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A bowl of gumbo topped with white rice and garnish at Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers. — The dark roux Everything Gumbo at Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers.

Where to Get Your Gumbo Fix in Houston

Few things comfort like a loaded bowl on a cold winter day

by Minh Truong and Megha McSwain Updated Jan 30, 2023, 7:52am CST

1 comment / new

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The dark roux Everything Gumbo at Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers.

| Becca Wright

by Minh Truong and Megha McSwain Updated Jan 30, 2023, 7:52am CST

1 comment / new

Ask 10 people where to find the best gumbo, and you’ll likely get 10 different answers. At the core of the hearty stew is a base made of fat, flour, and seasonings called a roux. Most will agree that a great gumbo starts with a great roux, but the ingredients that follow are often up for heated debate. There is dark roux versus light roux; thick consistency versus thin; Cajun versus Creole-style; meat or seafood, a mixture of both, or meatless altogether; rice or no rice; and the preferences go on and on. However the bowl may be built, there is no arguing that a piping hot bowl is especially comforting during the winter months.

From casual po-boy shops to fine dining Cajun restaurants, Houston restaurants offer excellent bowls that would do New Orleans proud. Here are 16 places to get your gumbo fix.

Want to join the debate? Tell us your favorite in the comments.

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Esther's Cajun Café & Soul Food

Find oxtails, smothered pork chops, and fried chicken on the menu every day at chef Esther Lewis-Bernard’s soul food restaurant, but visit on Friday or Saturday when small, medium, and large bowls of gumbo are the daily special. Esther’s serves a showstopping seafood combo with shrimp and whole crab claws.

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5007 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77018

Visit Website

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Gatlin's Fins & Feathers

Pitmaster Greg Gatlin’s new restaurant boasts Southern comfort food with Gulf Coast flair, and the menu features a solid gumbo. The Everything Gumbo is made with dark roux and loaded with shrimp, crab, sausage, chicken, and okra. The portion sizes here are generous, and while a cup may be plenty, you won’t regret springing for a bowl.

Open in Google Maps

302 W Crosstimbers St, Houston, TX 77018

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Also featured in:

Rainbow Lodge

This restaurant, housed in a hundred-year-old log cabin along White Oak Bayou, is known for its menu of wild game, and it incorporates smoked duck and andouille sausage into its gumbo. A wild rice pilaf topping adds an extra layer of flavor. Find it on the menu during lunch and dinner, or take it to-go by the quart.

2011 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77008

Visit Website

A bowl of smoked duck gumbo topped with wild rice pilaf in a white bowl. — Smoked duck gumbo at Rainbow Lodge.

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Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster

This no-frills local chain is a Houston institution. The kitschy boat shaped restaurants are often packed with diners getting their fill of fresh shucked oysters, fried seafood, and tasty micheladas. The gumbo is a requisite accompaniment to it all. The seafood and crab gumbo is made with light roux, and the crab meat melts into the soup, offering a rich, creamy bite.

Open in Google Maps

20525 Katy Fwy, Katy, TX 77450

Treebeards

Treebeard’s has been serving Southern comfort food in Houston since 1978. The iconic Market Square location shuttered in 2020, but three Downtown locations and the Bunker Hill restaurant remain. Along with beloved dishes like red beans and rice, etouffee, and jambalaya, find two different kinds of gumbo: chicken and sausage gumbo, and seafood gumbo. The seafood gumbo is amped up with the addition of scallops and catfish.

9655 Katy Fwy Suite 3120, Houston, TX 77024

Visit Website

A bowl of sausage gumbo with a spoon in it and a bottle of hot sauce. — Sausage gumbo at Treebeards.

Field & Tides

This charming bungalow in the Heights dishes out Southern fare using locally sourced meat and produce, and Gulf coast seafood. You’ll find a diverse menu that includes a roasted chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. The dark roux gumbo includes the holy trinity of onions, celery, and bell peppers, and is served with rice and a sprinkling of green onions.

705 E 11th St, Houston, TX 77008

Visit Website

Also featured in:

1929 Po-Boy Kitchen

Located in the newly opened Lyric Market in downtown, 1929 Po-Boy Kitchen offers three different gumbos on its menu. The Swamp Water is a traditional chicken and andouille sausage gumbo; the Bayou Water combines chicken and andouille sausage with shrimp and crabmeat; and the Gumbo Z’Herbes offers a meatless alternative made with leafy greens and vegetables.

Open in Google Maps

411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002

Visit Website

BB's Cajun Cafe

The po-boys are a highlight here, but start your order with a cup of seafood gumbo. Thick enough to satisfy, and thin enough to leave you ready for a fried shrimp sandwich. With late night hours, it’s easy to satisfy a gumbo craving at any time.

2710 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

Also featured in:

Where to Get Crawfish in Houston This Season

Brennan's of Houston

Brennan’s has long been known for its snapping turtle soup, but don’t sleep on its classic creole gumbo. The gumbo has a deep roux base, offers generous portions of crab meat, shrimp, and oysters, and is topped with Jazzmen rice.

3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006

Visit Website

A bowl of seafood gumbo topped with rice in a white bowl. — The seafood gumbo at Brennan’s combines crab, shrimp, and oysters.

Also featured in:

Bayou City Seafood & Pasta

Bayou City Seafood & Pasta moved into a new building a few blocks east of its original Richmond location in 2020, but it’s still slinging its menu of Cajun eats. Both the chicken and sausage, and seafood gumbos are balanced and flavorful, with the latter packing in generous amounts of crab meat.

Open in Google Maps

4730 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77027

Visit Website

Ragin' Cajun

Opened in 1974 by Luke B. Mandola Sr., Ragin’ Cajun is known as the oldest crawfish restaurant in Houston, with a large menu of Cajun dishes made from time-honored family recipes. Get your gumbo with shrimp and crab, or chicken and sausage gumbo, and help yourself to the self-serve condiment station, which showcases a variety of Louisiana hot sauces.

Open in Google Maps

4302 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Grace's

Located next to the original Carrabba’s on Kirby, Grace’s is Johnny Carrabba’s homage to his grandmother. Here you’ll find a Louisiana-style gumbo with dark roux that combines crab, crawfish, shrimp, and okra. Presented with rice and a side of saltines, the bowl makes a more than satisfying meal for one.

3111 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098

Visit Website

Goode Company Seafood - Westpark

At Goode Co. Seafood, you can have your seafood gumbo with shrimp or crab, or a mixture of both. The roux is light, and on the brothier side, and serves as a tasty precursor to a fried seafood platter or po-boy.

2621 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX

Visit Website

A bowl of gumbo topped with green onions with a side of bread. — Seafood gumbo at Goode Co. Seafood.

Also featured in:

Lucille's

Chef Chris Williams serves a lesser known variation called Gumbo Z’Herbs — a traditionally meatless bowl made with greens and herbs — but he incorporates ham hock and andouille sausage. Splurge and add shrimp or oysters for a seriously loaded bowl.

5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Davis Street at Hermann Park

Chef Mark Holley has had a storied culinary career in Houston, and every kitchen he has helmed has produced a stellar gumbo. In his current post at Davis Street, he offers a gumbo called Boutte’s Southern Gumbo. The dark roux gumbo pairs duck confit and Gulf shrimp, and is served with rice and topped with plump fried oysters.

Open in Google Maps

5925 Almeda Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77004

Visit Website

Calliope's

This family-run New Orleans seafood and po-boy restaurant, with two locations in Houston, has two gumbo options to choose from. Go simple with chicken and sausage, or opt for a mixed bowl with chicken, sausage, shrimp, and okra — both are a bargain at under $8.

Open in Google Maps

7590 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77071

Visit Website

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Esther's Cajun Café & Soul Food

5007 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77018

Find oxtails, smothered pork chops, and fried chicken on the menu every day at chef Esther Lewis-Bernard’s soul food restaurant, but visit on Friday or Saturday when small, medium, and large bowls of gumbo are the daily special. Esther’s serves a showstopping seafood combo with shrimp and whole crab claws.

Open in Google Maps

5007 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77018

Visit Website

Gatlin's Fins & Feathers

302 W Crosstimbers St, Houston, TX 77018

Pitmaster Greg Gatlin’s new restaurant boasts Southern comfort food with Gulf Coast flair, and the menu features a solid gumbo. The Everything Gumbo is made with dark roux and loaded with shrimp, crab, sausage, chicken, and okra. The portion sizes here are generous, and while a cup may be plenty, you won’t regret springing for a bowl.

Open in Google Maps

302 W Crosstimbers St, Houston, TX 77018

Visit Website

Rainbow Lodge

2011 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77008

This restaurant, housed in a hundred-year-old log cabin along White Oak Bayou, is known for its menu of wild game, and it incorporates smoked duck and andouille sausage into its gumbo. A wild rice pilaf topping adds an extra layer of flavor. Find it on the menu during lunch and dinner, or take it to-go by the quart.

2011 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77008

Visit Website

A bowl of smoked duck gumbo topped with wild rice pilaf in a white bowl. — Smoked duck gumbo at Rainbow Lodge.

Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster

20525 Katy Fwy, Katy, TX 77450

This no-frills local chain is a Houston institution. The kitschy boat shaped restaurants are often packed with diners getting their fill of fresh shucked oysters, fried seafood, and tasty micheladas. The gumbo is a requisite accompaniment to it all. The seafood and crab gumbo is made with light roux, and the crab meat melts into the soup, offering a rich, creamy bite.

Open in Google Maps

20525 Katy Fwy, Katy, TX 77450

Treebeards

9655 Katy Fwy Suite 3120, Houston, TX 77024

Treebeard’s has been serving Southern comfort food in Houston since 1978. The iconic Market Square location shuttered in 2020, but three Downtown locations and the Bunker Hill restaurant remain. Along with beloved dishes like red beans and rice, etouffee, and jambalaya, find two different kinds of gumbo: chicken and sausage gumbo, and seafood gumbo. The seafood gumbo is amped up with the addition of scallops and catfish.

9655 Katy Fwy Suite 3120, Houston, TX 77024

Visit Website

A bowl of sausage gumbo with a spoon in it and a bottle of hot sauce. — Sausage gumbo at Treebeards.

Field & Tides

705 E 11th St, Houston, TX 77008

This charming bungalow in the Heights dishes out Southern fare using locally sourced meat and produce, and Gulf coast seafood. You’ll find a diverse menu that includes a roasted chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. The dark roux gumbo includes the holy trinity of onions, celery, and bell peppers, and is served with rice and a sprinkling of green onions.

705 E 11th St, Houston, TX 77008

Visit Website

1929 Po-Boy Kitchen

411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002

Located in the newly opened Lyric Market in downtown, 1929 Po-Boy Kitchen offers three different gumbos on its menu. The Swamp Water is a traditional chicken and andouille sausage gumbo; the Bayou Water combines chicken and andouille sausage with shrimp and crabmeat; and the Gumbo Z’Herbes offers a meatless alternative made with leafy greens and vegetables.

Open in Google Maps

411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002

Visit Website

BB's Cajun Cafe

2710 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

The po-boys are a highlight here, but start your order with a cup of seafood gumbo. Thick enough to satisfy, and thin enough to leave you ready for a fried shrimp sandwich. With late night hours, it’s easy to satisfy a gumbo craving at any time.

2710 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

Brennan's of Houston

3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006

Brennan’s has long been known for its snapping turtle soup, but don’t sleep on its classic creole gumbo. The gumbo has a deep roux base, offers generous portions of crab meat, shrimp, and oysters, and is topped with Jazzmen rice.

3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006

Visit Website

A bowl of seafood gumbo topped with rice in a white bowl. — The seafood gumbo at Brennan’s combines crab, shrimp, and oysters.

Bayou City Seafood & Pasta

4730 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77027

Bayou City Seafood & Pasta moved into a new building a few blocks east of its original Richmond location in 2020, but it’s still slinging its menu of Cajun eats. Both the chicken and sausage, and seafood gumbos are balanced and flavorful, with the latter packing in generous amounts of crab meat.

Open in Google Maps

4730 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77027

Visit Website

Ragin' Cajun

4302 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027

Opened in 1974 by Luke B. Mandola Sr., Ragin’ Cajun is known as the oldest crawfish restaurant in Houston, with a large menu of Cajun dishes made from time-honored family recipes. Get your gumbo with shrimp and crab, or chicken and sausage gumbo, and help yourself to the self-serve condiment station, which showcases a variety of Louisiana hot sauces.

Open in Google Maps

4302 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027

Visit Website

Grace's

3111 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098

Located next to the original Carrabba’s on Kirby, Grace’s is Johnny Carrabba’s homage to his grandmother. Here you’ll find a Louisiana-style gumbo with dark roux that combines crab, crawfish, shrimp, and okra. Presented with rice and a side of saltines, the bowl makes a more than satisfying meal for one.

3111 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098

Visit Website

Goode Company Seafood - Westpark

2621 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX

At Goode Co. Seafood, you can have your seafood gumbo with shrimp or crab, or a mixture of both. The roux is light, and on the brothier side, and serves as a tasty precursor to a fried seafood platter or po-boy.

2621 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX

Visit Website

A bowl of gumbo topped with green onions with a side of bread. — Seafood gumbo at Goode Co. Seafood.

Lucille's

5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004

Chef Chris Williams serves a lesser known variation called Gumbo Z’Herbs — a traditionally meatless bowl made with greens and herbs — but he incorporates ham hock and andouille sausage. Splurge and add shrimp or oysters for a seriously loaded bowl.

5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004

Visit Website

Davis Street at Hermann Park

5925 Almeda Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77004

Chef Mark Holley has had a storied culinary career in Houston, and every kitchen he has helmed has produced a stellar gumbo. In his current post at Davis Street, he offers a gumbo called Boutte’s Southern Gumbo. The dark roux gumbo pairs duck confit and Gulf shrimp, and is served with rice and topped with plump fried oysters.

Open in Google Maps

5925 Almeda Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77004

Visit Website

Related Maps

Calliope's

7590 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77071

This family-run New Orleans seafood and po-boy restaurant, with two locations in Houston, has two gumbo options to choose from. Go simple with chicken and sausage, or opt for a mixed bowl with chicken, sausage, shrimp, and okra — both are a bargain at under $8.

Open in Google Maps

7590 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77071

Visit Website

Related Maps