaraderie, his first solo venture, he’s showcasing his expertise in both sweet and savory dishes, serving up “fine-casual” American cuisine rooted in French techniques. In the main dining area, guests order from a $75 three-course prix fixe, where the starters are designed for sharing and you get a choice of main (including a flounder en croûte for two) and dessert. An à la carte menu is available on the patio and in the lounge, featuring standout dishes like carrot cavatelli with mimolette and English peas, and Dauphiné ravioli filled with comté, caramelized onion, and saba. Pro tip: Bring friends to share and sample more.

Come 5 p.m., all-day cafe Sunday Press transforms into chic cocktail bar Sunday Social. But guests can still get a pick-me-up with specialty caffeinated drinks including carajillos, espresso martinis, and a Vietnamese coffee–influenced concoction that features Tequila and Baileys Vanilla Cinnamon liqueur — in addition to other innovative creations. For those feeling peckish, there’s also a selection of savory bites (furikake Chex Mix, charcuterie boards, flatbreads, and truffle fries to name a few) and sweet treats (German chocolate cake, anyone?).

Hidden Omakase continues to offer one of the most unique omakase experiences in town. You just have to know where to look. The 18-seat sushi counter is tucked away in a shopping center near the Galleria, but there’s no exterior signage for it, only a display of comic books indicating you’ve arrived. Once inside, you’re led through a multi-course tasting curated by chef Marcus Juarez, an Uchi alumnus. In addition to the signature nigiri courses, which feature premium seafood sourced from Japan and other places, the menu also utilizes seasonal ingredients to create more composed dishes. An à la carte lunch menu using seasonal ingredients from the dinner service is also available every Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Add crawfish to the growing list of reasons to visit Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition. The Midtown seafood spot is serving up the juicy crustaceans throughout mudbug season (choose from the classic low country-style boil or a Viet-Cajun wet sauce), though you’ll also want to stick around for chef Lucas McKinney’s other seafood offerings. Named for McKinney’s great-grandmother, Josephine’s draws from up and down the Gulf Coast for its menu. The Mississippi hot catfish sandwich pays homage to the chef’s home state, for example, while the half-shell grilled redfish nods to Texas, and the stacked muffaletta tips a hat to New Orleans. Add to any of those an order of the rich and gooey peanut pie to end the meal, and you’re golden.

This unassuming family-owned shop run by Ai Le in Houston’s Asiatown got its first taste of national recognition when it appeared on chef David Chang’s Netflix series “Ugly Delicious.” But the publicity — and the recent Bib Gourmand designation by Michelin — isn’t why diners flock to the restaurant, which specializes in traditional central Vietnamese cuisine. They come for the flavor-packed dishes, consistent quality, incredible value, and friendly service. Pro tip: Order the bánh bèo chén (delicate mini rice cakes topped with minced shrimp and chicharron), bánh bột lọc lá (chewy pork and shrimp crystal dumplings), and bánh ram ít (sticky rice dumplings set atop discs of crispy fried mochi) — all appetizers — to make a complete meal. 

Call 281-568-4888 for more info. 

Seafood that’s fresh from the Texas Gulf and gorgeous waterfront views? Yes, please. Houstonians can find this enticing combination year-round at Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, where  second generation oysterman Raz Halili of Prestige Oysters offers tide-to-table fare for hungry customers. Executive chef Joe Cervantez, formerly of Brennan’s of Houston, utilizes his veritable experience in Creole cuisine and deep commitment to sustainable sourcing to create a menu that includes both classic (seafood gumbo, blackened snapper) and creative dishes (crawfish empanadas, lobster tacos with sriracha mayo). Trust us when we say it’s worth the trek to San Leon.  

Houston native and first-generation Lebanese American Rafael Nasr opened this fast-casual Lebanese spot alongside his mother, Claudia, in the Briargrove neighborhood in 2019, adding a second location in West University in 2022. Their menu features Mediterranean classics such as hummus, babaganoush, tabbouleh salad, Lebanese flatbread, and pita sandwiches, as well as what Nasr calls Tex Med — think shredded rotisserie chicken tacos stuffed with fries, rice pilaf, pickles, hot sauce, and garlic aioli. Tying it all together is extra virgin olive oil imported from the Nasr family’s olive orchards in northern Lebanon. You can even buy a bottle to take home with you — and you should.

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This Montrose charmer from executive chef Martin Stayer and his wife, Sara Stayer, not only received a Bib Gourmand, but the couple was also nominated for a 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur. Of course, from what we know of the Stayers’ unyielding commitment to their restaurants (which also includes the tiki-themed Toasted Coconut and Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern), neither recognition comes as a surprise. The Stayers opened Nobie’s, named for Martin’s grandmother, in late 2016 in a converted 1930s bungalow. They’ve been winning fans ever since with their seasonally rotating menu of creative and accessible contemporary American cuisine. (A whole fried chicken dinner with truffle jus? Yes, please.) One reliable mainstay: Nonno’s pasta, tagliatelle enveloped in a 36-hour Bolognese.

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Tucked in a building within the historic and colorful Tlaquepaque Market, this casual East End spot from chef Fernando Rios and sommelier Mike Sammons serves innovative Italian fare driven by the seasons. The business partners — who first worked together over 20 years ago at Da Marco — opened Mimo with a mission of bringing their love of Italian cuisine and wine to the Second Ward, where they both grew up. Since launching in 2023, the restaurant has consistently won raves, and it’s not hard to see why once you get a taste of the tantalizing selections of antipasti, pizzas, pastas, and mains. We’d go for the mortadella sandwich alone.

 What started as a small catering business for Will and Nichole Buckman in 2010 is today a Michelin-star-earning, line-out-the-door barbecue shop that longtime customers will attest lives up to the hype. The husband-and-wife team’s brick-and-mortar restaurant in Old Town Spring, open since 2015, has won various accolades over the years, but they still say the Michelin honor came as a surprise. After all, their goal has always been to just serve the best barbecue they can — and that they do. Be sure to join the line early for a taste of their award-winning ’cue because the most in-demand proteins (i.e., lean and moist brisket, tender pork ribs, juicy pulled pork, smoky sausage links) sell out quickly.   

 Keep up with CorkScrew BBQ on Instagram.