Hi Houston,
I’m coming to your city next weekend and have spent much time researching (lots of Houston Chronicle articles, Hungry Onion and Reddit threads, assorted food blogs, Texas Monthly articles, Houstonia lists et al!) where I’d like to eat while I’m there. I’m in on Friday morning and leaving Tuesday around dinner time. I have one day I’m at Rice + the art museum, another day that’ll be spent at the Menil Collection and Bayou Bend and a third day I’m planning to spend largely in Asiatown. (Is there anything to do in Asiatown besides go to restaurants?)
I’ve looked at things I think I should be eating in Houston and have narrowed my choices down to…well, like a whole lot more restaurants than I can ever get to. So I figured I’d just post my ridiculous list and see if anyone wants to chime in on where they’d go if they only had a few days, or if maybe I’ve gone wrong somewhere, or if you’ve got a strong opinion on any of this.
I have left crawfish off my list of necessaries because I think I’m missing the season. Same for oysters. If there’s any essential you think I’m missing, please let me know!
In any case, here’s the text of the printout I’m bringing along as a cheat sheet for my visit. Any input appreciated!
THINGS I HAVE TO EAT IN HOUSTON
Barbecue
( Killen’s , Pit Room, Blood Brothers are top picks. Also possible: Pinkerton’s , Fege’s , Gatlin’s, Pappas, Ray’s BBQ Shack, Roegel’s, Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue )
Killen’s —brisket, house made sausage, creamed corn
Pit Room— house made sausage (Czech or venison), house-made jalapeño and vinegar potato chips, brisket
Blood Brothers— sausages, brisket fried rice, thai green chile boudin (Friday only?)
Hamburgers
( Lankford’s, Burger-Chan, Bernie’s Burger Bus are top picks. Also possible— Hay Merchant, Beck’s Prime, Hubcap Grille, Speedy’s Burger, Cream Burger et al. See list. There’s also always Whatburger. )
Burger-Chan —5 oz burger w/ cheddar, bacon, guac, pickled jalapeno. Hand cut fries w/ sambal mayo).
Bernie’s Burger Bus —Principal classic cheeseburger w/ slow roasted garlic tomatoes. Regular fries.
Tex-Mex
( Teotihuacan, Lopez, Irma’s Original are top picks. Also possible— Molina’s , El Patio , El Tiempo, Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, Original ninfa’s on Navigation . See also queso section.)
Lopez --chicken fajita quesadillas or chicken fajita enchiladas. Carnitas, beef rib tacos.
Irma’s— cheeze enchiladas w/ red-chile sauce served plaza style. Spinach enchiladas, tamale with mole sauce.
Teotihuacan— handmade corn tortillas, carnitas, fajitas, charro beans
Queso
(top picks: La Grange, Molina’s, Pappasito’s.
Molina’s : Jose’s Dip.
Po’boys
( Antone’s Famous, BB’s Tex-Orleans, Liberty Kitchen + Oysterette). Also possible—see Eater top 16 map.
Note: all three of these top picks are within range of hotel. Anton’s is especially close.
One high end meal
( Caracol, Brennan’s, Yauatcha).
Caracol— grilled oyster, ceviches, infladita de jaiba, ostiones asados.
Brennan’s— turtle soup. Mesquite grilled redfish, wild shrimp remoulade
Yauatcha —Wagyu beef puff, shrimp and gai lan cheung fun, crispy duck roll, morel crystal dumpling, lobster dumpling with tobiko caviar
Micheladas
(top picks: Mambo’s, Pastry War, Connie’s Seafood. Also possible: Teotihuacan )
Kolaches
(top picks: Kolache Shoppe, Original Kolache Shoppe, Olde Towne Kolache. Also possible: El Bolillo, Shipley’s, Christy’s Donuts).
Note: Shipley’s has a boudin kolache on weekends?
Tacos
(top picks: Tacos Tierras Caliente, Picos, La Macro. Also possible: Taco Keto, Tacos la Bala, Taconazo, Noemi’s + many others)
Picos— Sinaloa style chilorio tacos, classic Mexican tacos
Tacos Tierra Caliente —barbacoa, al pastor
La Macro —trompo
Breakfast Tacos
(Top picks: Laredo Tacqueria #4, Tacos a Go Go, Villa Arcos. Also possible: many others.
Tacos a Go Go— tacos verde
Villa Arcos —bacon super taco with egg, chicharrones and egg taco
Vietnamese
(Top picks: Rieu Ca, Bun Mang Vit Thanh Da, Nam Giao, Bun Bo Hue Duc Chuong, Phanh Ky. Also possible: Huynh, Saigon Pacolac, Thien Thanh, One Hot Pot & Grill
Rieu Ca— bun rieu oc. Note: Northern Vietnamese
Bun Mang Vit Thanh Da— bamboo and duck noodle soup
Nam Giao— Happy Crispy rice pancake, bahn loc, banh beo chen, baby clam salad with rice, shrimp rice cakes wrapped in banana leaf. Note: regional cooking of Hue.
Bun Bo Hue Duc Chuong— Bun Bo Hue
Phanh Ky— Phanh Ky Hu Tieu Mi My Tho . Note: specialties are the dry noodle dishes (hu tieu mi kho) from Mỹ Tho
Bahn mi
(top picks: Roostar, Don Café, Lee’s Sandwiches. Also possible: Cali Sandwich, Les Givral’s, Thien Anh , many others).
Roostar —chopped ribeye bahn mi with house pate, special bahn mi, green papaya salad
Don Café —shredded chicken bahn mi
Lee’s sandwiches —special combination #11. Note: bakes its own bread.
Pho
(Top picks: Pho Binh, Pho Ve Dem, Pho Dien . Also possible: Saigon House, Pho Duy, Pho Saigon ).
Pho Binh: Pho dac biet (house special) with tai uop rare marinated filet mignon on the side.
Pho va dem : Pho with hand-cut filet mignon and bo vien (meatballs), and a side bowl of fall-off-the-bone duoi bo (oxtails).
Pho dien: dac biet specialty bowl with the tai uop on the side.
Gulf Coast Seafood
(Top picks: Christie’s Seafood & Steaks, Reef & 3rd Bar, Fountainview Fish Market. Also possible: Connies, Goode Co. ).
Christie’s Seafood & Steaks: fried shrimp with remoulade
Reef & 3rd Bar —grilled octopus
Fountainview Fish Market— fried fish sandwiches
Raspa/Mangonada/Refrescaria
(Top picks: Magnolia Ice Cream and More, Tampico Refrescaria, Treats of Mexico. Also possible: Friohana Shave Ice, Flamingo Chill ).
Magnolia Ice Cream and More: picoyadas with Kool Aid pickles, fresh fruit sorbet, frito pie, mangonada
Tampico Refrescaria : shaved ice, aguas naturales
Treats of Mexico: small batch nieve and helado
Elote
(Top picks: Jose’s Roasted Corn, Refrescaria Cancun, Tarascos Ice Cream. Also possible: places outside of Fiestas Markets ).
