This Arizona import’s knack for Italian food has made it a clear favorite in Houston, and now, it’s offering its homemade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and more at its spacious location and buzzy bar in the Woodlands. Try its squid ink tonnarelli, made with tiger shrimp, calamari, wild fennel pollen, mint, and spicy tomato broth, or its braised short rib dish served with roasted fennel, carrots, and asparagus. Or go in hands first for the spicy meatball pizza.

Step into a fairytale at this Indian restaurant, and choose your adventure — whether dining at the quaint cocktail bar, the elegant dining room, or the tapas bar, where Indian street food classics, like golgappa, are bursting with flavor and can be requested with the honking of a horn. The pan-seared exotic mushrooms topped with truffles, the tender ostrich kebab, and jackfruit samosas are surefire standouts. End your meal like royalty with the cardamom chocolate mousse, which is topped with 24-carat gold kiss.

A dedication to the Independence Heights neighborhood, Gatlin’s BBQ pitmaster Greg Gatlin offers a Houston spin on Southern staples at this establishment. Find some of the finest fried chicken and fried fish, with a variety of fix-ins; an Everything gumbo chock-full of chicken, shrimp, crab, and sausage; and the H-Town Hot Sandwich, with a hunk of fried fish or chicken dunked in a spicy Viet-Cajun sauce. Start light and refreshing with the charred Brussels sprouts salad, and end with the orange creamsicle doughnut, topped with vanilla ice cream and slivers of orange peel, for a treat.

Hailing from Los Angeles by way of Japan, Killer Noodle’s Heights location boasts three styles of tantanmen ramen, in both soupy and broth-less forms, with toothsome noodles and five spice levels ranging from “no spice” to “killer.” Go the traditional route with the warming white mapo tofu, or opt for a nutty flavor with the creamy Tokyo ramen, which is rich with peanut and sesame flavors. Looking for more tang? Try the Downtown-style, which is robust with vinegar and chili. 

From the owners of sushi restaurant Hando and cocktail bar Kanpai Club comes this charming modern Vietnamese restaurant, that serves up a sharable experience with can’t-miss tapas-style plates, family-style portions, and endearing drinks. You can’t go wrong with the bright summer rolls served with a sweet and salty peanut butter and jelly sauce; the Hanoi egg rolls stuffed with a combination of crab, pork, shrimp, mushroom, and veggies; or the Pandan sweet rice fried okra. Order lobster egg fried rice and the char siu chicken for the table.

Devout fans of Mala can expect the same fiery signature dishes, like dan dan noodles, red oil dumplings, mapo tofu, and the spicy and crispy chicken, but with a whole new vibe. The new Heights location is meant to make you feel like you’re in Sichuan and succeeds with its floating lanterns and a pagoda roof that hangs over the dining room. Get out of your comfort zone with new dishes like the three-cup chicken or the squirrel tail fish with pineapple, and look out for its growing list of in-house cocktails, some of which pay tribute to the Chinese zodiac.

HoustonEatz Instagram blogger and restauranteur Abbas Dhanani pays homage to New York convenience stores through this smash burger passion project, dishing out what might be the best chopped cheese in the city. Here, you’ll also find juicy burgers, either in smashed or classic fashion, loaded with Dhanani’s special Bodega sauce, and french fries, served plain yet crispy, or with the option of being cheesily “chopped” or “screwed” with toppings like bell peppers, onions, and sauce. The Craft Creamery milkshakes, which come in standard flavors, but also Vietnamese coffee and mango lassi, are also a must. Be sure to check out the collection of Houston-born products, like Pudgy’s cookies, that are available for purchase in its makeshift market.

When indecision within your group becomes unbearable, head to Downtown’s newest food hall, where nine different food stalls and a full bar of weekly specials guarantee something for everyone. Try juicy pork ribs from Lottie’s Smokehouse, picturesque pieces of nigiri from Sushi Muse, and creamy dip and falafel from Alenbi Falafel + Hummus, a vegetarian Israeli food stall by the owners of Hamsa.

Newly arrived on Post Oak Boulevard, this Dallas import is bringing Italian classics, including homemade focaccia and pasta dishes like classic cacio e pepe and Gemelli with vodka sauce and delicious sides like heirloom carrots served over whipped ricotta with pistachios. Complement the experience with an espresso martini or the Bracco, a frozen greyhound cocktail made with Aperol and fresh grapefruit.

East End’s newest coffee shop dishes out delicate pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and comforting coffee and teas, including an earthy black sesame latte and a cardamom mocha. Its dinner service, which was launched in recent months, however, is quietly taking the dining scene by storm — with handmade pastas; a juicy, dry-aged smash burger with black garlic mayo on a brioche bun, and its classic brick chicken.

What started off as a coffee, cocktail, and hemp-bud bar has now evolved into all that and then some with its second location. Helmed by chef German Mosquera, the newly opened Wild Montrose offers a full dining experience fueled with Latin influences and optional THC or CBD cannabis infusions. Try stellar dishes like the Korean barbecued octopus, whole-fried Thai-style fish, or chorizo-stuffed chicken wings. Treat yourself to one of its flashy and flavorful cocktails, or the handmade Mexican pepperleaf and mascarpone ice cream.

From the restaurateurs behind Doris Metropolitan, this Israeli restaurant in Rice Village brings a taste of Tel Aviv with fresh pita, an assortment of creamy hummus, and creative entrees like lamb spare ribs, deconstructed shwarma, and a variety of skewers. With dishes like baba ganoush, carrot harissa, and pickled vegetables, guests can also partake in the tradition of salatim, or small cold plates — opting to try five, seven, or all of the 11 options.

Tokyo-trained chef Yoshi Katsuyama offers his special touch at this Bellaire sushi spot, which is quickly becoming known for its beautifully plated assortments of nigiri, sashimi, and maki. Head straight for the sushi bar for Aya’s 19-course omakase experience, priced at $135 per person, or ball out with the $225 premium 23-course option