Chef Chris Shepherd has changed the format for One Fifth, his “five restaurants in five years” project in Montrose, more times than we can count. But each iteration has been a hit with diners, and the current menu — influenced by classic Italian red sauce joints — is no exception. Feast on rigatoni in vodka sauce, shrimp scampi with white beans and garlic, and tender tomato-braised osso buco.

A strong selection of small plates await at this laid-back Heights favorite, ranging from gougeres served with green garlic gravy to marinated mussels served with calico beans and bonito aioli. As far as the larger dishes are concerned, consider the bolognese lasagna with pickled collards, or the restaurant’s famed French cheeseburger, which is showered in raclette cheese.

Malaysian street food is the star at this Katy dining destination, but its menu is wide-ranging. Right now, chef-owner Alex Au-Yeung’s curry-sauced crawfish is big and juicy, and dishes like sizzling black pepper beef, Hainanese chicken with a trio of sauces for dipping, and grilled whole snapper in sambal sauce shine every single time.

After opening in Montrose in the midst of the pandemic, chef Aaron Bludorn’s chic namesake restaurant is already a local favorite. The dishes here are creative and balanced, including gnocchi with morel mushrooms and english peas, and decadent sea urchin spaghetti. The starters menu is equally compelling, with options like foie gras served with pineapple and a macadamia brioche doughnut, on offer.

This iconic Tex-Mex spot’s claim to fame is the invention of fajitas. Enjoy sizzling platters of its signature dish, plus queso flameado and mango-habanero margaritas for a truly Houston Tex-Mex feast.

Pizaro’s is serious about Neapolitan pizza — so serious that it earned certification from the prestigious Vera Pizza Napoletana organization, which governs “authentic” pies from the region. Keep it classic with a margherita pie, or order the Calabrese, topped with pepperoni, sopressata, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan. Order takeout or delivery via Pizaro’s website.

Formerly known as Danton’s, Eugene’s really shines in its new(ish) home in the tony River Oaks neighborhood. Its focus is on Gulf Coast cuisine, evidenced by plates like crab-stuffed redfish, blackened catfish enchiladas, and steaks slathered in shrimp etouffee or poblano sauce.

One of Houston’s most compelling new neighborhood restaurants, chef Travis McShane’s Ostia brings creative-yet-unfussy cuisine to the Montrose. Share tuna crudo with shallot, capers, and sour orange and lamb shoulder gnocchi, or feast on heartier offerings like roasted chicken with lemon and salsa verde or New York strip served with hazelnut romesco.

Still one of Houston’s best restaurants more than two years in, Nancy’s Hustle recently reopened its doors in EaDo and the menu is better than ever. Start with a “pickle party” served with Spanish chorizo and cheese and (of course) the famous griddled Nancy cakes served with butter and soaked trout roe, then move onto grilled golden tilefish served with roasted beets and confit fennel, or squid ink linguine and Gulf shrimp in fermented chili butter.

Technically, Eater Young Gun Ryan LaChaine is operating two restaurants out of his Montrose space right now. The first, a pickup- and delivery-only spot called Louie’s, is a super fun sandwich shop serving up pizza subs, a riff on the classic Filet-o-Fish, and of course, LaChaine’s famed butter burger sliders. There’s also an excellent menu from Riel, boasting a Korean “crunch wrap” stuffed with blackened rice and skirt steak, mushroom empanadas, and crawfish rolls.

Banh mi is an essential Houston dish, and Midtown’s Cali Sandwich is one of the city’s best destinations for a quick and killer sandwich. Whether you prefer your banh mi stuffed with beef, grilled chicken, barbecue pork, or meatballs, the options here are all excellent and under $5.

Classic Italian dishes are prepared with care at this Montrose staple, ranging from freshly made bucatini puttanesca to hearty rigatoni bolognese and chicken piccata. The baked goods, including Paulie’s famed shortbread cookies and cream cheese brownies, should not be missed.

An evolution of Chris Shepherd’s groundbreaking restaurant Underbelly, UB Preserv remains one of the city’s most interesting dining destinations. Led by chef Nick Wong, the Montrose restaurant serves up a uniquely Houston slate of dishes, ranging from Vietnamese short rib fajitas to whole-roasted snapper with calamansi brown butter. Desserts from pastry chef Victoria Dearmond, including ca phe sua da carrot cake and an “old-school” fried apple pie, are definitely worth saving room for.

This beloved neighborhood cafe keeps it homey without sacrificing on quality. Currently, Giacomo’s is serving a limited menu of its greatest hits, including rustic, egg-topped ratatouille, gnocchi alla romana, and shrimp diavolo.

An “unapologetically Thai” restaurant, Street to Kitchen doesn’t mince words about its commitment to staying true to its culinary roots. Look forward to chef Benchawan Painter’s rice bowls topped with crispy pork belly and pork Panang curry, super-fresh green papaya salad with dried shrimp and crushed peanuts, and stir-fried Thai basil beef. 

Don’t let the line out the door be too intimidating — the chicken and waffles at this legendary Houston breakfast joint are a must. Thanks in part to a stamp of approval from Beyonce, this Midtown staple is a casual spot for wings and grits, cheesy breakfast sandwiches, and an excellent eggs Benedict served on a biscuit.

This Montrose mainstay is slinging some truly compelling dishes perfect for a first foray back into the city’s dining scene. The menu here changes frequently, but expect plates like super-fresh raw oysters, and the decadent “Freak in the Sheets” pasta, a squid ink lasagna filled with king crab, uni butter, and smoked trout roe.

Find barbecue with a tinge of Tex-Mex at The Pit Room in Montrose, where freshly smoked meats pair with creative sides like charred okra, chips and queso, and chicharrones with hot sauce. The brisket and smoked chicken tacos are also standouts. Grab a plate and an icy cold beer and head next door to the patio to watch the Astros or Rockets play while dining.

Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi’s constantly changing menu features fresh fish flown in almost daily from Japan, wth dishes like lobster and crab ramen, fried green tomatoes with kimchi aioli, and uni chawanmushi, tender egg custard that packs a punch of briny flavor. Sushi-wise, choose from a wide variety of smaki rolls, or splurge for the full omakase experience.

Feges’ all-day menu includes boudin, brisket and other barbecue, plus sandwiches and wings, along with sides like Moroccan-spiced carrots, kale salad and Brussels sprouts. The restaurant also allows diners to buy in bulk, including entire racks of ribs and vacuum-sealed slabs of brisket.

The extensive menu at Taste of Nigeria includes everything from meat pies to moi moi to pepper soups. Entrees like ogbono, ground mango seeds with tilapia or chicken, or the suya platter with jollof rice make this a go-to for Houston’s largest West African immigrant community.

Serving up an extensive menu with everything from burgers to breakfast tacos in the Third Ward, Sparkle’s is a favorite of famous Houstonians like rapper  Paul Wall. Keep it classic with the excellent chili cheeseburger, or consider a pork chop sandwich paired with one of Sparkles’s frozen daiquiris as a real lunchtime splurge. Order online, including gallons of daiquiri, via the restaurant’s website.

One of the best Indo-Pak restaurants in Texas — and the country — Himalaya is a Houston icon. The crispy, spicy fried chicken and hunter’s beef are essential Space City dishes, and chef-owner Kaiser Lashkari’s menu of innovative specials keeps this bustling restaurant’s menu fresh all the time.

With three Houston locations, including an outpost in Katy, Mala makes it easy to eat some of the city’s best Sichuan cuisine. Everything from DIY dan dan noodles to mapo tofu to dry-fried bullfrog is on the menu, along with tons of additional options like red oil dumplings, cucumber salad, and dry-fried peanuts and tofu.

Asian flavors and Texas barbecue techniques collide at this Bellaire smokehouse. Head to the restaurant for takeout options like togarashi smoked chicken and gouda mac and cheese, but be prepared for a socially distanced line. Alternatively, place a bulk order of pork belly burnt ends, jalapeno-cheddar sausage, brisket fried rice, and ambrosia salad. Advance orders require a minimum of five pounds of meat, and must be placed 48 hours in advance via Blood Bros’s website.

This beloved Ghanaian restaurant off Bissonnet Street and the Southwest Freeway is fully back in action, which means that diners can enjoy the goat pepper soup and jollof rice in Afrikiko’s casual, convivial atmosphere.

Helen’s, the self-proclaimed “best Jamaican food in Houston,” serves up dishes like oxtails, curried goat, jerk wings, roti, and the national dish of jamaican, ackee and saltfish. They also offer a wide variety of tropical drinks including both sorrel and Jamaican soda.

Viet-Cajun crawfish is a distinctly Houston dish, and there’s no better place to find it than this James Beard Award nominated spot in Asiatown. Big, juicy mudbugs are tossed in a spicy, buttery, garlicky sauce that will have even skeptical crawfish newbies coming back for more.