Houston Restaurant Week: Where to Eat, What to Try, and How to Plan It Right 2026

Houston’s Global Diversity Highlights the Local Food Scene

As one of the nation’s most diverse cities with an estimated 28 percent of the population being foreign born, it’s no wonder that the dining scene here is globally diverse. There’s a lot more than American steak houses, BBQ, and Tex-Mex cuisine to experience while visiting the most populous city in Texas. But if that is what you’re looking for, it too is here in abundance.

Many travelers consider food to be important when choosing a vacation destination. If this includes you, then Houston should without a doubt be on your radar. This cosmopolitan city has grown rapidly in recent decades with an incredible influx of Hispanic, Vietnamese, East Indian, Middle Eastern, and other immigrants, making foodies the real winners.

The Houston metro area is home to nearly 13,000 restaurants. More than 6,000 of these are full-service establishments, so you can choose whatever kind of food you’re in the mood for and find it quite easily. Whether you want to be pampered at a Michelin-awarded restaurant or prefer something casual yet memorable, Houston has it. Authentic ethnic cuisine is easy to find here, so a fantastic meal at an affordable price is definitely on the menu for visitors.

Houston’s Michelin Starred Restaurants

A total of 18 Texas restaurants received a Michelin star in 2025, and Houston is home to six of them. Each of the recognized dining spots also earned one star in 2024. The three-star rating system is indicative of a “very good” restaurant, “excellent cooking worth a detour”, and the “highest honor” of three stars meaning the best of the best.

For the most complete descriptions of these Michelin one-star award winners, click on the link for each restaurant or online reviews that follow the local food scene. All are considered expensive (no surprise there), though Corkscrew BBQ is inexpensive compared to the others. It may be pricey for BBQ, but it remains within most people’s budget. If fine dining is to your liking and your employer is picking up the tab, these are establishments that you may want to consider. Reservations are definitely required, and they should be made as early as possible prior to your arrival in Houston.

BCN Taste & Tradition

Modern Spanish cuisine highlighting Barcelona and Catalonian dishes. Located three miles southwest of downtown Houston in the Westmoreland neighborhood.

Corkscrew BBQ

Featuring indoor and outdoor communal table dining, Corkscrew also does a massive takeaway business should you prefer to dine at your hotel. Located in suburban Spring, 25 miles north of downtown. The restaurant is one of few Michelin-starred BBQ venues in the world.

Le Jardinier

Elegant, refined French cuisine at the Museum of Fine Arts in the Museum District. Dishes adjust seasonally to reflect locally procured ingredients to the greatest extent possible.

March

Six and nine-course sample menus offering Mediterranean cuisine are adjusted seasonally, along with six and nine-course premier drink menus to accompany them. The restaurant requires reservations and is located 3.5 miles west of downtown Houston in the Hyde Park/Montrose neighborhood.

Musaafer

An Indian gastronomic experience in elegant surroundings with furnishings from India. Highlighting indulgence and abundance in their a la carte and tasting menus, this fine dining restaurant features seafood, poultry, meat, and a large choice of vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is located nine miles west of downtown on Westheimer Road, close to the Galleria.

Tatemo

Requiring reservations, Tatemo is a one-of-a-kind Mexican dining experience consisting of a nine-course tasting menu focusing on heirloom maize (corn) from across Mexico. The restaurant’s goal is to explore and explain the historical significance and nutritional benefits of corn, whether it is roasted, toasted, or grilled. This is a BYOB restaurant, so bring your own alcoholic beverages to sip on. The location is in the Decoma Shopping Center, 11 miles northwest of Houston’s downtown.

Bib Gourmand Awarded Restaurants in Houston

If blowing a week’s income isn’t your idea of a fun dining experience, you may want to consider one of the Houston area restaurants that Michelin has honored with their “Bib Gourmand” award. Indicative of superior food at a lower, more affordable price point, all of these popular venues will more than satisfy your cravings for amazing food that you won’t soon forget. The partial listing below with a link to each featured restaurant includes a wide variety of both Texas and global cuisine.

Annam

Modern, elevated Vietnamese with a French influence, in the Autry Park neighborhood.

Belly of the Beast

New American cuisine with Mexican touches, 40 minutes north of downtown Houston in suburban Spring.

Blood Bros. BBQ

Extensive menu that goes well beyond BBQ, highly awarded restaurant in suburban Bellaire 20 miles west of downtown and closer to Midtown and Montrose.

ChopnBlok

A contemporary take on West African food served like you’ve never had before. Casual, fresh, unique, and delicious. Two locations – Westheimer Blvd. and Franklin St. in the Post Market Food Hall.

Nancy’s Hustle

Modern American bistro on Houston’s East Side just five minutes out of downtown. Creative, eclectic menu ranging from savory apps to seafood, ribeye, panisse fritters, and an incredible burger that receives rave reviews.

Nobie’s

Advising that “dark and loud” is how they like their dining room, this energetic spot offers 20-25 daily menu items that rotate from day-to-day. Creative apps include “don’t worry brie happy” and “pretty fly for a fungi” mushrooms. Main dishes are named likewise including “steak diana ross”, “meatballin’ is a habit”, and “low country for old men” seafood cassoulet. Ten minutes from downtown in the Montrose neighborhood.

Rosie Cannonball

European comfort food in a warm and energetic environment with a centrally located open fire, wood burning grill. Steaks, pork chops, seafood, pasta, and pizzas. Extensive wine list by the glass and bottle. In the Hyde Park neighborhood 15 minutes southwest of downtown Houston.

The Pit Room BBQ

As authentic as it gets. Morning breakfast tacos; BBQ from 11 a.m. to closing. Family-run restaurant with locations in suburban Kathy and in the Montrose neighborhood, three miles west of downtown.

Street to Kitchen

Amazing chef-driven Thai food that you would find in Thailand, but this incredible food can be found in East Houston just a mile and a half from the heart of downtown. Soups, noodle dishes, curries, all made from scratch, and very affordable.

Click here for the complete list of Houston area Bib Gourmand award winners.

How About a Great Breakfast While in Houston?

Whether your chosen hotel offers a free breakfast in the morning or has a full-fledged restaurant that often includes inflated prices, you may want to consider heading out for a non-cookie cutter breakfast.

Our favorite Houston breakfast is served at Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen in Houston Heights, a family-owned and operated neighborhood gem that is especially popular for breakfast. Also open for lunch, this colorful and energetic spot is known for their hospitality as much as their food, which expands into tacos, fajitas, tortillas, tostadas, and just all-around great food. They’ve now added an in-house bakery offering homemade pastries, cakes and cookies that are to die for.

…and let’s not forget brunch…

Serving breakfast and brunch, Harry’s is a much-loved local institution that was acquired by a Greek and Ecuadorian couple in the 1990s. Known for fabulous breakfasts and lunches, popular dishes include Baklava French toast, pupusas stuffed with zucchini and queso, and their sage omelet that contains sausage, potatoes, mozzarella, green onions, and a light rosemary gravy. If you’re looking to fill up to start your day, you may want to start your day at this famous diner in the Montrose neighborhood.

Another great Saturday or Sunday brunch option is to dine at Hamsa, a modern Israeli restaurant that celebrates the diverse cuisines found in the Middle East. Located in Rice Village close to Rice University and the Museum Quarter, Hamsa’s guests are encouraged to share a large table with other diners, share various dishes, and connect with others from the community. Enjoy hummus, schnitzel, chocolate babka French toast, omelets, tahini, and other traditional Israeli foods in a comfortable atmosphere. Lunch and dinner are also served daily.

More Houston Restaurants Worth Considering

Candente

Open for lunch and dinner, this is a sister restaurant to The Pit Room described above. Serving traditional Tex-Mex cuisine that often includes fresh Texas BBQ from next door in their enchiladas, burritos, and other dishes. This is vintage Texas in the Montrose neighborhood with large Margaritas and even larger portion sizes of delectable foods.

Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition

Just southwest of downtown Houston in Midtown is this wonderful restaurant that will make you feel like you are on the Gulf Coast, which you nearly are. Calling itself “a little bit classy, and a little bit trashy”, you can’t go wrong with the jambalaya arancini, po’ boys, jerk fish collars, or BBQ blue crabs. Of course there are also fabulous biscuits, hushpuppies, grilled redfish, peel and eat shrimp, and so much more. Beer, wine, cocktails, and mocktails make it all even better. Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Mala Sichuan Bistro

With five area locations including Montrose and Houston Heights, one is bound to be convenient for you while visiting town. This is the real thing when it comes to Sichuan cuisine as the co-owner comes from Chengdu, a city in the province where this marvelous Chinese food originated. Dan dan noodles, red oil dumplings, bacon fried rice (!), chestnut chicken stew, shredded pork prepared several ways, and so many other dishes you have surely never heard of await your arrival. Or order online and bring a few dishes back to your hotel. The atmosphere is casual, with the Houston Heights location being decorated as a tribute to the owner’s home country.

Squable

Casual and cozy, yet vibrant, is how regulars describe this restaurant that serves up European cuisine with an American twist. Offering brunch on the weekend, lunch, and dinner daily except Monday, Squable is known for a creative menu that Houston Heights locals rave about. Popular cold small plates include marinated mussels on grilled bread, and black truffle with leeks and crispy potatoes, with warm small plate options such as mesquite smoked lamb ribs being unique and flavorful. Mains range from pasta dishes to chicken, seared branzino and the ever-popular French cheeseburger.

Finding the Best Hotels Close to Houston’s Favorite Restaurants

As with all large cities, there are many different areas worth considering to book hotel accommodations. Houston is no exception, with Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, and the Uptown/Galleria neighborhoods among them. Chances are that eating great food is only one reason for you to come here, so what area you stay in may be determined more by what else you plan to do while here. Museums, sports events, and visiting friends or family will likely dictate where you decide to stay.

Most of the dining places recommended in this article can be reached in a reasonable amount of time, say within 20 minutes, except during Houston’s infamous rush hours. A couple of the restaurants detailed above are well outside of the city center, but most are within or close to the I-610 loop around central Houston.

As always, we rely on the Travelated hotel booking website to get our bearings and book our stay. Prices are always competitive, and they have so many options that there’s no need to look elsewhere.

Here are some of our favorite properties in Houston that are more or less conveniently located, but bear in mind that Travelated offers scores of possible hotels to consider in all price ranges, and throughout the Houston metropolitan area.

Downtown

centrally located, close to light rail, the Theater District, restaurants, and several sports stadiums

1. Hotel ICON, Autograph Collection

Address: 220 Main Street, Houston, 77002, TX, US

Hotel ICON-Autograph Collection (4 stars)

2. The Westin Houston Downtown

Address: 1520 Texas Avenue, Houston, 77002, TX, US

The Westin Houston (4 stars)

3. Hilton Americas - Houston

Address: 1600 Lamar, Houston, 77010, TX, US

Hilton Americas – Houston (4 stars)

4. The Laura Hotel, Houston Downtown, Autograph Collection

Address: 1070 Dallas Street, Houston, 77002, TX, US

The Laura Hotel Houston Downtown – Autograph Collection (5 stars)

5. Four Seasons Hotel Houston

Address: 1300 Lamar Street, Houston, 77010, TX, US

Four Seasons Hotel Houston (5 stars)

6. Le Meridien Houston Downtown

Address: 1121 Walker Street, Houston, 77002, TX, US

Le Meridien Houston Downtown (4 stars)

Midtown/Montrose

walkable with plenty of nightlife and dining options, centrally located adjacent to downtown and the Museum District:

1. Hotel Saint Augustine

Address: 4110 Loretto Drive, Houston, 77006, TX, US

Hotel Saint Augustine (4 stars)

2. Thompson Houston, by Hyatt

Address: 1717 Allen Parkway , South Houston, 77019, TX, US

Thompson Houston by Hyatt (4 stars)

Museum District

great for culture enthusiasts, close to light rail:

1. Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District

Address: 5701 Main Street, Houston, 77005, TX, US

Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District (4 stars)

2. Houston Marriott Medical Center/Museum District

Address: 6580 Fannin Street, Houston, 77030, TX, US

Houston Marriott – Medical Center/Museum District (4 stars)

3. InterContinental Houston by IHG

Address: 6750 Main Street, Houston, 77030, TX, US

Intercontinental Houston by IHG (4 stars)

4. Blossom Hotel Houston, Curio Collection by Hilton

Address: 7118 Bertner Avenue, Houston, 77030, TX, US

Blossom Hotel Houston – Curio Collection by Hilton (4 stars)

Uptown/Galleria

Houston’s luxury shopping area, upscale malls, superb restaurants and nightlife:

1. Hotel Granduca Houston

Address: 1080 Uptown Park Blvd, Houston, 77056, TX, US

Hotel Granduca (5 stars)

2. The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

Address: 5011 Westheimer At Post Oak, Houston, 77056, TX, US

The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria (4 stars)

3. Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria

Address: 2626 Sage Road, Houston, 77056, TX, US

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria (4 stars)

4. The Chifley Houston, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Address: 2400 West Loop South, Houston, 77027, TX, US

The Chifley Houston – Tapestry Collection by Hilton (4 stars)

5. The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

Address: 111 N Post Oak Ln , South Houston, 77024, TX, US

The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa (4 stars)

You Won’t Go Hungry in Houston

As one of America’s great culinary cities, visitors to Houston will have no difficulty finding incredible food to satisfy their cravings. The biggest problem will surely be deciding where to go as there are way too many choices here. Whether you are looking for that special occasion romantic dining spot, a casual fun place that you and your kids will enjoy, or a memorable dining experience for two that won’t break the bank, it’s here in Houston.

One final suggestion: do your research and make advance reservations before traveling. The dining scene here is electric, and, especially on weekends, the more popular spots do fill their reservation quotas early on. By planning ahead you’ll avoid disappointment and be able to confirm your table at some of Houston’s most highly regarded restaurants.

Bon appetit!