We’re heading to Houston in about a week to visit our nephew. He’ll want to be our guide, which will be great, though it means we’ll likely be trying his favorite places—probably not the spots we’d have chosen ourselves.
On his list is Pinkerton’s, which I’m sure will be fantastic. He’s also mentioned a steakhouse that’s apparently one of the highest-volume restaurants in the country. We’ve suggested Vietnamese, though now I’m wondering if we should swap that for Mexican instead.
In any case, I’d love any recommendations you might have. While I can’t sway him off Pinkerton’s, we might have some influence over the other two nights.
The high-volume steakhouse is probably Taste of Texas. I’ve never been nor been desirous of going. Houston is awash with steakhouses, many owned by Tillman Fertitta who just bought Keen’s in NYC. Pappas is another well known operator. One I’ve heard about several times recently is Steak 48, which is out of Phoenix. I can’t recommend since I haven’t been to any. TofT probably won’t be awful, but I’d agree with Mex or Viet. Again, sorry, I don’t get out much anymore so can’t make an up-to-date recommendation. With regard to Mexican, for the sake of anyone else making recommendations, specify whether you mean Tex-Mex or something representative of south of the border.
I’ll keep thinking about this and post again if I come up with any recs but high end anything is not my style.
Since I seem to be the only one from Houston still posting here these guys have a few recs you might find interesting.
The one I’m most interested in is Musaafer. Food from the subcontinent has become my favorite of all the cuisines I’ve experienced here. Tatemo looks interesting, too.
Yes - get some recommendations from her - dishes, places . I live on the edge of ‘little Nigeria’ on the far southwest side. It’s actually not little - very spread out, lots of restos and small butcher shops, grocery stores. I’ve been to several. In more recent years, more upscale places have been established in the Galleria area, I think. Most of what we have is Nigerian but there is at least one Ghanaian and I’ve seen a couple of Cote d I’voire places, possibly they were only bars, though. We had a South Sudanese place even before there was a South Sudan, but I think it’s gone now. The young man was an excellent cook.
Suya - grilled meat skewers - are popular. Ground nuts are used a lot (coating on the chicken suya) so take note if you have nut allergies. Cilantro is used a lot. Fish Pepper Soup can be excellent - most places use tilapia (steaks or filets) but it’s really good with catfish (yes, there are catfish in Africa). I think one of the more upscale places offers 4 kinds of fish including redfish.
Suya Hut on Kirkwood is the place I’ve been most often (but not in close to a decade - the website still shows it on West Airport, which is just around the corner). People carry the chicken suyas out of there by the big grocery bag full. I had the Lansir from there - a salad that was nothing but cilantro and small diced tomatoes, onions and ground nuts. That was, uh, different. About 80% cilantro! And the Masa/Waina, which when I had it was referred to as Fried Sour Dough bun - very tasty.
Re: Afrikiko, the Ghanaian restaurant mentioned, sits in what has been in the last few years a very bad neighborhood with street girls coming up to you as you get out of your car or knocking on the window when you’re in line at the Burger King or Whataburger. Haven’t heard much about more recently so maybe the police moved in. Just a note. I’ve never been to that one.
Thanks. Looking thru Yelp this morning (after I posted) I found that dozens of new Nigerian places have popped up so my knowledge of what’s available is quite dated. I also found three Senegalese places and would like to try one for some experience of French influences on African food.
. I live on the edge of ‘little Nigeria’ on the far southwest side. It’s actually not little - very spread out, lots of restos and small butcher shops, grocery stores. I’ve been to several. In more recent years, more upscale places have been established in the Galleria area, I think. Most of what we have is Nigerian but there is at least one Ghanaian and I’ve seen a couple of Cote d I’voire places, possibly they were only bars, though. We had a South Sudanese place even before there was a South Sudan, but I think it’s gone now. The young man was an excellent cook.
