Chances are, if you're planning a trip to Texas, the first thing you think of when it comes to dining is Tex-Mex, barbecue or maybe freshly caught Gulf seafood. Houston has all of these things, of course. But it's also one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, and this is reflected in its restaurant offerings. It would take much more than one vacation to sample all of the different cuisines—and fusions of cuisines—you'll find here. Here are just a few of the best restaurants in Houston to get you started when you are searching for things to do in Houston.
BB’s Tex-Orleans
Location: 6154 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX
Diamond-designation: Approved
The name says it all: BB's Tex-Orleans serves traditional New Orleans fare "with a Texas twist." Traditional New Orleans? A menu featuring a variety of po’ boys — fried shrimp, oysters, catfish and roast beef — served on Leidenheimer French bread. The Texas twist? The "South Texas Fire" po’ boy with fajita beef, pepper jack cheese, avocado, jalapenos, onions and a spicy cheese sauce. Traditional New Orleans: gumbo, red beans and rice, and crawfish etouffée. The Texas twist: Fish tacos with grilled fish or shrimp and chipotle remoulade. Whether you choose to stick with tradition or a try a Texas twist for your meal, finish it up with Maw-Maw's Bread Pudding.
The Original Ninfa's on Navigation
Location: 2704 Navigation Blvd., Houston, TX
Diamond-designation: Approved
Another on of Houston's best restaurants is The Original Ninfa's on Navigation, opened by "Mama" Ninfa Laurenzo in 1973. This restaurant is credited with popularizing fajitas, originally known as tacos al carbon. So, this seems a logical place to start when choosing an entrée, but the menu also offers a tempting variety of Mexican and Tex-Mex specialties including handmade tamales, tacos with house-made corn tortillas and a variety of enchiladas in richly flavorful sauces. Get your Gulf seafood fix here with Texas redfish, shrimp diablo and shrimp tampico. Dessert choices include Kahlua flan, tres leches and Mexican chocolate cake.
Pondicheri
Location: 2800 Kirby Dr, Suite B132, Houston, TX
Indian and Indian-inspired fare is the focus at Pondicheri, a sunny café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks and sweets in the Bake Lab & Shop upstairs. The dinner menu offers a variety of thalis (sampler platters) and shareable plates of vegetables, meats and seafood with vegetarian and gluten-free offerings, so it's a great option if you're looking for fun places to eat with friends. The Vishnu thali includes sesame saag, oondhiya (a vegetable stew), beet soup, pondi salad and potato cake. Non-vegetarians will enjoy the Texan, featuring butter chicken, lamb chop, Wagyu nihari and an assortment of sides. Finish your feast with the Bake Lab's signature dessert, chai pie.
State of Grace
Location: 3258 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX
Diamond-designation: Three Diamond
Flavors of Texas take the lead at State of Grace. The American cuisine here, like the state itself, includes Latin, German and Asian influences, along with a little Gulf Coast Cajun. Dinner entrées include blackened redfish; veal schnitzel; smoke ricotta tortelloni; and Roasted Maine Scallops. For dessert, dig into a Texas pecan ball, crème brûlée or bananas Foster.