The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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
- Choice Collaboration: On Jan. 30, Bludorn launches its brand-new Blu Bayou Dinner Series by welcoming James Beard Award-winning chef Brady Williams, owner of Seattle’s acclaimed Tomo, to our fair city. For this dinner, guests can expect a merging of Tomo’s playful take on the traditional chophouse with Bludorn’s Texas Gulf Coast sensibilities. Tickets are $150 per person for the four-course meal, with optional wine pairings and supplements available. The evening is sure to sell out quickly, so make your Resys, stat, and find more exciting experiences on Resy’s Events page.
- New Kids on the Block: Speaking of, January is proving to be a big month for chef Aaron Bludorn. The restaurateur’s highly anticipated fourth restaurant, Perseid, is finally opening at the new Hotel Saint Augustine in Montrose. Described by chef Bludorn as “a French bistro through the eyes of Houston,” Perseid will pay homage to Gulf Coast ingredients while promising a different experience from Bludorn’s other restaurants. Also new in H-Town is Osha Thai Kitchen, which opened in the West On West development in the Westchase District in early December. The latest restaurant from Nua Thai owner Saranya Danvetnukro, Osha Thai celebrates the diverse range of regional street food from Thailand. Find more openings in New On Resy.
- Season of Soup: When the weather’s cold and dreary, nothing warms the belly (or the soul) more than a steamy bowl of soup or a hearty stew. A great place to start: Kata Robata’s lobster and crab ramen, with its savory tomato-garlic broth and springy egg noodles. For something more Southern, head to Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition for the smoky chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. In the mood for French? Tonight & Tomorrow’s bouillabaisse is swimming with octopus, lobster, leeks and tomatoes. And for a splurge, Katami’s shabu-style kagoshima wagyu is not only comforting, it’s an experience all its own.
- Party Time: Lunar New Year starts Jan. 29 this year, and our favorite way to celebrate is with loved ones and copious amounts of food, natch. While Asiatown brims with popular destinations (Ocean Palace, Crown Seafood, and Hai Cang Harbor come to mind), there are plenty of restaurants around town at which to usher in the Year of the Wood Snake, too. Phat Eatery in Katy Asian Town serves guests a Malaysian feast every year, while modern Vietnamese restaurant Moon Rabbit and Karne Korean Steakhouse bring up the vibes with lion dance performances. Even ritzy River Oaks hotspot Ciel is known to get in on the action with splashy live entertainment.
New to the Hit List (Jan. 2025)
Andiron, Baso, Ema, Le Jardinier, Oporto Fooding House & Wine, Pok Pok Po, Theodore Rex, Traveler’s Table.
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. Riel Montrose
Seven years after its debut, Ryan Lachaine’s celebrated Montrose restaurant continues to deliver one of the city’s most exciting menus — one heavily influenced by the Texas Gulf Coast, Lachaine’s Ukrainian heritage, French-Canadian food, and other global cuisines. Start with Riel’s signature pierogies and caviar tots before digging into a comforting bowl of kimchi carbonara with grilled shrimp or the juicy butter burgers. Or head over Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for happy hour and enjoy deals on select drinks and light bites — you can’t go wrong with the French onion–inspired dip topped with salmon roe or the savory boudin balls.
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, and Houstonians are hoping for many more. 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 uncomplicated yet bold, with ingredients themselves 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. Bar Bludorn Memorial Villages
After winning over loyal diners with Bludorn and Navy Blue, chef-restaurateur Aaron Bludorn (along with wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn and their partner Cherif Mbodji) chose to go slightly more casual here, with what they describe as the “quintessential neighborhood tavern.” With Bludorn’s longtime sous chef Alexandra Peña at the helm, it offers classic gastropub fare made with a modern, Texas Gulf-inspired touch. Need suggestions? Start with the country ham beignets filled with ricotta and whole grain mustard, then move on to the tender roasted duck with foie gras jus. For dessert, round out the decadence with a foie gras candy bar (trust us).
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 0n their Instagram.
8. Andiron Montrose
Sambrooks Hospitality reconceptualized its live-fire steakhouse concept in November, rechristening the space Andiron Grille & Patio and refreshing the menu to be more “relaxed and approachable.” The live-fire element (and steaks) remains, but the updated offerings from executive chef Michael O’Connor reflect the casual vibes the restaurant now strives to send forth. Think wallet-friendly, tavern-style shareable small plates such as housemade griddled bread with charcoal butter and mains like roasted chicken with charred corn salsa. The new outdoor space, designed by award-winning New York design firm AvroKO, includes a fire pit at the center and can be enjoyed all year round.
9. Nori Nori Bellaire
The Japanese-style hand roll boom has taken hold in Houston, and NoriNori from partner-chef Cong Nguyen is a welcome addition. The restaurant — which rebranded from its original name Nomi Nori — had been doing pop-ups at other local venues before launching its permanent location in Asiatown in May. Although Nori Nori specializes in hand rolls — the scallop foie gras is a divine combo — the menu also includes other selections such as a creamy truffle uni pasta and foie gras chawanmushi. Go on, enjoy a little luxury in the new year.
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. Triola’s Kitchen Greater Heights
When the locals consistently rave about a restaurant in social media food groups, it’s probably worth checking out. Chef Frank Triola’s Heights restaurant is heralded for its warm service and classic Italian fare. It’s no surprise, because red sauce runs through Triola’s veins: Frank Azzarelli, his grandfather, is well known for opening one of Houston’s first Italian restaurants in 1945. At Triola’s Kitchen, we recommend starting with the veal-stuffed mushroom caps before moving on to the hearty pappardelle Bolognese and succulent grilled New Zealand lamb chops. End the meal with Triola’s famous Key lime pie — you won’t regret it.
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. Viola & Agnes’ Neo Soul Cafe Seabrook
The New York Times recently listed Viola & Agnes’ Neo Soul Cafe as one of its 50 favorite places in America right now — but this quirky Creole spot from chef Aaron Davis has long been a go-to for Houstonians since opening in 2015. Named for Davis’ grandmothers, the Seabrook restaurant honors the chef’s Louisiana roots, serving up soulful Southern fare such as crispy fried catfish, NOLA barbecue shrimp and grits, and a flavor-filled gumbo overflowing with chicken, sausage, blue crab, and more. Be sure to check the chalk wall for limited-time specials, too.
See what chef Davis is cooking on Instagram.
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. Blood Bros. BBQ Bellaire
Of all the restaurants honored in the Texas Michelin Guide, nine of the Houston area’s 30 total selections were full-on barbecue joints. Blood Bros. BBQ, which received a Bib, stands out for its Asian-influenced twist on traditional smoked meats. At this casual spot, pitmaster Quy Hong and co-owners Terry and Robin Wong bring to life through food what they (and many others in the city’s Asian American community) experienced growing up: a joining of their cultural heritage and Texas roots. From this happy marriage come dishes such as brisket burnt end steam buns and chow fun stir-fried with smoked brisket and Chinese broccoli — beautiful unions that benefit us all.
Keep up with the rotating specials 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. Refuge Montrose
This intimate bar from industry vets Bobby Heugel and Tommy Ho sits in the building just behind acclaimed cocktail spot Anvil, in the space where Tongue-Cut Sparrow once operated. Expect to find the same kind of playfully innovative — and potent — drinks here that are already so revered at its sister concept. The ultimate example: the bar’s classic Corn N’ Oil, which blends four high-proof Caribbean rums and combines it with housemade velvet falernum and Caribbean spices. And don’t sleep on martini Tuesdays, when a separate menu of featured iterations is available for the partaking.
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. Shabu Zone Chinatown
Real shabu-shabu enthusiasts don’t wait for the temps to drop before diving into this face-steaming, bone-warming experience. No, true fans eat hot pot year-round. At Shabu Zone, it’s all you can eat with individual pots, so you can choose your broth (there are eight flavors) and not have to share. Order premium meats off the menu and pick up seafood options, dumplings, noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauces from the buffet. Then cook everything in the simmering broth, and enjoy. Pro tip: Save any noodles to make last, as that’s when the broth is at its peak flavor — perfect for slurping and sipping.
