A Guide to Houston’s Gastronomic Hot Spots

While far apart, both Austin and Houston never differ significantly in offering the best in Texan food culture. There isn’t much of a rivalry between the two. They provide unique dining experiences that need no comparisons. If you’re a foodie from Austin, there’s a lot you can savor in Houston that may not get to experience back home.

Even if it’s a short visit to the Bayou City, you can make the most of your culinary experience on account of the numerous dining attractions that you’d be dying to check out. All you need is a quick guide to make your gastronomic adventure in Houston an unforgettable one. The food guide below should help you start on the right footing.

A Taste of Downtown Cuisine

What was once Houston’s original center, the Market Square Historic District downtown is home to numerous dining establishments that will complete a foodie’s trip to the city. Head on over to Moonshiners which specializes in Southern cuisine. There, you can order quintessential Texan meals and Southern favorites. This place is also a favorite watering hole for the city’s downtown denizens.

Another attraction is La Carafe. Never mind the ghostly legends surrounding this culinary institution, La Carafe is a bar that transports you back in time with its turn-of-the-century ambiance that delights fans of antiquity. Take sips of choice wine as you listen to haunting tunes from an old jukebox.

Asian Cuisine in Bellaire Chinatown

Houston is one of few cities with a vibrant Chinatown area, spanning six square miles and being home to many food establishments that will excite fans of oriental food. One such establishment is Mein at the Yun-Lu Center. The restaurant features a wide selection of authentic Cantonese dishes that include all-time favorites such as Satay Chicken and Sichuan Garlic Pork. 

Another major Chinese foodie draw is One Dragon which focuses more on unique concoctions straight from Shanghai. Experienced diners will mostly recommend the restaurant’s noodle dishes and handcrafted dumplings.

Get a Date for a Live Fire Grill

Nothing makes for a unique dinner date quite like treating your partner to a live-fire meal. Don’t worry about accidents because Houston’s restaurants strictly comply with the city’s stringent fire safety code, enlisting the help of fire protection services to add extra layers of protection. With this in mind, you’ll find a long list of live-fire restaurants in the city that are worth checking out. Baso should be at the top because of its delectable Basque offerings.

You will get to see succulent slabs of meat being cooked over an open flame as you savor authentic Iberian wines matched with caviar. Ironically, the best that Baso has to offer is not even from the Basque region. Its A5 wagyu steaks are a crowd favorite so be sure to try them out before leaving The Bayou City.

Bellaire BBQ Finds

There’s no question that state of Texas is the king of American barbecue with each region and city offering a localized take on this quintessential southern dish. So, when you go to Houston, you will find hundreds of restaurants that offer a barbecue taste that’s distinct from what other places in the state offer.

Back in the Bellaire Chinatown area, you’ll find Blood Bros. BBQ which infuses Asian flavors that surprisingly don’t fall short of achieving that characteristic Texan spiciness. Heading over to Houston Heights, you may want to check out another draw for BBQ fans: Gatlin’s. The restaurant is known to have struck the perfect balance of sweet and spicy in preparing its signature back ribs. 

Endnote

Are you heading over to Houston anytime before the year ends? Satisfy your palate by using this gastronomic guide to The Bayou City.