The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat in Sept. 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.

Soup dumpling enthusiasts on Houston’s northwest side no longer need to travel to Asiatown to satisfy their cravings now that Nan Xiang Express has opened its doors. The fast-casual Shanghainese spot is an offshoot of the famed Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, which originated in Flushing, Queens, in the 2000s; this is the brand’s first Texas location. Guests order at self-service kiosks and choose from a menu that features noodle and rice bowls, scallion pancakes, and — naturally — a variety of steamed and fried dumplings. No surprise: the soup dumplings steal the show. The succulent crab and pork version, with its delicate wrapper filled with piping-hot broth, is a must. Pair it with a side of cucumber salad with garlic vinaigrette for the perfect combo. 

 Call 281-653-9103 for more info.

BASO earned a coveted Michelin nod when the guide debuted in Texas last year — and anyone who’s dined at the Heights restaurant knows why. Chefs Jacques Varon and Max Lappe showcase global flavors through Basque-inspired live-fire cooking, with nearly every dish finished in the glowing hearth of the open kitchen. The results are bold and daring, and the ingredients shine brightly. (The fire-grilled pork chop topped with minced pork jowl and powdered chamomile is a must.) Book a counter seat for a front-row view of the chefs in action, or go all-in with the “Trust the Chefs” option.

Chef Shawn Gawle has drawn on his experiences in kitchens across the country to create a space for himself that would be especially welcoming. Gawle most recently impressed Houstonians as the executive pastry chef for Goodnight Hospitality, the group behind fine-dining destination March. With his first solo venture, he’s showcasing expertise in both sweet and savory dishes, serving up “fine-casual” American cuisine rooted in French techniques. Guests order from a $75 three-course prix fixe, where 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.

Tucked beside the Thompson + Hanson nursery, this charming River Oaks gem — with its airy interior and sun-drenched garden and patio — offers an ideal setting for a long, leisurely lunch or a laid-back weekend brunch. The made-from-scratch fare leans fresh and seasonal, featuring current favorites like the sourdough grilled cheese served with housemade tomato basil soup and the summer burrata paired with watermelon and heirloom tomatoes. Don’t forget to save room for Tiny’s legendary chocolate chip cookie. Or better yet, take a dozen to go.

Searching for the homey goodness of Vietnamese food outside of Asiatown? Look no further than this Heights gem. Chefs Rudy Vasquez and Tam Nguyen (whose family used to run the venerable Spring Branch gem Kim Chau Restaurant) knock out comforting dishes like the umami-packed spicy beef noodle soup (aka bun bo Hue, a beloved holdover recipe from Kim Chau) and steaming bowls of pho, as well as inventive new favorites like curry chicken pot pie and grilled pork katsu with pickled yellow peaches. 

Chef Billy Kin is continuing to bring both his culinary talent and craftsmanship to the table here — quite literally. He hand-built the 14-seat rare wood counter where he personally prepares, serves, and entertains guests. Kin, an alum of Blackbird Izakaya and Hidden Omakase, has chosen to offer an intimate Edomae-style omakase experience at this latest project. The ever-evolving menu is built around top-tier ingredients flown in weekly: think buttery otoro, fresh uni, and melt-in-your-mouth A5 wagyu. This ensures no two dinners are quite the same, making each visit a new experience worth savoring.

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.

Lumikha means “to create” in Tagalog, and Emmanuel Garcia (better known as chef Bham) fulfills that mission at his Filipino-inspired supper club in downtown Houston. Garcia, whose bona fides include working under acclaimed chefs Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon, admits he once ran from Filipino food, unsure of its fine-dining potential. That all changed when he started at Alinea in Chicago, where in a supply room he spotted bottles of fish sauce, a common Filipino ingredient. This eureka moment reshaped his view of his native cuisine. Fast-forward a few years, and Lumikha was born. The $89 five-course tasting menu (drinks included) is a modern tribute to Filipino ingredients and French techniques. Garcia executes each dish with passion and precision, explaining the history and intention along the way.

Book on Tock.

Seven years after its debut in Katy Asian Town, this beloved Malaysian street food restaurant — founded by the late chef Alex Au-Yeung — continues to earn acclaim both locally and nationally. Now under the culinary leadership of Terry Wong (co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and LuLoo’s Day & Night) and longtime Phat Eatery chef Marvin He, Au-Yeung’s legacy lives on at both this newer location and the Katy original. The duo added smaller bites to complement signature dishes like the award-winning beef rendang and ever-popular roti canai.

Crispy roasted pork belly that crackles with every bite. Tender, flavorful Chinese barbecue pork that melts in your mouth. Roast duck so juicy it glistens on the plate. Find all these Cantonese-style barbecue classics and more at this little mom-and-pop shop in Katy Asian Town. Enjoy the proteins over rice, atop springy noodles, in comforting noodle soup, or by the half or whole portions. When even the pickiest Chinese moms and aunties rave, you know it’s the real deal.   

 More info here.