10 Houston Restaurants to Experience the Flavors of America’s Most Diverse City

Houston shatters all culinary stereotypes associated with a Texan city. While it's true that there are countless steakhouses, Tex Mex food trucks, and barbecue joints, in Bayou City, you’ll also find bánh mì sandwich shops, soul food eateries, and West African diners coexisting harmoniously with traditional Texan fare.

Ultimately, it’s all Texan—and that’s the remarkable charm of the Cultural Capital of the South, which isn’t just Texas’s most diverse locale but also the most diverse city in the nation. Houston boasts a vibrant array of ethnic communities from around the globe, with over 145 different languages spoken. This multicultural environment has birthed one of the world’s greatest foodie paradises, offering nearly every type of cuisine imaginable. The city has even nurtured the creation of now-iconic fusion dishes, such as the Viet Cajun crawfish boil.

Here are the 10 top dining spots in Houston for a comprehensive taste of this dynamic melting pot of the South.

1. Lucille’s

• Location: 5512 La Branch St.
• Hours: Tues.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 4–9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

For over ten years, Lucille’s has been delighting diners with delicious and comforting elevated Southern fare in Houston’s Museum District. Established in 2012 by brothers Chris and Ben Williams, the restaurant pays tribute to their great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith, a chef and food entrepreneur. Today, James Beard Award finalist Chris Williams and chef de cuisine Khang Hoang honor her legacy by serving some of her most beloved recipes while infusing their own modern, globally inspired twist. Don't miss the perfectly crispy fried green tomatoes and oxtail tamales to start. For main courses, choose from classic Southern dishes like yardbird (fried chicken), shrimp and grits, and braised oxtails. If you're in the mood for a drink, the craft cocktail selection is impressive—try A Southern Thing, a whiskey cocktail with Sprite, peach schnapps, and a splash of lemon juice for a delightful finish.

2. Kâu Ba

• Location: 2502 Dunlavy St., Suite B
• Hours: Tues.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

Renowned chef Nikki Tran, recently featured on Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Somebody Feed Phil, is celebrated for her efforts in popularizing “Viejun” (Vietnamese Cajun) cuisine. With Houston housing the largest Vietnamese community in the U.S. outside California, this culinary fusion is truly special. Tran’s restaurant, Kâu Ba Kitchen (pronounced “cow-bah”), located in Houston’s chic Montrose area, reflects her Vietnamese and Texan heritage. Diners can enjoy creative cocktails like the Pho Loma, inspired by a paloma and served with vermicelli noodles, and the vibrant #LycheeGang, a vodka cocktail with lychee and elderflower. Be sure to try Tran’s street egg rolls, filled with taro, pork, greens, and pickles, or the combination pho, which offers a perfect blend of savory flavors and aromatic scents.

3. Hamsa

• Location: 5555 Morningside Dr., Suite 100
• Hours: Tues.–Sun. 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5–10 p.m.

A fresh addition to Houston’s vibrant culinary landscape, this charming Israeli eatery opened its doors in May 2022 in the Southampton neighborhood, close to Rice University. Hamsa offers a chic and contemporary take on Israeli cuisine, blending style with rich, traditional flavors. The generous portions are designed for sharing, so it’s perfect to bring a friend along for lunch or dinner. Hamsa’s signature skewers are playfully served on miniature swords; choose from options like beef tenderloin, lamb, and shrimp, alongside vegetarian delights such as king oyster mushrooms. You can order dips like baba ghanoush and matbucha individually, or opt for the “Wholeshebang,” which includes a sampler of everything paired with three pitas.

4. Blood Bros. BBQ

• Location: 5425 Bellaire Blvd.
• Hours: Wed.–Sun. 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Blood Bros. BBQ stands as a beloved institution in the Houston area, delighting diners with a unique fusion of Vietnamese and Texan barbecue dishes. Co-owner Quy Hong made history as the city’s first Vietnamese pitmaster when he and his childhood friends, Robin and Terry Wong, opened the restaurant in 2014. The menu not only showcases their personal heritage but also celebrates the rich diversity of Houston and its vibrant communities, including the multicultural neighborhood of Alief where they were raised. At Blood Bros., you can indulge in char siu bánh mì, Hawaiian loco moco, and brisket fried rice, alongside traditional Texan barbecue favorites like perfectly smoked brisket and homemade boudin sausages.

5. Crawfish Cafe

• Location: 1026 N. Shepherd Dr.
• Hours: Mon.–Sun. 12–10 p.m.

Viet Cajun cuisine is a distinctive culinary tradition in Houston (and the South) that originated from the Gulf Coast. This food movement began with Vietnamese immigrant communities in the H-Town area during the mid-2000s. A hallmark of this cuisine is the Viet Cajun crawfish boil, which resembles the traditional American version but with a flavorful twist: after cooking, the crawfish are coated in a rich, buttery sauce infused with garlic, ginger, scallions, peppers, lemongrass, and other aromatic ingredients.

Crawfish Cafe has two locations in Houston and is one of the original spots to enjoy Viet Cajun fare in the city. The first Crawfish Cafe is situated in the Hong Kong Food Market shopping complex, which features the popular supermarket alongside various Asian restaurants, shops, and bakeries. My personal favorite is the North Shepherd location in Houston’s Greater Heights neighborhood, as it offers more seating than the original. However, I recommend visiting the Hong Kong Food Market spot if you want to spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying lunch and exploring nearby establishments. For a classic Viet Cajun experience, try the crawfish and Gulf Coast blue crab drenched in the original Cajun sauce—you can customize the spice level to suit your taste. Be ready to leave with greasy fingers and a satisfied appetite.

6. Handies Douzo

• Location: 3510 White Oak Dr.

• Hours: Mon.–Sun. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Nestled in Houston’s trendy Heights neighborhood, adventurous foodies can indulge their sushi cravings at Handies Douzo, a hand-rolled sushi bar created by chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee. Dining at Handies Douzo is a cozy experience, with just 26 seats arranged around a U-shaped sushi bar, allowing guests to watch their rolls being crafted and engage in conversation with the chefs.

Anticipate classic hand roll selections like negitoro (which can be enhanced with caviar for an opulent touch) and scallops, along with seafood crudo dishes artfully drizzled with ponzu.

7. Hugo’s

• Location: 1600 Westheimer Rd.
• Hours: Tues.–Wed. 3–9 p.m., Thurs. 11:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Named after the dishwasher-turned-James-Beard-Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s is a beloved Montrose establishment. Set in a 1925 art deco building designed by Houston architect Joseph Finger, the restaurant showcases dishes that delve into Mexico’s vibrant culinary history, featuring dishes like garlic-marinated goat that's fall-off-the-bone tender and lechón (roast pork) with crispy, crackling skin. Be sure to leave room for dessert—tempting options include churros filled with dulce de leche and flan drizzled with a zesty passion fruit glaze, topped with candied pistachios, strawberries, and whipped cream.

Discover more about Hugo’s.

8. ChòpnBlọk

• Location: 401 Franklin St., Suite A
• Hours: Sun.–Wed. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Thurs.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

ChòpnBlọk is nestled within the culinary wonder that is POST Houston, a former regional post office transformed into a vibrant food court and entertainment hub in 2021. This fast-casual eatery was created by chef Ope Amosum, who launched it as a pop-up in 2018 before establishing it as a permanent location alongside the opening of POST Houston.

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in Houston, Amosum aims to share the intricate and diverse culinary traditions of West Africa through ChòpnBlọk in a way that is simple, approachable, and delicious. Diners can choose from a base of steamed white rice, jollof rice, or rice and greens, and then top it with a protein option—either a bean curry, five-spice chicken, or marinated steak. To enhance the experience, guests can enjoy their meals while grooving to the Afrobeat music that often fills the air at ChòpnBlọk.

9. Jūn

Where: 420 E. 20th St. Suite A
When: Sun.–Thurs. 5–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 5–10:30 p.m.

At Jūn, the vibrant fusion of Mexican, Salvadoran, and Southeast Asian flavors creates an unforgettable dining experience, making it one of the most thrilling new additions to Houston's culinary scene. Launched by Top Chef: Houston finalist Evelyn Garcia (a Houston native) and chef Henry Lu (from the Bronx), the restaurant’s menu reflects their eclectic heritages with dishes like beef tartare—accompanied by egg yolk, toasted rice, a refreshing citronette, and a crispy sesame buñuelo—and inventive desserts like goat cheesecake, infused with black peppercorn and berries, topped with honeycomb, and served with lychee ginger sorbet. Diners should also explore Jūn’s cocktail menu, featuring a refined Michelada that combines the classic Modelo beer with fish sauce, hoisin sauce, chili, and lime for an exciting twist.

10. Rumi’s Kitchen

Where: 1801 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 120
When: Sun.–Thurs. 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

For a contemporary twist on Persian fare, visit the Houston location of Rumi’s Kitchen, part of a small restaurant chain that started in Atlanta. Led by Iranian chef and co-owner Ali Mesghali, Rumi’s Kitchen reinterprets classic Iranian dishes with offerings like American wagyu beef kabobs, grilled shishito peppers, and red onions, as well as badenjoon kashk, which features fried eggplant topped with cream of wheat, crispy onions, and mint. Beyond the delicious cuisine, the restaurant boasts a sleek, modern ambiance that provides an ideal setting for savoring a fantastic meal and snapping a selfie.

This article was first published online in 2022 and was most recently updated on January 30, 2024, to reflect the latest information.