Restaurants you can't miss while visiting Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If you're visiting Houston for the Manchester Derby, you're in for a culinary adventure. The Bayou City is known for its vibrant food scene, and restaurants around the area offer nearly every different kind of cuisine imaginable.

On this page, we've compiled a list of the Houston area's best restaurants, all organized by neighborhood and/or city. Explore the map below to see eateries near you, or scroll down to see a text list with names, descriptions, addresses and websites.


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• Caracol (2200 Post Oak Blvd, Suite #160) -- Upscale coastal Mexican cuisine by James Beard Award - nominate chef Hugo Ortega


• La Table (1800 Post Oak Blvd) -- Modern French-American restaurant, with bar and bakery


• Kenny & Ziggy's (2327 Post Oak Blvd) -- New York-style deli serving generous portions

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• Shake Shack (5015 Westheimer Rd, Space A2411) -- Famous New York-based burger joint, serving the classics


• Peli Peli (5085 Westheimer Rd) -- Bold, flavorful South African dishes served in a colorful, energetic environment


• Le Colonial (4444 Westheimer Rd G-140) -- French-Vietnamese colonial cuisine served in elegant environs


• Hopdoddy (4444 Westheimer Rd H100) -- Burger joint serving a creative spin on the classics, plus craft cocktails


• Steak 48 (4444 Westheimer Rd, A-100) -- Trendy, upscale steakhouse

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• Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette (4224 San Felipe St) -- A creative take on Gulf Coast cuisine served a modern, clean interior


• Ouisie's Table (3939 San Felipe St) -- A Houston institution serving southern dishes in a pretty setting


• Pondicheri (2800 Kirby Dr B132) -- Indian street food and combo dishes served in a sleek, casual environment


• Escalante's (4053 Westheimer Rd) -- Tex-Mex cuisine in an lively environment, family-friendly

• The Grove Houston (1611 Lamar St) -- Fine dining in the heart of Discovery Green


• Vic & Anthony's (1510 Texas Ave) -- Elegant restaurant with traditional steakhouse offerings


• Quattro at the Four Seasons (1300 Lamar St) -- Modern Italian cuisine served inside the Four Seasons Hotel


• Ninfa's on Navigation (2704 Navigation Blvd) -- A Houston institution serving margaritas, fajitas, and other Tex-Mex favorites


• Andes Cafe (2311 Canal St, #104) -- Casual BYOB restaurant serving authentic Central and South American dishes, BYOB


• Hunyh (912 Emmanuel St) -- Homestyle Vietnamese fare such as spring rolls & rice plates, BYOB


• Tout Suite (2001 Commerce St) -- Industrial-chic café and bakery serving coffee


• Phoenicia Specialty Foods (1001 Austin St) -- Mediterranean market and café, good for take-out


• Pappasito's Cantina (1600 Lamar St) -- Tex-Mex favorite with margaritas


• Hupcap Grill (1111 Prairie St) -- No-frills burger bar


• Prohibition Supperclub & Bar (1008 Prairie St) -- Decadent dinner and bites, burlesque theatre



• Batanga (908 Congress Ave) -- Buzzy, industrial eatery in an 1800s saloon featuring Pan-Latin small plates, live music & a patio


• Niko Niko (2520 Montrose Blvd) -- Classic Greek eats draw large crowds at this no-frills spot serving gyros, cabbage rolls & more


• Barnaby's (1701 S Shepherd Dr) -- Local chain member offering American comfort food in pooch-themed digs with a dog-friendly patio


• El Big Bad (419 Travis St) -- Bi-level bar & cantina serving a host of tequilas, margaritas & Mexican eats in a muraled setting


• Treebeard's (315 Travis St) -- Local chain offering a menu of Southern comfort-food classics, open weekday lunch

• Brennan's (3300 Smith St) -- New Orleans character & cuisine shine at this decadent eatery serving turtle soup, oysters & more


• Weights & Measures (2808 Caroline St) -- Bakery in an industrial space offers bread, donuts & pastries made daily in-house


• Cyclone Anaya (309 W Gray St #111) -- Local go-to for potent margaritas & familiar Tex-Mex fare with happy hour & outdoor seating

• Ruggles Green (801 Town and Country Blvd) -- Health-conscious spot with a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian & gluten-free menu items


• Monnalisa (800 Sorella Ct) -- Stylish lounge at Hotel Sorella featuring a fireplace & poolside patio, plus an American tapas menu


• Taste of Texas (10505 Katy Fwy) -- Huge steaks from an on-site butcher shop & a vast salad bar star at this family-friendly steakhouse


• Escalante's (12821 Kimberly Ln #10) -- Tex-Mex cantina with a vibe that's both family-friendly & happening, plus a weekend brunch menu


• Grub Burger Bar (799 Town and Country Blvd #200) -- Vibrant, contemporary outpost of a small chain known for its innovative specialty burgers & drinks

• Original Timmy Chan (5926 Scott St) -- Chinese food, wings, and waffles


• Mama's Oven (9295 Main St) -- Casual Southern soul food


• Antone's Import Co. (8057 Kirby Dr) -- Deli-style poboys complete with signature "chow chow"


• Houston's Famous Deli (2130 Holly Hall St) -- No-frills joint serving deli classics, including muffaletta, hot & cold subs, salads & sides

If you're staying out in the suburbs, you can't miss these local eateries:

• Guru Burger & Crepes (2268 Texas Dr) -- Burgers and crepes from local ingredients


• Benihana (2579 Town Center Blvd N) -- Hibichi-style Japanese dining


• Texas de Brazil (16535 Southwest Fwy #2001) -- Brazilian churrascaria with all-you-can-eat meat carved tableside, salad bar


• Aura Brasserie (15977 City Walk) -- French-American fine dining


• Mia Bella Trattoria (16535 Southwest Fwy #2510) -- Traditional Italian restaurant, family-friendly

• Shrimp and Stuff (3901 Avenue O) -- Fried seafood, hush puppies & gumbo fill the menu at this cozy seafood spot with a shady patio.


• Farley Girls Café (801 Postoffice St) -- This cute, counter-order café offers sandwiches, salads, mains and weekend brunch


• Brews Brothers Brew Pub (2404 Strand St) -- Craft beers and bar bites are offered at this inviting brewpub


• Mosquito Cafe (628 14th St) -- A local favorite known for brunch, served in an 1870's building


• The Spot (3204 Seawall Blvd) -- Burgers, seafood, house-made desserts with a Gulf view


• Gaido's (3828 Seawall Blvd) -- A Galvestion institution since 1911, serving classic gulf seafood dishes with old-school elegance

• Mi Cocina (1201 Lake Woodlands Dr) -- Modern chain for classic & innovative Tex-Mex plates, plus frozen cocktails, in stylish surrounds


• Grimaldi's Pizzeria (20 Waterway Ave #100) -- Casual, Brooklyn-based pizzeria chain serving brick-oven pies & calzones plus wine & beer


• Jasper's (9595 Six Pines Dr) -- Upscale grill turns out creative takes on home-style American barbecue dishes in a modern setting


• Amerigo's Grille (25250 Grogans Park Dr) -- Live piano tunes enliven this elegant Italian venue with an ambitious menu & a lengthy wine list


• Black Walnut Cafe (9000 New Trails Dr) -- Branch of a warm, casual chain offering American fare for breakfast, lunch & dinner & a full bar

As you travel in and out of town, check out these airport-area restaurants:

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

• Urban Crave (2800 N Terminal Rd) -- Hip airport pit stop serving internationally inspired street food, from tacos to burgers to ceviche


• Upper Crust (2800 N Terminal Rd) -- Sandwiches in Terminal D

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)

• Frank's Diner (4702 Telephone Rd) -- Huge plates of pancakes & other American classics star at this daytime-only, no-nonsense diner


• C&D Burger Shoppe (10606 Fuqua St) -- No-frills burger joint


• Tel-Wink Grill (4318 Telephone Rd) -- Unpretentious diner serving classic American comfort food for breakfast & lunch


• Casarez (887 Edgebrook Dr) -- Neighborhood Mexican joint serving tacos, fajitas, Tex-Mex eats & other basics in relaxed surrounds


• City Cafe (513 College Ave) -- Hearty Texas-style breakfasts and steam table lunches