26 Iconic Houston Dishes to Try Before You Die (2024)

Stevens Group PR

Find epic roasted chicken, tacos birria, spicy barbecue nachos, and more essentials on this Space City bucket list

by Megha McSwain and Brittany Britto Garley Updated Jan 23, 2024, 10:46am CST

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In a city with bountiful Tex-Mex restaurants, Los Tios is a standout for its nostalgic menu of comfort plates, including the original puffy queso. The hollow tacos are hand-pressed and fried each day for premium freshness, and served with a generous helping of queso smothered on top. They’re tasty on their own, but amping them up to include fajita meat stuffed inside is not a bad idea.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Viet-Cajun crawfish is as Houston as it gets. Bringing together the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine and the Cajun tradition of Louisiana boiled crawfish, the result of this unique pairing is nothing short of magical. Visit the original location in Asiatown or check out the new Heights outpost at the Houston Farmers Market.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

It’s a close tie, considering the epic, top-selling spicy dan dan noodles, but the mouth-tingling mapo tofu at Mala is always worth a trip to one of its five locations. Perfectly spicy, silky, and savory, this dish will create cravings you never thought possible. Pair the tofu with an order of red oil dumplings and stir-fried green beans for the full Mala experience.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

There isn’t a taco — or torta, for that matter — not worth trying at Tacos Dona Lena, but if you had to settle on one that is iconic of Houston, it would be the tacos birria. Corn tortillas are generously stuffed with beef birria, dressed with cilantro and onion, and presented with a house-made consommé.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

At Hugo Ortega’s coastal Mexican restaurant in Uptown, the focus is on dishes like roasted oysters, ceviche, and whole wood-grilled fish, but its the restaurant’s one of a kind dessert, El Coco, that is not to be missed. The spherical dessert touts a shell made of chocolate coconut, and half the fun is in using a mini wooden mallet to crack it open, revealing a filling of coconut buttercream, coconut ganache, and coconut streusel.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Jewish deli staples have graced the Kenny & Ziggy’s menu since it opened its doors more than two decades ago, and one of the most iconic among Houston diners is the soul-warming matzo ball soup. The brothy dish is a treat year-round, despite what Houston’s unpredictable weather calls for, and is known to work miracles when you’ve got a bad case of the sniffles.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

This iconic seafood dish made its first appearance when Tony Vallone started serving it back in the ‘90s, and it remains an eye-catching favorite to this day. A Gulf-caught red snapper roasted in a salt crustis set aflame and paraded through the dining room before it is fileted tableside. The dish is then finished off with a drizzle of Barolo sauce, a slow red wine reduction with butter.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Rainbow Lodge's rich and hearty smoked duck gumbo features Andouille sausage and is topped with wild rice pilaf for a multi-textured off-the-charts savory indulgence. A bowl offers much comfort on a cold winter day, and the restaurant’s cozy lodge atmosphere and picturesque grounds are an added bonus.

• Book with OpenTable
• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Christian’s Tailgate is a reliable go-to for game day-watching fun, with comfort eats galore, but trying the classic 1/3-pound beef burger ought to be at the top of your list. Like a true backyard-style burger, the handheld is a classic, layered with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, with mayonnaise and mustard, on a freshly toasted bun. Adding a little extra oomph is also an option, with special toppings like onion rings, bacon, and Swiss cheese.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Named after the town of Bryan, Texas, where the Carrabba family settled when they arrived from Sicily in the 1890s, Chicken Bryan Texas is one of the restaurant’s most beloved offerings. A juicy grilled chicken breast, topped with a puck of goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and covered in lemon-butter-wine sauce, is served with a side of creamy fettuccine alfredo.

• Open in Google Maps

• Open in Google Maps

Ellie Sharp

See Also

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Satisfying, fresh, flavorful, and addictive are all the words needed to accurately describe the Local Foods’ crunchy chicken sandwich. It’s so deeply ingrained in the Houston food scene that the restaurant’s April Fool’s joke announcing the retirement of the sandwich on Instagram caused a wave of worry and angst.

• Open in Google Maps

Sao Lao is known for its cuisine that fuses Thai and Lao, and is has garnered a cult following for its traditional boat noodle soup. The concoction is made by simmering beef broth with pig’s blood for eight to 10 hours along with more than 40 different ingredients, including rice noodles, ribeye steak, and pork balls. The highly sought-after bowl sells out often, so stop by early to ensure you’ll get a taste.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

At first glance, Nobie’s Nonno’s pasta is a seemingly simple dish of tagliatelle with bolognese and parmesan cheese. At first bite, however, hearts will melt, eyes will open in amazement, and bellies will grumble for more. Deeply flavorful and hearty, this dish will make you want to use the heart-eye emoji.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

There are plenty of worthy dishes at Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole’s Asian Smokehouse, Loro, including the herb-laden brisket and the cheeseburger, which is topped with a red onion-brisket jam, muenster cheese, and yuzu 1000 island. A sleeper hit is the side of cold sesame noodles, which are tossed in a chili vinaigrette and sprinkled with green onion and black sesame.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Greg Gatlin has long been impressing Houston diners with grilled meats and loaded baked potatoes at his barbecue restaurant, Gatlin’s BBQ, so it’s no surprise his follow-up eatery, Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers, has grown to be just as popular. The fried chicken is among the best in the city, and the spicy H-Town hot sandwich, built with crispy chicken or fish and tossed with Viet-Cajun hot sauce is an absolute must.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Baked chicken in itself doesn’t always sound quite iconic, but the reputation of the half-lemon roasted chicken at this Montrose restaurant certainly proceeds itself, thanks to its silky herb-loaded juices, tenderness no matter the piece, and a baked lemon waiting to be squeezed all over. Pair it with the crispy potatoes, served with a side of velvety homemade aioli, and you’ve got yourself a meal you’ll want to order again.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Jenn Duncan

A beloved Montrose staple for everything, including breakfast tacos, tres leches, and cinnamon coffee, La Guadalupana’s hero dish is their enchiladas verdes. A favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain, a bright tomatillo sauce covers corn tortillas stuffed with chicken and comes with a side of creamy refried beans.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

This deceptively simple bowl of steaming noodles dressed with freshly cracked tellicherry peppercorns, parmesan, and olive oil has received national acclaim and a devoted following of locals who are happy to wait for a table just to get their hands on this cacio e pepe.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Andrea Weir

From the same owners of the Pit Room, which is located on the same street in Montrose, this Tex-Mex restaurant is lauded for its fusion of smoked meats into classic Tex-Mex dishes. The brisket nachos, made with a half-pound of chopped smoked meat, are a must-have and serve as a great starter among groups or even a worthy meal for one. Served in a single layer on a platter, as opposed to a nacho stack, the chips are layered with refried beans, cheddar cheese, chopped white onion, pickled red onion, with barbecue sauce and salsa roja. Want to experience a day of double the iconic dishes? Head to Pit Room for a taco made with its iconic brisket fat tortillas.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

James Beard Award-nominated chef Chris Williams cements his great great-great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith’s legacy at this Houston restaurant, which touts her legendary chili biscuits. The handmade biscuits are dressed up with house chili, cheddar cheese, and harissa cream, and were the stepping stone for what is deemed the first hot roll mix in the U.S.

• Book with OpenTable
• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Antonio Diaz

Very few things are worth standing in line for, especially in Houston’s mercurial weather, but the Breakfast Klub’s wings and waffles make the cut. Crunchy and expertly seasoned wings paired with a fluffy waffle make the perfect breakfast combination at this Midtown institution. Whether that’s more iconic than the “katfish” and grits is up to you to decide.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

The Breakfast Klub

Since 1936, Shipley’s has been a Bayou City classic, and its kolaches are nothing short of iconic. Fluffy bread surrounds either sausage or ham with the option for cheese and jalapeno. Regardless of your flavor choice, bringing a dozen of these delights to an office break room or a tailgate will make you a very popular person.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

The traditional smash burger gets a Southern spin at this Third Ward cafe and restaurant, combining beef and oxtail for a rich patty that’s topped with provolone, arugula, and garlic aioli, plus pickled onions and tomato jam on brioche.

• Open in Google Maps

David “Odiwams” Wright

The Nancy Cakes are an undeniable part of the DNA at Nancy’s Hustle. These savory cakes are pillowy soft on the inside with just a hint of crispiness on the outside. Slather them with healthy heaps of the accompanying homemade cultured butter, which is topped with a salty smoked trout roe, chives, and a hint of honey for sweetness. You’ll want to lick the plate clean.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Brittany Britto Garley

This laidback East End cafe and restaurant easily dishes out some of the best breakfast tacos and agua frescas that the city has to offer, plus colorful grain and salad bowls like the pineapple shrimp and jicama bowl. You shouldn’t leave without trying the cochinita pibil — the tender, slow-cooked, spicy-heavy pork that inspired its name. Try it in taco form with Cochinita’s signature sauces, or as a filling entree with a side of rice, beans, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and tortillas. For an epic take-home treat, buy a jar of the salsa matcha to add a punch of flavor to nearly any dish.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

In a city with bountiful Tex-Mex restaurants, Los Tios is a standout for its nostalgic menu of comfort plates, including the original puffy queso. The hollow tacos are hand-pressed and fried each day for premium freshness, and served with a generous helping of queso smothered on top. They’re tasty on their own, but amping them up to include fajita meat stuffed inside is not a bad idea.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Viet-Cajun crawfish is as Houston as it gets. Bringing together the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine and the Cajun tradition of Louisiana boiled crawfish, the result of this unique pairing is nothing short of magical. Visit the original location in Asiatown or check out the new Heights outpost at the Houston Farmers Market.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

It’s a close tie, considering the epic, top-selling spicy dan dan noodles, but the mouth-tingling mapo tofu at Mala is always worth a trip to one of its five locations. Perfectly spicy, silky, and savory, this dish will create cravings you never thought possible. Pair the tofu with an order of red oil dumplings and stir-fried green beans for the full Mala experience.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

There isn’t a taco — or torta, for that matter — not worth trying at Tacos Dona Lena, but if you had to settle on one that is iconic of Houston, it would be the tacos birria. Corn tortillas are generously stuffed with beef birria, dressed with cilantro and onion, and presented with a house-made consommé.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

At Hugo Ortega’s coastal Mexican restaurant in Uptown, the focus is on dishes like roasted oysters, ceviche, and whole wood-grilled fish, but its the restaurant’s one of a kind dessert, El Coco, that is not to be missed. The spherical dessert touts a shell made of chocolate coconut, and half the fun is in using a mini wooden mallet to crack it open, revealing a filling of coconut buttercream, coconut ganache, and coconut streusel.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Jewish deli staples have graced the Kenny & Ziggy’s menu since it opened its doors more than two decades ago, and one of the most iconic among Houston diners is the soul-warming matzo ball soup. The brothy dish is a treat year-round, despite what Houston’s unpredictable weather calls for, and is known to work miracles when you’ve got a bad case of the sniffles.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

This iconic seafood dish made its first appearance when Tony Vallone started serving it back in the ‘90s, and it remains an eye-catching favorite to this day. A Gulf-caught red snapper roasted in a salt crustis set aflame and paraded through the dining room before it is fileted tableside. The dish is then finished off with a drizzle of Barolo sauce, a slow red wine reduction with butter.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Rainbow Lodge's rich and hearty smoked duck gumbo features Andouille sausage and is topped with wild rice pilaf for a multi-textured off-the-charts savory indulgence. A bowl offers much comfort on a cold winter day, and the restaurant’s cozy lodge atmosphere and picturesque grounds are an added bonus.

• Book with OpenTable
• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Christian’s Tailgate is a reliable go-to for game day-watching fun, with comfort eats galore, but trying the classic 1/3-pound beef burger ought to be at the top of your list. Like a true backyard-style burger, the handheld is a classic, layered with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, with mayonnaise and mustard, on a freshly toasted bun. Adding a little extra oomph is also an option, with special toppings like onion rings, bacon, and Swiss cheese.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Named after the town of Bryan, Texas, where the Carrabba family settled when they arrived from Sicily in the 1890s, Chicken Bryan Texas is one of the restaurant’s most beloved offerings. A juicy grilled chicken breast, topped with a puck of goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and covered in lemon-butter-wine sauce, is served with a side of creamy fettuccine alfredo.

• Open in Google Maps

• Open in Google Maps

Ellie Sharp

Satisfying, fresh, flavorful, and addictive are all the words needed to accurately describe the Local Foods’ crunchy chicken sandwich. It’s so deeply ingrained in the Houston food scene that the restaurant’s April Fool’s joke announcing the retirement of the sandwich on Instagram caused a wave of worry and angst.

• Open in Google Maps

Sao Lao is known for its cuisine that fuses Thai and Lao, and is has garnered a cult following for its traditional boat noodle soup. The concoction is made by simmering beef broth with pig’s blood for eight to 10 hours along with more than 40 different ingredients, including rice noodles, ribeye steak, and pork balls. The highly sought-after bowl sells out often, so stop by early to ensure you’ll get a taste.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

At first glance, Nobie’s Nonno’s pasta is a seemingly simple dish of tagliatelle with bolognese and parmesan cheese. At first bite, however, hearts will melt, eyes will open in amazement, and bellies will grumble for more. Deeply flavorful and hearty, this dish will make you want to use the heart-eye emoji.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

There are plenty of worthy dishes at Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole’s Asian Smokehouse, Loro, including the herb-laden brisket and the cheeseburger, which is topped with a red onion-brisket jam, muenster cheese, and yuzu 1000 island. A sleeper hit is the side of cold sesame noodles, which are tossed in a chili vinaigrette and sprinkled with green onion and black sesame.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

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Greg Gatlin has long been impressing Houston diners with grilled meats and loaded baked potatoes at his barbecue restaurant, Gatlin’s BBQ, so it’s no surprise his follow-up eatery, Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers, has grown to be just as popular. The fried chicken is among the best in the city, and the spicy H-Town hot sandwich, built with crispy chicken or fish and tossed with Viet-Cajun hot sauce is an absolute must.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Baked chicken in itself doesn’t always sound quite iconic, but the reputation of the half-lemon roasted chicken at this Montrose restaurant certainly proceeds itself, thanks to its silky herb-loaded juices, tenderness no matter the piece, and a baked lemon waiting to be squeezed all over. Pair it with the crispy potatoes, served with a side of velvety homemade aioli, and you’ve got yourself a meal you’ll want to order again.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Jenn Duncan

A beloved Montrose staple for everything, including breakfast tacos, tres leches, and cinnamon coffee, La Guadalupana’s hero dish is their enchiladas verdes. A favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain, a bright tomatillo sauce covers corn tortillas stuffed with chicken and comes with a side of creamy refried beans.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

This deceptively simple bowl of steaming noodles dressed with freshly cracked tellicherry peppercorns, parmesan, and olive oil has received national acclaim and a devoted following of locals who are happy to wait for a table just to get their hands on this cacio e pepe.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Andrea Weir

From the same owners of the Pit Room, which is located on the same street in Montrose, this Tex-Mex restaurant is lauded for its fusion of smoked meats into classic Tex-Mex dishes. The brisket nachos, made with a half-pound of chopped smoked meat, are a must-have and serve as a great starter among groups or even a worthy meal for one. Served in a single layer on a platter, as opposed to a nacho stack, the chips are layered with refried beans, cheddar cheese, chopped white onion, pickled red onion, with barbecue sauce and salsa roja. Want to experience a day of double the iconic dishes? Head to Pit Room for a taco made with its iconic brisket fat tortillas.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

James Beard Award-nominated chef Chris Williams cements his great great-great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith’s legacy at this Houston restaurant, which touts her legendary chili biscuits. The handmade biscuits are dressed up with house chili, cheddar cheese, and harissa cream, and were the stepping stone for what is deemed the first hot roll mix in the U.S.

• Book with OpenTable
• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Antonio Diaz

Very few things are worth standing in line for, especially in Houston’s mercurial weather, but the Breakfast Klub’s wings and waffles make the cut. Crunchy and expertly seasoned wings paired with a fluffy waffle make the perfect breakfast combination at this Midtown institution. Whether that’s more iconic than the “katfish” and grits is up to you to decide.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

The Breakfast Klub

Since 1936, Shipley’s has been a Bayou City classic, and its kolaches are nothing short of iconic. Fluffy bread surrounds either sausage or ham with the option for cheese and jalapeno. Regardless of your flavor choice, bringing a dozen of these delights to an office break room or a tailgate will make you a very popular person.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

The traditional smash burger gets a Southern spin at this Third Ward cafe and restaurant, combining beef and oxtail for a rich patty that’s topped with provolone, arugula, and garlic aioli, plus pickled onions and tomato jam on brioche.

• Open in Google Maps

David “Odiwams” Wright

The Nancy Cakes are an undeniable part of the DNA at Nancy’s Hustle. These savory cakes are pillowy soft on the inside with just a hint of crispiness on the outside. Slather them with healthy heaps of the accompanying homemade cultured butter, which is topped with a salty smoked trout roe, chives, and a hint of honey for sweetness. You’ll want to lick the plate clean.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

Brittany Britto Garley

This laidback East End cafe and restaurant easily dishes out some of the best breakfast tacos and agua frescas that the city has to offer, plus colorful grain and salad bowls like the pineapple shrimp and jicama bowl. You shouldn’t leave without trying the cochinita pibil — the tender, slow-cooked, spicy-heavy pork that inspired its name. Try it in taco form with Cochinita’s signature sauces, or as a filling entree with a side of rice, beans, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and tortillas. For an epic take-home treat, buy a jar of the salsa matcha to add a punch of flavor to nearly any dish.

• Open in Google Maps
• Foursquare

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