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.

This Garden Oaks gem just marked its first anniversary, and it’s only gaining momentum. Set inside a converted home, it’s the debut solo project of chef Zachary McClendon, a longtime presence in Houston’s dining scene. The menu is rooted in classic French technique, with subtle Gulf Coast and Cajun touches. Think seared foie gras with blackberry compote, Burgundy-style snails, and a velvety snow crab bisque, among other standouts. It’s polished but never stiff — the kind of place that feels special and welcoming all at once.

More than a decade in, MF Sushi still feels like one of Houston’s premier omakase experiences. At the center of it all is chef Chris Kinjo, whose famously deft technique inspired the restaurant’s name: MF stands for “magic fingers.” Guests can reserve a table in the dining room, but the best seat in the house is at the counter, of course, where Kinjo sways to his own rhythm as he shapes each piece of sushi. The multi-course omakase highlights seasonal and luxury ingredients that may include prized cuts of bluefin tuna, Hokkaido uni, and A5 wagyu. Resys for Kinjo’s omakase — offered Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. only — must be booked directly through the restaurant.

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.

A Houston institution since 1934 (with roots stretching back to Galveston in 1917), Christie’s remains one of the city’s oldest family-run restaurants and a longtime destination for seafood and steaks done the old-school way. Generations of regulars can’t be wrong as they return again and again for signature dishes like the 1917 famous fish “sandwich,” the fish en papillote stuffed with wine-butter seafood stuffing, and the Thursday strip sirloin special — a juicy 12-oz. steak for $35 served all day. Pro tip: The Greek menu, comprising family recipes from the motherland, is equally worth exploring.

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.)

Some of the best Chinese food in Houston isn’t found in polished dining rooms, but you know this already. And that strip-mall energy is the case with House of Bowls. For more than two decades, this Asiatown staple has been serving up satisfying, wallet-friendly Hong Kong–style comfort food. Step inside and you’re welcomed like a regular, then handed a sprawling menu packed with everything from rice plates and noodle dishes to seafood specialties and sandwiches. Start with the signatures: the house special spaghetti topped with a fried egg, tender beef chow fun, and congee with preserved egg and salted pork. Pair it all with a classic Hong Kong-style milk tea, and don’t skip dessert. The peanut butter-stuffed Hong Kong-style French toast, drizzled with condensed milk, is non-negotiable. Come back again (and again) to keep exploring.

Call 713-776-2288 for more info.

This two-year-old Asiatown spot from partner-chef Cong Nguyen fully delivers on the temaki experience, with hand rolls made to order and best enjoyed the moment they hit the table. Go for a curated set or build your own. Each hand roll is loaded up with premium seafood — some with decadent touches like Hokkaido uni, buttery toro, and caviar. The scallop foie gras hand roll, the chef’s favorite, is a must. Beyond the signature items, the silky foie gras chawanmushi, truffle uni pasta, and oyster shooters won’t disappoint. Go forth and treat yourself.

This two-time James Beard Award–nominated bakery and coffee shop has built a devoted following thanks to chef-owner Vanarin Kuch’s inventive pastries that reflect his Cambodian American roots and Bayou City upbringing. The menu changes often, but the creativity is consistent: think a limited-run sach ko ang Danish for Cambodian New Year featuring pickled green papaya, or a crawfish and rice grits Danish with beurre blanc (tell us you’re from Houston without telling us you’re from Houston). The aromatic beef pho kolache also remains a popular pick for good reason. Order ahead online if there’s something specific you’ve got your eye on. And if you’re closer to Spring Branch, sister spot Lil’ Koffeteria opened there last year.

 Find more info here.