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Plates of falafel, salatim, hummus, sauces, pita bread, and more at Hamsa.
Restaurants like Hamsa are offering full spreads this Hanukkah season.
Kirsten Gilliam

Where to Find the Best Hanukkah Eats in Houston

Find latkes, fluffy challah, and delicious knish at these restaurants and bakeries

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Restaurants like Hamsa are offering full spreads this Hanukkah season.
| Kirsten Gilliam

The festive season is in full swing, and for some, that means beginning Hanukkah preparations has already begun. An eight-day-long celebration rooted in Jewish tradition, Hanukkah is a time for family, feasting, and celebration all encapsulated by the ceremonial nightly menorah lighting. This year, the holiday begins on the evening of Sunday, December 18, and runs through December 28, and tied to the lighting of the menorah, the story goes that the foods cooked in oil will honor the miracle of when a small amount of oil helped feed candles for eight days.

Various restaurants around the city are readying themselves to celebrate with all of the traditional comfort foods and desserts — from stacks of savory latkes and filled cabbage rolls to neatly decorated Hanukkah-themed cookies and cakes.

Whether you’re building an epic spread for a big, fat Hanukkah feast, or simply looking for some fried snacks to enjoy at home, consider one of these 12 destinations for all things Hanukkah.

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Leibman's Deli

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In addition to large platters of meats and cheeses and smoked salmon for up to 20 people, Leibman’s offers packages featuring its house-braised beef brisket. The premium package is large enough for a group of eight and includes brisket, two sides, a salad with bread and butter, plus the option to add on desserts like bread pudding and New York-style cheesecake.

Three Brothers Bakery

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Founded by relatives of Holocaust survivors, this iconic Jewish Bakery is a Houston institution that impresses with well-crafted cakes, decorated cookies, and freshly baked bread year-round. At Hanukkah, they pull out all the stops at its four locations with holiday features including fruit and chocolate-filled sufganiyot, sweet and savory bagels, dipped cookies and petit fours marked with menorahs and whole cakes splashed with Hanukkah-themed decorative icing. Partake in both Christmas and Hanukkah festivities? Opt for the one-of-a-kind, appropriately decorated, Chrismukkah cake, or its famous pumpecapple pie cake, an outrageously good combination of pumpkin, pecan and apple pie, and spice and chocolate cake that’s even made its debut on Saturday Night Live.

The Hot Bagel Shop

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Everything you need to know about this bagel shop lies within its name. Hot bagels loaded with house-made cream cheese, smoked salmon by the pound, and avocado make up the menu alongside bagel kolaches, deli sandwiches, and even bagel pizzas. Get it early — a lot of the items sell out before noon.

Katz's Deli & Bar

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Open 24/7, this deli chain offers a gargantuan menu with plates of matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage, challah french toast, Reuben and pastrami sandwiches, and various other classics that will have you feeling as if you were roaming the boroughs of New York. For dessert, score cheese blintzes complete with fruit or fudge topping. 

Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen

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Find everything you need (and more than you need) on Kenny & Ziggy’s Festival of De-lights menu. Highlights include the deli platter — a hefty mix of chopped liver, franks in a blanket, and sliced meats — and the Lox and Latkes package with enough nova and pastrami-cured salmon for up to eight people. Add provisions like sweet noodle kugel, matzo ball soup, and brisket, and save room for Russian chocolate babka.

Common Bond Bistro & Bakery

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As one of the best bakeries in town, Common Bond not only churns out great pastries and coffee on the daily but is also home to arguably the city’s premier challah roll. This golden-baked masterpiece is house made to perfection and is sure to get the stamp of approval from even the harshest critics. This specialty is only available during the Hanukkah season, so stock up.

Doris Metropolitan

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A steakhouse that honors Israeli heritage and flavors, find a delectable sit-down dinner, complete with dry-aged steaks, fine wines, and more. Start with an appetizer like the Jerusalem salad, made with roasted cauliflower, baby shallots, tomato salsa, tahini, sour cream spheres, and schug (a garlic pepper sauce), and try the shpondra — the short rib that’s cooked for 24 hours with smoked tomato au jus and root purée. Join in on the nightly celebrations during the Hanukkah season for a menorah lighting after sundown.

Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe

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This ever-popular bakery and cake shop offers a variety of Hanukkah-themed sweets. From gingerbread mensches to black and white cookies, the options are wide, and each comes with the bakery’s signature artistic touch that is sure to be the centerpiece of any holiday spread.

Nielsen's Delicatessen

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For a classic Jewish deli experience, look no further than this no-frills joint, which has been part of Houston’s fabric for decades. You can’t go wrong when ordering favorites like corned beef, pastrami, egg salad, or liver pate sandwiches, but the potato salad is no slouch either. Pep up your Hanukkah spread by building your own platter, or customize a party tray, complete with meats, cheeses, potato salad, bread, pickles, and spread, built especially for your party size.

There’s no better way to celebrate the eight joyous days of Hanukkah than with elevated small plates, cocktails, and traditional Levantine fare here. Though only open for nearly a year, this Rice Village restaurant is already one of the town’s premier restaurants churning out some of the best Israeli-inspired fare. From whole fish offerings such as grilled branzino to finger-licking good lamb spare ribs and its signature “yalla yalla” tasting menu experience, Hamsa is an exciting addition to the neighborhood’s fine dining scene. Stop by for Hamsa’s nightly sufganiyot, or Israeli fried donuts, to accompany its ceremonial menorah lighting at sundown for patrons, or visit its sister restaurant and steakhouse Doris Metropolitan for a menorah lighting.

Genesis Steakhouse & Wine Bar

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In a city full of steakhouses, few make their calling card on serving kosher offerings of the utmost quality. From tomahawk splurges to other various bone-in rib-eye offerings, Genesis steakhouse is not only one of the only certified kosher steakhouses in town, but it also marries Jewish and Persian flavors to perfection with stuffed cabbage rolls by the dozen, matzo ball soup by the pint, brisket, and latkes. Find a variety of different specials for Jewish holidays from Rosh Hashanah boxes to Hanukkah specials that make it a local favorite around this festive time of year.

New York Deli & Coffee Shop

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This time-honored coffee shop boasts all of the Hanukkah must-haves — from egg and omelet platters to fish boxes swirling with lox, whitefish, salmon, nova, or sable. Latkes and cheese blintzes are served with sour cream and apple sauce, plus chopped liver and smoked fish and meats are available by the pound. Visit the attached bagel shop to stock up on the deli’s famed bagels, cream cheeses, and pastries.

Leibman's Deli

In addition to large platters of meats and cheeses and smoked salmon for up to 20 people, Leibman’s offers packages featuring its house-braised beef brisket. The premium package is large enough for a group of eight and includes brisket, two sides, a salad with bread and butter, plus the option to add on desserts like bread pudding and New York-style cheesecake.

Three Brothers Bakery

Founded by relatives of Holocaust survivors, this iconic Jewish Bakery is a Houston institution that impresses with well-crafted cakes, decorated cookies, and freshly baked bread year-round. At Hanukkah, they pull out all the stops at its four locations with holiday features including fruit and chocolate-filled sufganiyot, sweet and savory bagels, dipped cookies and petit fours marked with menorahs and whole cakes splashed with Hanukkah-themed decorative icing. Partake in both Christmas and Hanukkah festivities? Opt for the one-of-a-kind, appropriately decorated, Chrismukkah cake, or its famous pumpecapple pie cake, an outrageously good combination of pumpkin, pecan and apple pie, and spice and chocolate cake that’s even made its debut on Saturday Night Live.

The Hot Bagel Shop

Everything you need to know about this bagel shop lies within its name. Hot bagels loaded with house-made cream cheese, smoked salmon by the pound, and avocado make up the menu alongside bagel kolaches, deli sandwiches, and even bagel pizzas. Get it early — a lot of the items sell out before noon.

Katz's Deli & Bar

Open 24/7, this deli chain offers a gargantuan menu with plates of matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage, challah french toast, Reuben and pastrami sandwiches, and various other classics that will have you feeling as if you were roaming the boroughs of New York. For dessert, score cheese blintzes complete with fruit or fudge topping. 

Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen

Find everything you need (and more than you need) on Kenny & Ziggy’s Festival of De-lights menu. Highlights include the deli platter — a hefty mix of chopped liver, franks in a blanket, and sliced meats — and the Lox and Latkes package with enough nova and pastrami-cured salmon for up to eight people. Add provisions like sweet noodle kugel, matzo ball soup, and brisket, and save room for Russian chocolate babka.

Common Bond Bistro & Bakery

As one of the best bakeries in town, Common Bond not only churns out great pastries and coffee on the daily but is also home to arguably the city’s premier challah roll. This golden-baked masterpiece is house made to perfection and is sure to get the stamp of approval from even the harshest critics. This specialty is only available during the Hanukkah season, so stock up.

Doris Metropolitan

A steakhouse that honors Israeli heritage and flavors, find a delectable sit-down dinner, complete with dry-aged steaks, fine wines, and more. Start with an appetizer like the Jerusalem salad, made with roasted cauliflower, baby shallots, tomato salsa, tahini, sour cream spheres, and schug (a garlic pepper sauce), and try the shpondra — the short rib that’s cooked for 24 hours with smoked tomato au jus and root purée. Join in on the nightly celebrations during the Hanukkah season for a menorah lighting after sundown.

Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe

This ever-popular bakery and cake shop offers a variety of Hanukkah-themed sweets. From gingerbread mensches to black and white cookies, the options are wide, and each comes with the bakery’s signature artistic touch that is sure to be the centerpiece of any holiday spread.

Nielsen's Delicatessen

For a classic Jewish deli experience, look no further than this no-frills joint, which has been part of Houston’s fabric for decades. You can’t go wrong when ordering favorites like corned beef, pastrami, egg salad, or liver pate sandwiches, but the potato salad is no slouch either. Pep up your Hanukkah spread by building your own platter, or customize a party tray, complete with meats, cheeses, potato salad, bread, pickles, and spread, built especially for your party size.

Hamsa

There’s no better way to celebrate the eight joyous days of Hanukkah than with elevated small plates, cocktails, and traditional Levantine fare here. Though only open for nearly a year, this Rice Village restaurant is already one of the town’s premier restaurants churning out some of the best Israeli-inspired fare. From whole fish offerings such as grilled branzino to finger-licking good lamb spare ribs and its signature “yalla yalla” tasting menu experience, Hamsa is an exciting addition to the neighborhood’s fine dining scene. Stop by for Hamsa’s nightly sufganiyot, or Israeli fried donuts, to accompany its ceremonial menorah lighting at sundown for patrons, or visit its sister restaurant and steakhouse Doris Metropolitan for a menorah lighting.

Genesis Steakhouse & Wine Bar

In a city full of steakhouses, few make their calling card on serving kosher offerings of the utmost quality. From tomahawk splurges to other various bone-in rib-eye offerings, Genesis steakhouse is not only one of the only certified kosher steakhouses in town, but it also marries Jewish and Persian flavors to perfection with stuffed cabbage rolls by the dozen, matzo ball soup by the pint, brisket, and latkes. Find a variety of different specials for Jewish holidays from Rosh Hashanah boxes to Hanukkah specials that make it a local favorite around this festive time of year.

New York Deli & Coffee Shop

This time-honored coffee shop boasts all of the Hanukkah must-haves — from egg and omelet platters to fish boxes swirling with lox, whitefish, salmon, nova, or sable. Latkes and cheese blintzes are served with sour cream and apple sauce, plus chopped liver and smoked fish and meats are available by the pound. Visit the attached bagel shop to stock up on the deli’s famed bagels, cream cheeses, and pastries.

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