Skip to main content

Tex-Mex and More: The Delicious Eateries of Houston

We didn’t think of Houston as a food city when made a visit down there recently, but after some local residents took us to the best spots in town, we instantly changed our minds. Here’s the low-down on where to dine in this Texas city.

Down House
When we got to this restaurant we couldn’t decide what to order…chicken and waffles? Crawfish croissant? We ended going with their take on shrimp and grits: wild caught Gulf shrimp, Applewood smoked bacon, Anson Mills grits, cilantro and scallions topped with poached duck eggs, in a tiny bit of pho broth, which sounds strange, but balances out the dish quite well.
1801 Yale Street
713-864-3696

El Real Tex-Mex Café
Best. Tex Mex. Ever. Yes, the three partners of this Tex-Mex joint — which calls a former theater home and projects old Spaghetti Westerns on the wall— have worked under the famed Jean Georges Vongerichten, and a few James Beard awards and nominations between them, and boy did they get the regional cuisine right. Start out with some queso and frito pie and then go for the puffy tacos or enchiladas, and wash everything down with a margarita.
1201 Westheimer Road
713-524-1201

Lowbrow
Head to this joint, known for its delicious brunch, to see drawings of Houston’s hometown heroes —  Bill Hicks, Selena and DJ Screw. We started out with a special, the duck quesadilla, and then opted for the chicken fried steak and eggs with bourbon gravy. It was absolutely heavenly. For something extra decadent, try the eggs benedict with foie gras over brioche toast.
1601 West Main Street
281-501-8288

Canopy

Clean design and a pleasant atmosphere help make this establishment a nice place for gathering with friends. Make sure to try the Texas T Ranch Kobe Beef Dawg with local grass fed chili.
3939 Montrose Boulevard
713-528-6848

Editors' Recommendations

Ann Binlot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…
Las Vegas Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Eat, and More
Las Vegas is Back and Better Than Ever
A view of the fountains and Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower replica at Bellagio Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip.

A New Look at What's Hot in Sin City
In March 2020, the Las Vegas Strip suddenly emptied out and became eerily quiet. A drive down the famous street lined with mega-resorts and their glitzy lights was reminiscent of a drive through a post-apocalyptic city in any number of dystopian movies and video games. The cause of that desertion — the COVID-19 pandemic — only amplified that uneasy eeriness.

Halfway into 2022, Las Vegas is back with a vengeance. A brand-new casino resort has already made waves on the Strip. The restaurant scene is back and better than ever, with a mix of mainstays that survived 2020 and hot new spots that have everyone talking. Nightclubs and pool day clubs are once again open to all who seek the most scandalously good times this side of Ibiza. The airport and the freeways are jam-packed with travelers again. Finally, Las Vegas is on the mend, and we're here to guide you through all the best re-openings, all the hot new attractions, and everything else you need to know about Las Vegas travel.
What's Happening in Las Vegas Now?

Read more
Iceland Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Eat, and More
The Goðafoss waterfall in Iceland's Diamond Circle.

Iceland feels so far removed from the rest of Europe, and from our concepts of what the “ideal European vacation” looks like. But if you’re not seeking the stereotypical “ideal European vacation,” Iceland may be the destination you’ve been looking for.

Where is Iceland, and what can you do there? We’re about to answer your questions, and we’re about to show you the best of what Iceland has to offer.

Read more
Jackson Hole Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Eat, and More
A rustic wood barn sits beneath a panorama of the Grand Teton Mountains in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Ever wonder what “purple mountain majesties” looks like in real life? Well, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, you can see what writer Katharine Lee Bates was singing about.

Situated as the gateway to soaring Grand Teton National Park and untamed Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Wyoming boasts access to some of North America’s most awesome natural beauty. This is a place where the American West achieves its definition with bison wandering endless prairies, bighorn sheep dancing along craggy cliffs, and bald eagles coasting over mile after mile of hiking trails, rivers, and lakes.

Read more