This modern Indian cafe, helmed by cookbook author and James Beard Award-nominated chef Anita Jaisinghani, is tucked within the Shops at Arrive in River Oaks. The menu showcases creative interpretations of popular Indian street eats like dosa and chaat, plus a variety of traditional thalis, including a meat-heavy “Texan” option. Dine on the colorful wraparound patio, and don’t forget to venture upstairs to the second-level bake shop, where baked goods and confections are on full display.

After nearly forty years, the original Becks Prime on Kirby Drive remains a beloved destination for its made-to-order mesquite grilled beef burgers and convenient drive-thru window. With a hefty menu including salads, burgers, dogs, and milkshakes, and an open-air patio overlooking the busy thoroughfare, the iconic hangout is a welcomed alternative to the city’s fast food chains.

Bollo is known for its variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas prepared using either a red or creamy white sauce for a base. Choose from pies like the shrimp scampi, the pancetta with goat cheese, or the pesto pollo — all baked at 800 degrees in a wood-fired oven, resulting in a crisp golden crust with a doughy bite. Not a pizza person? Bollo has lots of alternatives, including a double-cut pork chop marsala, chicken parmesan, and a baked pepperoni calzone.

Ethiopian cuisine is showcased in fine fashion at this neighborhood gem located in a quiet pocket of Upper Kirby. Warm your tummy up with the spiced red lentil stew. Then, try the kitfo, a traditional dish made with minced beef, or the doro wot, a saucy platter of slow-cooked chicken bursting with intense flavor.

An ode to Houston restaurateur Johnny Carabba’s late grandmother, Grace’s is known for slinging serious, belly-filling eats during lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Expect nostalgic dishes like fried green tomatoes, chicken-fried chicken topped with jalapeno gravy, beef stroganoff, and a Southern-fried pork chop with mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas. Dessert is just as indulgent, with plated desserts like lemon icebox pie and old-fashioned banana pudding.

At this new restaurant, located on the second level of the Kirby Collection, guests are treated to dinner and a show in a lavish space, complete with an open-air terrace overlooking Kirby Drive. The menu boasts dishes with Mediterranean and Asian flair, with prime beef kebabs dressed in sumac, onion, and shishito, and the signature Se7en sushi roll made with toro, king salmon, and hamachi, plus an entertainment lineup featuring live performers and DJs that play into the wee hours of the morning.

While modern Indian dining has become more prevalent in Houston in recent years, Khyber shines by sticking to tradition. The decades-old restaurant boasts a menu inspired by northwest Indian cuisine, with a spotlight on grilled meats cooked in a charcoal tandoor oven. Pillowy naan serves as a worthy vessel for scooping up saucy butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, and desserts like kheer and gulab jamun are a treat after a spicy meal.

The cuisine at this Upper Kirby hideaway is inspired by the tasty foods made famous by the street vendors of Bangkok. Expect snacks like Thai-style meat jerky, fish cakes with sweet chili sauce, and a Thai omelet with crab meat, plus hearty mains like pad see ew and pumpkin red curry. If the meal is too hot to handle, consider trying the milky Thai-style shaved ice concocted with coconut and herbal jellies, sweet corn, and red bean paste.

Hobbit Cafe has been a beloved part of the Upper Kirby neighborhood since it opened in the ‘70s. Find all that you crave and more on its large menu that features soups, salads, sandwiches, and Mexican comfort eats. The burgers are legendary, with proteins for every taste and diet, including patties made from freshly ground beef, leg of lamb, portobello mushroom, or black beans.

Helmed by chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi, this highly regarded Japanese restaurant has remained buzzworthy since its opening in Houston in 2009. Situated in an Upper Kirby retail strip, the restaurant entices with an impressive lineup of sushi, in which fresh fish is flown in from around the world daily, plus innovative dishes like the Texas wagyu katsu sando and the decadent lobster and crab meat ramen.

After garnering plenty of attention for Tobiuo Sushi & Bar in Katy, chef-owner Sherman Yeung brought his talent inside the loop with this modern Japanese restaurant located in Kirby Grove at Levy Park. With a relaxed vibe, Money Cat offers an impressive menu, complete with a full sushi bar and specialty craft cocktails offered daily. Explore rolls like the hama nashi, a pairing of hamachi with compressed Asian pear, and one-of-a-kind dishes like the chutoro toast made with squid ink milk bread.

Though situated in a small retail strip near dry cleaners, don’t let the location deter you — Oishii is a top-notch Upper Kirby destination for a casual sushi meal. The menu is brimming with dishes to sample, including a crispy vegetable tempura, a pleasantly savory pork gyoza, and its sweet fried banana. Visit during Oishii’s famed happy hour when items are buy-one, get-one-free.

This storied white tablecloth restaurant, which has famously served eight U.S. presidents, remains an important player in Houston’s fine dining scene after nearly 60 years. Known for its purely decadent take on Italian cuisine, Tony’s expertise lies in decadent pasta dishes, some of which are presented with fragrant, freshly shaved black truffles, and fettuccine with tender jumbo lump crab meat. Pro tip: Visit during its weekday happy hour, and score bar bites like Italian meatballs and the Tony’s cheeseburger that won’t break the bank.