The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat in May 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
- New French Fare: French food is having a moment in Houston, and we have high hopes for Chardon, a new French bistro from chef E.J. Miller, whose résumé includes stints at Sol 7, Muse, and Riel. The charming space inside the Thompson Hotel draws inspiration from the cozy neighborhood bistros in Paris. Expect refined dishes such as wild boar pâté en croûte, whole Dover sole, and wagyu beef cheek bourguignon. Don’t skip the cheese cart service with Houston’s Dairymaids offerings post-dinner, either. Make your Resys today, and find more fresh openings in New On Resy.
- Homecoming: It’s time for part three of Bludorn’s Blu Bayou Series, this time featuring a collaboration with acclaimed chef Sarah Grueneberg, of Chicago’s Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio. The Bludorn dinner on May 8 serves as a homecoming of sorts for Grueneberg, who grew up in Houston. The three-course meal (priced at $115 per person) will be served family-style with dishes such as mozzarella stuffed tomato arancini, Roman eggplant parm, spaghetti aglio e olio, and soppressata meatballs, among other Italian specialties. Book your tickets before they sell out, and visit Resy’s Events page to find more exciting experiences.
- Celebrating AAPIs: May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and one of our favorite ways to celebrate, naturally, is to support restaurants led and owned by Asian Americans. For Vietnamese, check out Moon Rabbit, The Blind Goat, or Pho Dien. For Japanese, there’s neo (read our interview with the chefs here), Katami, Nori Nori, Norigami, 5Kinokawa, Sushi Rebel, Koi, and Azumi, just to name a few. Craving Malaysian? You can’t go wrong with Phat Eatery in Katy Asian Town and The Woodlands. Thai or Lao? Osha Thai Kitchen and Banh Somtum won’t disappoint. And for smash burgers, head to burger-chan, where owners Willet and Diane Feng have amassed a devoted following for their highly customizable burger.
- Mini Brunch Guide: This month in particular has some brunch offerings you won’t want to miss. On Sunday, May 11 (Mother’s Day for those who celebrate), Le Jardinier in the Museum District and Little Hen in River Oaks District will serve prix fixe menus. The same day, Zutro at the Le Meridien downtown will have a special buffet with a choice to add on cocktails. Of course, special occasions aren’t required. For those “anytime” brunches, Squable, Traveler’s Table, Bludorn, Bar Bludorn, Perseid, and Navy Blue (the seasonal Thai Tea French Toast is an absolute must) are always sure bets.
New to the Hit List (May 2025)
Alora, Corkscrew BBQ, Kira, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House.
1. Kira Upper Kirby
In August 2024, Comma Hospitality — the team behind exclusive omakase spot neo — debuted its second concept in the Shops at Arrive River Oaks. The intimate 15-seat counter is reminiscent of vintage Japanese jazz vinyl bars and specializes in temaki (hand rolls), donburi (rice bowls), and kakigori (shaved ice), with a focus on premium ingredients such as A5 wagyu, bluefin tuna, sea urchin, and more. You can either order à la carte, or let the chefs lead the way with a seven- or eight-course prix fixe meal. Marc Rodriguez, formerly of the two-Michelin-starred Atomix in New York City, consulted on the beverage program, which focuses on Japanese spirits. Pro tip: Visit during happy hour for 20% off temaki and select alcohol.
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. ALORA Restaurant and Bar Montrose
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.
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. Nancy’s Hustle EaDo
Now with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name, this darling of an East Downtown bistro continues to impress seven years after its debut in late 2017. Unfussy in its ambience but always impeccable with its service and endlessly inventive with its food, it’s easy to see why diners keep coming back. The menu of shareable savory plates changes with the seasons, save for fixtures like the toasty Nancy cakes with cultured butter and smoked trout roe. Pro tip: Save room for dessert, like the scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a chili crisp concoction of candied almonds, guajillo and arbol chilis. It’s cold and warm, sweet and savory, velvety and crunchy — and all kinds of incredible.
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. Hidden Omakase Galleria
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.
13. Josephine's Gulf Coast Tradition Midtown
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.
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. Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House San Leon
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.
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. Nobie’s Montrose
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.
Find more info here.
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. Corkscrew BBQ Old Town Spring
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.
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.
