The Resy Hit List: Where In Houston You’ll Want to Eat in Feb. 2026

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.

A two-time Michelin-starred favorite alongside its New York and Miami siblings, Le Jardinier turns French-inspired cuisine into art on the plate. Located in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Kinder Building, the kitchen — led by culinary director Alain Verzeroli and executive chef Felipe Botero — highlights seasonally driven dishes with farm-fresh produce and sustainably sourced proteins. Every plate is thoughtfully composed, considering flavor, texture, and visual beauty. Whether you’re ending a museum visit or marking a special occasion, Le Jardinier delivers a dining experience that is as elegant and deliberate as it is memorable.

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.

Always a crowd-pleaser, Burger Bodega is home to Abbas Dhanani’s popular smash burgers and chopped cheese sandwiches. The signature order — a double smash burger — stacks two ultra-thin, juicy patties with melty American cheese, grilled onions, housemade pickles, and Bodega sauce on a soft potato bun, while singles, triples, and loaded fries complete the lineup. Inspired by classic New York-style grocers, the space features graffiti by Noke 713, Donkeeboy, and Young Art Pros students, alongside shelves stocked with merch and local treats like Pudgy’s “Thick AF” cookies. Chef collabs and Dhanani’s pop-up Bas’s Cheesesteaks keep things fresh. Pro tip: Top your meal off with a mango lassi milkshake — you’ll thank us later. 

 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.

Houston culinary icon Bryan Caswell is back in the kitchen with Latuli, his latest venture in the Memorial area, launched with entrepreneur Allison Knight. Here, Caswell revisits the Gulf Coast flavors that first made him a star at Reef, while weaving in global influences that keep the menu vibrant and fresh. Diners can enjoy new creations alongside nods to his classics, from Reef’s iconic pecan-smoked pork chop to the hearty wild boar ragu pappardelle once loved at Stella Sola. The result is a menu that’s both familiar and entirely new, a true celebration of Caswell’s signature style.

The name says it all: Di An Pho translates to “go eat pho” in Vietnamese. Our advice: Heed the call. Opened last May as a longtime dream realized for chef Hung Van Tran, the family-run shop serves just one type of dish — you can guess — alongside a selection of drinks including strong Vietnamese coffee. It’s everything you’d want in a steaming bowl of pho: perfectly bouncy vermicelli noodles in a beautifully balanced, subtly sweet broth, topped with tender morsels of meat. Each bowl is accompanied by a generous plate of fresh herbs and bean sprouts to dress your bowl. (Ask for pickled onions for a bright contrast.) Weekend crowds are common, so arrive early to secure a seat.

 Call 281-896-0002 for more info. 

A Houston classic since 1967, Brennan’s brings the charm and elegance of New Orleans to the Bayou City. Known for comforting Creole favorites, polished white-tablecloth service, and the ever-popular Sunday Jazz Brunch, the restaurant (a sister to Nola’s legendary Commander’s Palace) has earned its place as a local institution. Beyond the dining room, Brennan’s offers immersive cooking classes, a grand ballroom for celebrations, and even a theatre shuttle for post-dinner outings downtown. Whether you’re savoring perfectly executed gumbo or celebrating a special occasion, Brennan’s delivers the kind of warm, attentive hospitality that keeps Houstonians coming back for more.

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.

A Clear Lake favorite since 2016, Rosewater is the kind of bar every neighborhood hopes for: laid-back, a touch quirky, and fiercely committed to cocktails. Starting with just 30 seats, it has grown into a local institution with an expanded space, a small kitchen, and a devoted following. The drinks menu includes clever twists on classics and rare pours for true enthusiasts, including vintage selections like Blanton’s from 1992. The food is casual but satisfying — think housemade falafel, burgers, fries, and other comforting bites that pair perfectly with whatever you’re sipping.

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.