The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat in March 2025
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.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Houston: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Houston Not to Miss This Month
- She’s the Boss: It’s Women’s History Month, which is an excellent time to support women-led restaurants (not that you need an excuse) — and H-Town has plenty of notable options. For pizza, there’s the beloved EaDo pie joint Tiny Champions and Los Angeles import Pizzana Houston, not to mention Nonno’s for crispy Chicago tavern-style pizzas. If fusion is your jam, try globally inspired Traveler’s Table and sister restaurant Traveler’s Cart, as well as the newly opened Peruvian-Vietnamese spot Alora and Indian-Portuguese canteen Da Gama. Want barbecue? Look no further than Michelin-starred CorkScrew in Spring and Feges in Spring Branch. And of course, add all the Bludorn Hospitality restaurants to your list as well — Bludorn, Navy Blue , Bar Bludorn, and Perseid. Consider these a starting point.
- Food News: Phat Eatery recently named Terry Wong, co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and LuLoo’s Day & Night, as its new culinary director. Wong was a longtime friend of the late chef Alex Au-Yeung, who launched Phat Eatery in 2018 in Katy Asian Town to share his deep love of Malaysian food with Houstonians. Wong will work together with co-directors of operations Kevin Lee and Marvin He at both the Katy and Woodlands locations to oversee the kitchens, which includes rolling out a new Cantonese barbecue program and happy hour menu.
- Rodeo Season: It’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo time, y’all! The family-friendly event takes place from March 4-23 at NRG Park, and is known as much for its dining options and deep-fried delicacies as it is for its competitions, concerts, and carnival games. And there’s much to look forward to this year as food vendors introduce tasty new concoctions like ice cream nachos, cotton candy bacon on a stick, and cheese curd tacos, among other snacks. Houston rap legend and Trill Burgers co-founder Bun B also announced that Trill will have its own 9,000-square-foot space this year (aka Trill Town), where rodeo-goers can get their smash burger fixes alongside a special brisket burger and brisket fries collab with Truth Barbecue, as well as taste Trill’s latest concept, Trill Tenders. Break out the stretchy pants for this one.
- Secret’s Out: Those in the know have already heard about Blood Bros. BBQ’s Thursday night Happy “Nhau”-ers, where the chefs test out dishes that wouldn’t necessarily fit on the regular menu. (In Vietnamese, nhau roughly translates to “eating and drinking for no particular reason.”) After years of doing this with friends and family, the Michelin-lauded barbecue spot is opening up the evening event to the public and adding Fridays and Saturdays into the mix as well. Make your Resys here, and find out what else is New on Resy.
New to the Hit List (March 2025)
Craft Pita, Crawfish & Noodles, Marmo, Mimo, Perseid.
1. 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 are in high demand, so be sure to secure your spot.
2. Little Hen – Houston River Oaks
This British-inspired “brunch boutique” from Miami opened its first outpost in Texas in Houston’s trendy River Oaks District in early 2023 — and its glamorous patio and luxe, flower-filled interior quickly gained attention on social media. But the atmosphere isn’t the only draw, even if it does provide a gorgeous backdrop for special occasions. Guests also come for the extensive menu of brunch classics, and afternoon tea that comes with an assortment of petit fours, finger sandwiches, and scones, and a Champagne add-on, if you so desire.
3. Theodore Rex Downtown
Chef-owner Justin Yu opened the easygoing, French-influenced Theodore Rex in 2017, and seven years later, the inventiveness that radiates from the open kitchen still manages to enchant and surprise. Agnolotti with cream and muscadine grapes? That’s the epitome of a T. Rex dish. And guests will be stunned — in the best way — by the sheer deliciousness of evercrisp apples served over ice. Driven by what’s in season, Yu and his talented team prioritize only the freshest ingredients in their eclectic offerings, which is surely helped them score a Bib Gourmand from Michelin. (Not that we needed the affirmation.)
4. BASO The Heights
The Michelin-recommended Heights restaurant celebrated its one-year anniversary in December. Chefs Jacques Varon and Max Lappe focus on live-fire cooking, with nearly 99% of the menu’s dishes kissed by the hearth’s flames. It’s a method that’s reflective of Basque country and the co-chefs’ time training under Joshua Skenes of Saison and Angler on the West Coast. The dishes, though, are influenced by the Gulf, as well as Varon’s tenure working in Japan. Flavors are straightforward and bold, with the ingredients shining brightly. A prime example: Shrimp are grilled on the half shell with garlic and chile and served with only a dusting of powdered Calabrian chiles and a small slice of lime. Simplicity at its finest.
5. Perseid Montrose
The fourth restaurant in Bludorn Hospitality’s expanding empire takes its name from the famed meteor shower that peaks in mid-August of each year — a hat tip to Houston’s venerable role in space exploration. Located in the gorgeous new Hotel Saint Augustine adjacent to the Menil Collection in Montrose, the all-day bistro serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the menu: A thoughtfully curated collection of dishes that lean into chef Aaron Bludorn’s classic French training, but infused with a modern Texas Gulf Coast-inspired touch. That translates into options such as crawfish sausage in Creole sauce with frisée, and a decadent coq au vin featuring thick cuts of bacon. Pro tip: Save space for the beignets, which are filled with spiced berry coulis and doused in cinnamon sugar.
6. Le Jardinier – Houston Museum District
Fresh off being awarded a Michelin star — to match the one each received by its sister restaurants in New York City and Miami — Le Jardinier consistently delivers on creativity, refined flavors, and impeccable service. Located in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Kinder Building, the French restaurant is led by acclaimed chef and culinary director Alain Verzeroli and chef de cuisine Felipe Botero, whose seasonally rotating menu highlights farm-fresh ingredients and sustainably sourced proteins. It’s a perfect place to dine after a day at the museum, or for a special night on the town.
7. Ema The Heights
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 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.
Keep up with the latest on their Instagram.
8. Marmo Montrose
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.
9. Doris Metropolitan – Houston Montrose
Excellent steakhouses abound in Houston, but Doris Metropolitan stands out as it draws inspiration from owners (and recent 2025 James Beard Award nominees) Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy’s Israeli roots and Mediterranean flavors. To be sure, premium dry-aged steaks are the stars of the menu, but the bright, vegetable-forward appetizers and sides could very well steal the show. Must-tries include the tomato salad, the artichoke flower salad, the roasted cauliflower-based Jerusalem salad, and the carrots dressed with mint labneh and honey harissa glaze. Come hungry for this one.
10. 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 melds 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.
11. Sunday Social Oak Forest
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?).
12. 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.
13. Oporto Fooding House & Wine Houston Midtown
This stylish Portuguese restaurant and wine bar from Shiva and Rick Di Virgilio preceded their popular Portuguese-Indian canteen Da Gama, and a decade later, it’s still a Midtown favorite. The petiscos-style menu includes savory classics such as crispy salted cod–potato fritters, a barbecue version of the country’s famed piri piri chicken, and grilled octopus. A fine selection of Portuguese and Spanish wines, alongside bottles from other parts of the world, round out the experience just so.
14. Vua Bun Bo Asiatown
Located on Bellaire Boulevard near S. Kirkwood Road, Vua Bun Bo opened less than a year ago but has already gained a loyal following among bun bo Hue enthusiasts. The spicy-salty-sour beef noodle soup from the city of Hue in central Vietnam banks on an umami-packed broth made with beef shank, pork hock, lemongrass, fish sauce, fermented shrimp paste, and chile peppers, and is served with thick noodles and a pile of aromatic herbs and shredded veggies. Vua Bun Bo’s version is obviously the thing to order here, but you’ll want to make this a regular spot to try all of the other classic Vietnamese noodle soup dishes and sides.
Call 346-409-2336 for more information.
15. Traveler's Table Montrose
It’s all in the name: Montrose gem Traveler’s Table specializes in globally inspired cuisine that takes diners from Asia (tea-smoked duck, butter chicken), Africa (Nigerian marinated meat skewers) and Europe (lamb gnocchi), to Latin America (Brazilian seafood stew) and the Caribbean (spicy braised oxtails). Having a menu that spans the incredibly varied and complex flavors of the world doesn’t always compute — but husband-and-wife owners Matthew and Thy Mitchell have managed to create a winning formula that does. Oh, and did we mention cocktail flights are a thing here?
16. Craft Pita Briargrove
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.
Keep up with seasonal offerings on Instagram.
17. 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.
18. Mimo Greater Eastwood
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.
19. Pok Pok Po Midtown
Kahani Social Group, the hospitality team behind Indian fine-dining restaurant Amrina in The Woodlands, has gone in a different direction for their latest venture — they’ve entered the fried chicken business. Pok Pok Po, a fast-casual chicken shop located in the former Artisans space in Midtown, imbues its crispy, gluten-free, halal-certified fried chicken with a blend of fragrant and bold Indian spices. The combo’s not too much of a stretch, though: In a town as diverse as Houston, where cuisines are constantly being fused together, Indian fried chicken just makes a lot of sense. Order it with some dipping sauces, a side of balle balle fries, and a mango lassi, and you’re golden.
20. Crawfish & Noodles – Bellaire Houston
With crawfish season ramping up (and one that’s forecasted to be more promising than last year’s), Houstonians are down to get their hands dirty. One of the OG spots for Viet-Cajun style crawfish, of course, is this one from James Beard-nominated chef Trong Nguyen. A fixture on Bellaire Boulevard since 2008, with a second location in the Heights, the restaurant has garnered national acclaim for its signature take on the boiled mudbugs. Here, they are drenched in a rich, garlicky butter sauce and tossed in spicy Vietnamese and Cajun seasoning. The Viet-Cajun snow crabs are also worth the extra effort.
