The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

Located in a renovated 1950s bungalow in Montrose, Da Marco is classic Italian dining in a white-linen tablecloth setting. Look for traditional favorites from across Italy, including Roman-Jewish fried artichokes, housemade spaghetti with clams (a Neapolitan specialty), and a Florentine-style 48-ounce prime porterhouse meant for two to four. Find a perfect pairing with the extensive regional wine list and be sure to save room for dessert — namely the cannoli filled with sheep’s milk ricotta, chocolate, and orange zest. Heads up: There’s a dress code, so plan accordingly.

More than seven years after first opening in Katy Asian Town, Phat Eatery remains a go-to for bold, deeply satisfying Malaysian street food. Founded by the late chef Alex Au-Yeung, the restaurant continues to earn both local love and national recognition — a testament to the strength of its bold flavors. Today, that legacy is in the hands of a talented team: restaurateur Terry Wong (of Blood Bros. BBQ) and longtime chef Marvin He, who have expanded the menu while staying true to its roots. Alongside signatures like the award-winning beef rendang and flaky, crowd-favorite roti canai, you’ll now find a lineup of smaller bites (and dim sum) that complete the experience. It’s the kind of place that invites you to order a lot, share generously, and come back often.

Crawfish season is officially here, and Houstonians are more than ready to roll up their sleeves. For a classic Viet-Cajun crawfish experience, this longtime Asiatown favorite on Bellaire Boulevard delivers every time. Open since 2008 from James Beard-nominated chef Trong Nguyen, the restaurant is nationally known for its bold take on boiled crawfish. Expect mudbugs drenched in rich, garlicky butter and coated in a delicious blend of Vietnamese and Cajun spices. If you’re feeling ambitious, the salt-and-pepper blue crabs and snow crabs are well worth the extra work. And for the more adventurous, try the crispy frog legs sautéed in butter.

In discussions of Houston cuisine, bagels rarely enter the chat. That’s because it’s hard to find a truly legit one in town. This was the case for East Coast transplant Jaclyn Yates, who missed the crusty-chewy breakfast staple after moving to the Bayou City — so much so that she decided to make and sell her own. Nearly seven years later, Jersey Bagels continues to be one of the best and busiest bagel shops around. Known for its large selection of Jersey-style bagels (hand-rolled, boiled, and baked multiple times daily), wide variety of cream cheeses, strong coffee drinks, and stuffed-to-the-brim breakfast sandwiches, the Northwest Houston storefront regularly sells out of its most popular items. Our advice: Go early or order ahead for in-store pickup so there’s no fear of missing out.

 More info here.

Since opening in 2012, Uchi has been a game-changer for Houston’s dining scene and remains a benchmark for Japanese cuisine in town. An outpost of award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s Austin original, Uchi artfully balances tradition and innovation, a standard it continues to uphold alongside its sibling, Uchiko. Beyond the inventive dishes and precise technique, Uchi has also earned a reputation as a training ground for some of the city’s most celebrated sushi chefs, making it as influential as it is unforgettable.

Chef-owner Chris Kinjo, well-known to Houstonians for MF Sushi and Ume Sushi, brings his signature finesse to Annam, his Autry Park restaurant with longtime managing partner Dung “Lang” Nguyen. Another Bib Gourmand honoree, Annam puts the spotlight on Vietnamese cuisine, serving classic fare with fine-dining presentation. Under the direction of chef Kaytee Nguyen, dishes like canh chua do bien (tamarind seafood soup) and bo nuong la lot (grilled beef in betel leaf) are reimagined with inventive flair. A thoughtful, globally minded wine list complements the menu, making Annam a must-try for Houstonians seeking bold flavors and refined execution.

In the Harlow District, just steps from Katami, chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi has debuted his most ambitious endeavor yet: a six-seat omakase counter designed to evoke the spirit of his native Japan. The intimate setting sets the stage for deeply personal hospitality from Hori-san, assistant chef Anne Tran, and sommelier Jessica Cano, as diners enjoy carefully curated plates that weave together pristine seafood flown in from Toyosu Market and modern interpretations of traditional dishes. Dinner is $300 per person, with optional $100 classic or $200 premium sake pairings. With just one seating each night, Tuesday through Saturday at 7 p.m., reservations are highly coveted. Set a Notify and be ready to snag your seats the moment they drop.

This East End favorite from chef-owner Victoria Elizondo is a heartfelt ode to the flavors of her native Mexico — and the community has returned that love in spades. A DACA recipient who came to Texas at 12 with her mother, Elizondo launched Cochinita & Co. as a pop-up in 2016 before opening a brick-and-mortar in 2021. The counter-service spot serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering everything from tacos, quesadillas, and tamales to signature savory entrees like cochinita pibil (shredded pork shoulder) and chicken mole negro. Pro tip: You can also take a taste of Cochinita & Co. home with packaged staples from the market including totopos, salsas, frozen tamales, aguas frescas, and salsa macha.

Find more info here. 

If you haven’t been to Oru yet, you haven’t experienced the soothing thrill that is watching partner-chefs Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo and their team at work behind the striking, 24-seat hinoki wood counter assembling nigiri, sashimi, crudo, and temaki to order. That said, the latest concept from Comma Hospitality (the minds behind Japanese faves Neo and Kira) features more than sushi. Mercado and Justo have also rounded out the menu with a thoughtfully curated selection of hot and cold dishes that showcase the same level of care and creativity. For those desiring that feeling of delighted surprise that comes with leaving your meal up to the chef, Oru offers an omakase experience at the cocktail bar every Friday and Saturday evening.

This Rice Village gem — a sister restaurant to the Michelin-recommended Hidden Omakase — looks like a small gallery from the outside. But step through the side door, covered by a large piece of art, and you’ll find a 10-seat sushi counter where chefs expertly curate each meal based on what’s fresh at the market that day. Sushi By Hidden is designed for those who want an intimate omakase experience, but one that’s faster paced and more affordable. And at $60 for a 30-minute, 12-course lunch and $75 for a 45-minute, 13-course dinner, you get top-quality sushi without compromise. It’s BYOB with a $20 corkage fee, or you can enjoy one of the sakes on offer.

Tucked inside a Courtyard by Marriott lobby, Silk Road delivers dim sum that rivals the best in the city. Executive chef Thawatchai Insingha worked in Michelin-starred kitchens across Asia, brings precision and flavor to every dish. The har gow are perfectly folded with tender, seasoned shrimp filling, while the fried shrimp cheung fun pairs delicate steamed rice rolls with crispy-battered shellfish inside. Don’t miss the baked char siu bao or the indulgent salted egg yolk lava buns, and be sure to order from the thoughtfully curated tea menu, too. It’s a splurge, but every bite justifies it.

Midtown seafood destination Josephine’s, recent recipient of a Bib Gourmand, celebrates Gulf Coast flavors with a menu that spans the region. Chef Lucas McKinney, honoring his great-grandmother Josephine, draws inspiration up and down the coast: Mississippi hot catfish sandwiches nod to his home state, half-shell grilled redfish highlights Texas, and the stacked muffaletta salutes New Orleans. Finish with the rich and gooey peanut pie for a perfect ending.

Nestled toward the back eastern corner of the historic, color-splashed Tlaquepaque Market Square, Mimo is a casual East End trattoria from chef Fernando Rios and sommelier Mike Sammons. The duo — who first teamed up more than 20 years ago at Da Marco — opened the restaurant to share their passion for Italian cuisine and wine with the Second Ward neighborhood where they both grew up. Since its 2023 debut, Mimo has earned steady acclaim for its seasonal approach and beautiful lineup of antipasti, pizzas, pastas, and mains. Truth be told, we’d stop in for the roasted carrot pizza alone. (If you know, you know.)

For a true taste of Seoul in Houston, this Carrollton import serves some of the city’s top soy sauce-marinated crabs, a Korean delicacy found in just a handful of local spots. The raw crabs, with their jelly-like texture, arrive swimming in an umami-rich sauce brightened with ginger and lemon. Enjoy the meat on white rice or straight from the shell, then scoop some rice into the carapace to catch every last drop of flavor. Not feeling raw? Cooked dishes shine, too. Must-orders include naengmyeon, a refreshing cold buckwheat noodle soup, and bossam, tender boiled pork wrapped in napa cabbage and eaten with fresh kimchi and a garlicky, spicy dipping sauce.   

Find more info here. 

Houston’s Thai scene keeps expanding, and Osha stands out for its range of regional street food specialties. Opened in December 2024 by Saranya Danvetnukro, owner of Nua Thai, the West On West spot offers more than just a classic pad Thai. Highlights include blue crab fried rice cooked in a clay pot, pink seafood noodle soup, and khao soi kai, a Northern Thai curry egg noodle soup beloved for its rich, warming flavors. Pro tip: save room for mango sticky rice when in season — sweet, silky, and the perfect finish to a flavorful meal.

No matter what time of day you visit this Houston institution — whether for an early lunch at 11 a.m. or a late dinner at 10 p.m. — you’re likely to find a crowd. That’s your first clue that the food is worth the wait. For 25 years, Aga’s has been serving up some of the best halal Indian-Pakistani cuisine the city has to offer. Start with an order of the tender goat chops and chicken lollipops before moving on to one of the fragrant biriyanis and soul-warming curries (the beef kabab white karahi and goat karahi keema are favorites). Don’t forget to add an order of pillowy garlic naan to sop up every last bit. Pro tip: Go with a big group to sample more dishes. 

 Call 832-786-8000, or find more info here.