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a bowl full of super rich-looking dark brown gumbo with a crab claw sticking out of it, next to a salt shaker, on a white marble plate
The gumbo at State Fare
State Fare/Facebook

Where to Find the Best Comfort Food Dishes in Houston

Get cozy with chicken and dumplings, pork schnitzel, and more belly-warming eats

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The gumbo at State Fare
| State Fare/Facebook

If one thing is certain over this bizarre last year, it’s that nothing says comfort and convenience like dining at home. Now, many of Houston’s restaurants have made transitions to include delivery, curbside pick-up and more, making it easy to score old fashioned comfort eats from the warmth of your own home.

From fish platters golden fried to perfection and bowls of beef stew waiting to be slurped up, to layer cakes and cobblers, check out our list of the best places offering comfort foods and desserts to-go, for curbside pick-up and delivery.

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Cleburne Cafeteria

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This decades-old cafeteria, famous for its homestyle menu of comfort food, is now offering its iconic chicken and dumplings, turkey and dressing, and more eats for curbside pick-up. Add rolls and a Cleburne cobbler to make dinner at home feel seriously special. Order online via the Cafeteria’s website.

New York Deli & Coffee Shop

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Like its name suggests, New York deli staples like challah French toast and cheese blintzes fill the menu at this Meyerland institution, but the bagels reign supreme. Grab a dozen everything and cinnamon raisin bagels to go, or find New York Deli & Coffee Shop on DoorDash for delivery

Lucille's

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Chef Chris Williams honors his great grandmother, Lucille Smith, the namesake and inspiration of this Museum District favorite, with a menu of comfort food favorites like braised oxtails and fried green tomatoes. On Sunday, Lucille’s is an obvious choice for brunch, with options like shrimp and grits and freshly baked cornbread on the menu. Call 713-568-2505 for curbside pickup.

B.B. Lemon

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Traditional diner food and comfort classics get a ritzy upgrade at this Washington Avenue spot, where the hot dogs are built with ¼ pound of wagyu beef, and the hearty pork schnitzel served with brown butter spaetzle is almost too pretty to eat. Save room for old fashioned desserts like banana pudding and New York-style cheesecake. Order delivery from BB Lemon on Favor and DoorDash, or call or order online for curbside pick-up.

Avalon Diner

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There’s nothing more comforting than an all-day breakfast, and at Avalon, it’s on offer seven days a week. In addition to all of the usual A.M. suspects — buttermilk pancakes, huevos rancheros and corned beef hash — find solid lunch and dinner offerings like chicken fried steak and Frito pie with house-made chili. Visit avalondiner.com to order online.

Woodshed Smokehouse Houston

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Chef Tim Love’s buzzy new smokehouse at Levy Park brings barbecue, Tex-Mex and much more to the table but its no-frills to-go menu gets right to the point. Pair smoked meats like rabbit rattlesnake sausage with potato salad and Mexican corn and don’t forget to add on camp bread and apple cobbler. Call 346-718-6110 to order ahead for pickup.

Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen

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There are plenty of safe bets when it comes to filling your belly with comfort food at Kenny & Ziggy’s, but when there is a chill in the air, go for the Hungarian Goulash. This bone-warming dish boasts beef chunks stewed in a savory gravy with carrots and served over egg noodles, and it’s a perfect fall dish. Visit kennyandziggys.com to order.

Red Lion British Pub

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Bring the coziness of this beloved pub into your own home by ordering in fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie from Red Lion. In true British pub fashion, you’ll also find Indian classics like chicken tikka masala with basmati rice and tandoori naan or peppery lamb keema, fit for those guests with a higher threshold for spice. Call the restaurant at (281) 888-3599 to order. 

Eugene's Gulf Coast Cuisine

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Nothing compares to Cajun-style comfort food, and Eugene’s is a solid option for a bowl of dark roux seafood gumbo, made hearty with crab claw meat, shrimp and oysters. There’s also excellent Gulf Coast seafood platters on the menu, along with sides like red beans and rice or saucy okra and tomato. Place orders to-go online at eugeneshouston.com.

It’s the end of an era, but first… one last Luann Platter to-go. The nostalgic Texas-based cafeteria chain will remain open through the year and into 2021, so there is plenty of time to indulge in favorites like Luby’s fried fish, French grilled liver and onions, mushroom turkey chopped steak with signature vegetables and famed desserts like chocolate icebox pie. Find Luby’s on Favor, or visit lubys.com to order online.

Killen’s

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At Ronnie Killen’s newest Southern comfort-style concept, the menu draws from the chef’s childhood with his family, which itself makes the place feel warm, homey and comfortable. There are classic plates “like mom used to make” — but in this case Ronnie Killen helms the kitchen — so fried green tomatoes are splashed with buttermilk sauce and pickled shrimp, deviled eggs are garnished with pulled pork, the meatloaf is pretty, and knocking out the 16 oz chicken fried steak with gravy on your own is a feat. Visit ronniekillen.com to order.

State Fare Kitchen & Bar

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Find comfort and nostalgia on a plate at State Fare with dishes like fried green tomatoes, “Texas Red’ beef chili Frito Pie — a dish hard to resist for guests of all ages — and house-made BBQ chips with pickle dip. Save room for a bowl of the Sabine Pass gumbo — State Fare’s version combines shrimp, andouille sausage, chicken, okra and long grain rice in a seasoned lavash. Visit statefaretx.com to order online.

Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette

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Before settling into a comforting supper of fried seafood delights, consider a piping hot bowl of goodness from Liberty Kitchen. The Creole shrimp and seafood gumbo is accompanied with steamed rice and garlic bread, while the oyster stew is a creamy mix of oysters, whole milk, and Irish butter — add in Maine lobster for an extra decadent meal! Call 713-622-1010 to order.

Nobie's

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Few things scream comfort like sinking your teeth into a soft bite of bread, and few bites of bread in town beat Nobie’s dilly bread with cultured butter and trout roe. Followed up by the whole fried farm chicken with black truffle chicken jus or a heaping plate of Nonno’s pasta and we’d say you have a night in comfort food heaven. Visit nobieshtx.com to order.

Alice Blue

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Alice Blue is the kind of place that could easily become a “regular” for Heights residents. While the menu isn’t vast, there are plenty of comfort plates for every palate — deviled eggs with pickled mustard seeds, mac ‘n’ cheese with herbed breadcrumbs, crispy jumbo shrimp fried in panko and Southern fried boneless half chicken served with mashed potatoes, sausage gravy, green beans and Texas toast. Call 713-864-2050 to order.

Cleburne Cafeteria

This decades-old cafeteria, famous for its homestyle menu of comfort food, is now offering its iconic chicken and dumplings, turkey and dressing, and more eats for curbside pick-up. Add rolls and a Cleburne cobbler to make dinner at home feel seriously special. Order online via the Cafeteria’s website.

New York Deli & Coffee Shop

Like its name suggests, New York deli staples like challah French toast and cheese blintzes fill the menu at this Meyerland institution, but the bagels reign supreme. Grab a dozen everything and cinnamon raisin bagels to go, or find New York Deli & Coffee Shop on DoorDash for delivery

Lucille's

Chef Chris Williams honors his great grandmother, Lucille Smith, the namesake and inspiration of this Museum District favorite, with a menu of comfort food favorites like braised oxtails and fried green tomatoes. On Sunday, Lucille’s is an obvious choice for brunch, with options like shrimp and grits and freshly baked cornbread on the menu. Call 713-568-2505 for curbside pickup.

B.B. Lemon

Traditional diner food and comfort classics get a ritzy upgrade at this Washington Avenue spot, where the hot dogs are built with ¼ pound of wagyu beef, and the hearty pork schnitzel served with brown butter spaetzle is almost too pretty to eat. Save room for old fashioned desserts like banana pudding and New York-style cheesecake. Order delivery from BB Lemon on Favor and DoorDash, or call or order online for curbside pick-up.

Avalon Diner

There’s nothing more comforting than an all-day breakfast, and at Avalon, it’s on offer seven days a week. In addition to all of the usual A.M. suspects — buttermilk pancakes, huevos rancheros and corned beef hash — find solid lunch and dinner offerings like chicken fried steak and Frito pie with house-made chili. Visit avalondiner.com to order online.

Woodshed Smokehouse Houston

Chef Tim Love’s buzzy new smokehouse at Levy Park brings barbecue, Tex-Mex and much more to the table but its no-frills to-go menu gets right to the point. Pair smoked meats like rabbit rattlesnake sausage with potato salad and Mexican corn and don’t forget to add on camp bread and apple cobbler. Call 346-718-6110 to order ahead for pickup.

Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen

There are plenty of safe bets when it comes to filling your belly with comfort food at Kenny & Ziggy’s, but when there is a chill in the air, go for the Hungarian Goulash. This bone-warming dish boasts beef chunks stewed in a savory gravy with carrots and served over egg noodles, and it’s a perfect fall dish. Visit kennyandziggys.com to order.

Red Lion British Pub

Bring the coziness of this beloved pub into your own home by ordering in fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie from Red Lion. In true British pub fashion, you’ll also find Indian classics like chicken tikka masala with basmati rice and tandoori naan or peppery lamb keema, fit for those guests with a higher threshold for spice. Call the restaurant at (281) 888-3599 to order. 

Eugene's Gulf Coast Cuisine

Nothing compares to Cajun-style comfort food, and Eugene’s is a solid option for a bowl of dark roux seafood gumbo, made hearty with crab claw meat, shrimp and oysters. There’s also excellent Gulf Coast seafood platters on the menu, along with sides like red beans and rice or saucy okra and tomato. Place orders to-go online at eugeneshouston.com.

Luby's

It’s the end of an era, but first… one last Luann Platter to-go. The nostalgic Texas-based cafeteria chain will remain open through the year and into 2021, so there is plenty of time to indulge in favorites like Luby’s fried fish, French grilled liver and onions, mushroom turkey chopped steak with signature vegetables and famed desserts like chocolate icebox pie. Find Luby’s on Favor, or visit lubys.com to order online.

Killen’s

At Ronnie Killen’s newest Southern comfort-style concept, the menu draws from the chef’s childhood with his family, which itself makes the place feel warm, homey and comfortable. There are classic plates “like mom used to make” — but in this case Ronnie Killen helms the kitchen — so fried green tomatoes are splashed with buttermilk sauce and pickled shrimp, deviled eggs are garnished with pulled pork, the meatloaf is pretty, and knocking out the 16 oz chicken fried steak with gravy on your own is a feat. Visit ronniekillen.com to order.

State Fare Kitchen & Bar

Find comfort and nostalgia on a plate at State Fare with dishes like fried green tomatoes, “Texas Red’ beef chili Frito Pie — a dish hard to resist for guests of all ages — and house-made BBQ chips with pickle dip. Save room for a bowl of the Sabine Pass gumbo — State Fare’s version combines shrimp, andouille sausage, chicken, okra and long grain rice in a seasoned lavash. Visit statefaretx.com to order online.

Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette

Before settling into a comforting supper of fried seafood delights, consider a piping hot bowl of goodness from Liberty Kitchen. The Creole shrimp and seafood gumbo is accompanied with steamed rice and garlic bread, while the oyster stew is a creamy mix of oysters, whole milk, and Irish butter — add in Maine lobster for an extra decadent meal! Call 713-622-1010 to order.

Nobie's

Few things scream comfort like sinking your teeth into a soft bite of bread, and few bites of bread in town beat Nobie’s dilly bread with cultured butter and trout roe. Followed up by the whole fried farm chicken with black truffle chicken jus or a heaping plate of Nonno’s pasta and we’d say you have a night in comfort food heaven. Visit nobieshtx.com to order.

Alice Blue

Alice Blue is the kind of place that could easily become a “regular” for Heights residents. While the menu isn’t vast, there are plenty of comfort plates for every palate — deviled eggs with pickled mustard seeds, mac ‘n’ cheese with herbed breadcrumbs, crispy jumbo shrimp fried in panko and Southern fried boneless half chicken served with mashed potatoes, sausage gravy, green beans and Texas toast. Call 713-864-2050 to order.

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