A Chicago export considered one of that city’s best Chinese restaurants, Lao Sze Chuan has quietly opened its doors in Katy. Juicy soup dumplings and entrees like perfectly lacquered Peking duck await, plus a dim sum selection perfect for snacking.

This Nashville-style hot chicken joint, founded in Los Angeles, and now transported to Houston, is widely credited with bringing the hot chicken trend to the West Coast. Often imitated, one thing that sets Dave’s apart from other hot chicken joints is the restaurant’s large, sharable trays of fries and tenders drizzled with a zig-zag of sauce.

The minds behind beloved bagel shop New York Deli have opened their first full-service restaurant and bar, New York Eatery, in Bellaire. In addition to challah, bagels, and other baked goods, New York deli also serves smoked salmon that’s carved tableside, a massive Cobb salad, slow-braised beef ribs with mashed potatoes and seasonal greens; plus a selection of burgers, Coney Island-style hot dogs, and even more breakfast dishes.

This ultra-chic new cafe in Garden Oaks serves up honey sea salt lattes, açaí bowls, and avocado toast in an Insta-worthy, inviting space. Sunday Press also functions as a boutique, featuring jewelry, plants, and flowers from local vendors, as well as skincare and other giftable items.

This new neighborhood eatery brings a much-needed hangout spot to the GOOF, offering dishes like hand-made pasta; grilled Texas quail with cherry olive tapenade and quinoa; and sharables like balloon bread with a selection of sauces, plus an extensive cocktail and wine list.

This intimate spot in the M-K-T development in the Heights is modeled after the tropical seaside cafes and fresh cuisine of Tulum, Mexico. Dishes include tuna crudo tostadas, elote corn “ribs”, roasted bone marrow with guajillo marmalade, and drinks like the Cenote, made with green chartreuse, elote liqueur, and pineapple juice.

Ben Berg’s romantic new Italian hideaway is meant to evoke the side street restaurants of Rome or Florence, with rustic dishes like shrimp bruschetta, pan-seared swordfish, lamb ragù, and cacio e pepe.

Long a late-night Montrose favorite for mezze, loaded shawarma fries, gyro quesadillas and more, Al’s long-awaited second location, in the Heights, is now open.

This Austin import brings tropical vibes and a rooftop terrace to Montrose with dishes like Cubano sandwiches, mini empenadas, pulled pork birria, and plantain chips and guac. Drinks include frozen mojitos and piña coladas, plus palomas, spritzes and a Blue Hawaiian.

This critically-acclaimed Downtown restaurant has reopened after a year-long pandemic closure, during which time its head chef, Sasha Grumman, left to compete on reality cooking competition Top Chef. Jacob Coronado, formerly the chef de cuisine at Nobie’s, has taken over the kitchen, serving Texas takes on Italian dishes like blue crab manicotti, Texas wild boar ragu, and red snapper with wild mushrooms and arugula.

The long-awaited revamp of Downtown’s Barbara Jordan Post Office is finally complete, including a massive food hall with two bars and several stalls. Find raw oysters at Golfstrømmen, Southeast Asian street food at Hawkers, meat-stuffed paratha wrap at Rollin Phatties, and much, much more.

The self-proclaimed “father of modern Mexican cuisine” Richard Sandolval has opened a new Latin-influenced steakhouse at downtown’s Four Seasons Hotel. Expect dishes like a giant, 52-ounce mezcal-flambéed prime tomahawk steak, Spanish cotopus, and antelope, sourced from Texas’ Broken Arrow Ranch. There’s also a ceviche bar, and every steak is served with both chimichurri and barbecue sauce.

This new spot for regional Mexican cuisine just made its debut inside Downtown’s Bravery Chef Hall. Helmed by chef Tim Reading, the kitchen turns out stunning dishes like fideo de mariscos, shrimp aguachile, and albondigas fritas, or fried lamb and pork meatballs with chipotle, avocado, queso fresco, and cumin.