12 Suggestions by Adán Medrano
Cochinita & co.
“Chef Victoria Elizondo and her team draw on Gulf Coast ingredients for inspired interpretations, like tacos cradling a spicy tinga of locally-grown Lion’s Mane and oyster mushrooms; or cochinita pibil with citrus achiote that would do honor to a fancy restaurant.”*
—5420 Lawndale St.Suite #500 Houston, TX 77023
(713) 203-3999info@cochinitaco.com
Website: https://www.cochinitaco.com/
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:00AM – 8:00PM
Saturday: 8:00AM – 8:00PM
Sunday: 8:00AM – 3:00PM
$ to $$
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
“Chef Sylvia Casares takes her signature South Texas and Mexico “Comida Casera” to the next level with elegant dishes from little-known south Texas towns like Refugio and Sarita, with mesquite-grilled cabrito enchiladas, and, along the coast, with creamy crab enchiladas.
—6401 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 334-7295
Website: https://www.sylviasenchiladas.com/location/woodway/
Hours: Monday – Wednesday11am – 9:30pm
Thursday – Friday11am – 10:30pm
Saturday- 11:00am – 10:30pm
Sunday – 11am – 9:30 pm
$$$
Kiran’s
“Chef Kiran Verma’s Indian restaurant and menu are elegant and grand in scale.”*
—2925 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77098
713.960.8472
info@kiranshouston.com
Website: https://kiranshouston.com/
Hours: Monday-Saturday 4 pm-10 pm;
Sunday until 9 pm
$$$ to $$$$
Golfstrømmen
“Norwegian seafood styles by Chef Partners Christopher Haatuft and Paul Qui.Chef de cuisine Alberto Cruz, (El Salvador), mixes the influences at play in riveting ceviches, crudos and cold plates.”*
—POST Market
401 Franklin StHouston, TX 77201
Website: https://www.golfstrommen.com/
Thu–Sat 11am–3:30pm, 5–10pm
Sun–Wed11am–3:30pm, 5–9pm
$$ to $$$$
Theodore Rex
“This profoundly local bistro combines Asian, French and modernist technique in striking ways. Chef Justin Yu’s landmark Houston restaurant.”*
—1302 Nance Street Houston, Texas 77002
(832) 830-8592
email: reservations@trexhouston.com
Website: https://trexhouston.com/
Hours: Thursday — Monday from 5pm to 10pm closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
$$ to $$$$
Taqueria Chabelita
“Chef Isabel Enriquez runs this miniscule taqueria that snugly seats 20 guests and serves a lot of take-out traffic with smiling faces. Both Texas and Veracruz Mexican food are listed on the sheets of paper taped to the wall. Tacos (machacado, chicharrón), tortas (lengua) and tostadas join specialties from Veracruz like like fish filet dishes or the “picadas,” thick corn patties that are crimped at the edges, topped with beans, chopped beef, and laden with crema Mexicana.
—5020 Navigation Boulevard, Houston, TX 77011
(713) 923-9111
Hours: Monday-Saturday 5 am – 2 pm Closed Sunday
$
MF Sushi
“Chef Chris Kinjo and chef-partner Miguel Alvarez offer splendid and varied a la carte menu at tables, and at the sushi counter, guests can reserve for regular seatings or for omakase.”
—1401 Binz St #100, Houston, TX 77004
Hours: Opens 5 PM
(713) 637-4587
$$ to $$$$
Ninfa’s on Navigation
“‘The Best Mexican Food Since Texas was in Mexico,’ declares the menu. Chef Alex Padilla, at the helm for 15 years, demonstrates with bright oysters, salmon with mango salsa and the canon of enchiladas, chiles rellenos, mole, ceviches, and, of course, fajitas.”
—2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston Texas 77003
713.228.1175
Website: https://ninfas.com/
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11AM-10PM
Friday 11AM-11PM
Saturday 10AM-11PM Brunch 10AM-2PM
Sunday 10AM-10PM Brunch 10am-2pm
$$ to $$$
Xochi
“Chef Hugo Ortega celebrates Oaxaca cuisine, vegetarian and omnivore. Menu ranges from lush corn soup with huitlacoche and crema, to cachetes de res, a braise of tender beef cheeks in chile pasilla mole. The dessert menu touts horchata mousse cake and helado de elote.”
—1777 Walker Street, Suite A, Houston, TX 77010
713-400-3330
Hours:Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 am – 9pm
Friday & Saturday: 11:30am – 10pm
Sunday: 11 am – 3pm
$$ to $$$$
Lucille’s
“Chef Chris Williams’ know-how of Southern classics is evident in soul-affirming gumbo z’herbes, chili biscuits, fried green tomatoes, pork shank with three-bean ragu, and Gulf shrimp and grits with sherry tomato broth”*
—5512 La Branch St., Houston, Texas 77004
713.568.2505
Website: https://lucilleshouston.com/
HOURS, DINNERTuesday & Thursday 4pm – 9p
Friday & Saturday 5pm – 10pm
$$$
Xin Chao
“Chefs Christine Ha and Tony J. Nguyen express new Houston, Texas-inflected Vietnamese cuisine. Viet-Cajun oysters get a spicy butter-garlic sauce called H-Town Bang; a braised pork and crispy rice dish is modeled after the Korean dolsot bibimbap. It’s a Vietnamese 2.0, personal evolution for a new generation.”*
—2310 Decatur St. Houston, TX 77007
Website: https://www.xinchaohtx.com/
Hours: Mon 5PM-9PM
Tue-Thu 5PM-9PM
Fri–Sat Lunch 11AM-2:30PM Dinner 5PM-10PM
SunLunch 11AM-2:30PM Dinner 5PM-9PM
$$ to $$$
*excerpted from Houston Chronicle, 2022
The Houston Chronicle list of the “Top 100 Restaurants of 2022″
LINK: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/2022/best-houston-restaurants/
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