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A Korean-style stone bowl filled with shaved meat, beat sprouts, sauce, green onions and more veggies. A hand holding chopsticks is lifting a bite out of the bowl.
At Korean restaurant Bori, the food isn’t the only work of art.
Bori/Facebook

14 Excellent Memorial-Area Restaurants

Find stellar sushi, cozy comfort foods, and picture-perfect pastries along the I-10 corridor

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At Korean restaurant Bori, the food isn’t the only work of art.
| Bori/Facebook

After years of growth, folks inside the inner loop of Houston can no longer brag that all of its finest restaurants are “in the city.” This explosive growth has brought a ton of exciting new dining destinations westward to Memorial, which has grown into a dining hotspot for suburbanites who aren’t willing to make the drive into Downtown.

From laid-back weekend brunch favorites to trendy special occasion spots, these 14 excellent Memorial-area restaurants are definitely worth a try.

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Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette-Memorial

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This popular seafood destination has a lively location on San Felipe in River Oaks, but its Memorial counterpart is worth visiting too. In addition to a selection of East Coast and Gulf Coast oysters, a sushi menu, and decadences like Texas redfish on the half-shell, the location tucked quietly off of the interstate at Bunker Hill boasts live music from local artists every Friday and Saturday evenings.

Ember & Greens

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Run by mother-son duo Nadereh Ahly and Iman Yarjani, Ember & Greens offers a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere (and dog-friendly patio) where diners can feast on a variety of flatbreads, a compelling wagyu burger, sweet chili brussels sprouts, and top-notch seafood dishes like blackened salmon with lemon butter and avocado salsa. 

KP's Kitchen

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Houston hospitality veteran Kerry Pauly’s new BYOB bistro is a comfortable place to eat, drink and mingle. Hearty lunch and dinner features include a Gulf crab cake atop a bed of house slaw, and 12-hour baby back ribs with a chili-citrus glaze, while desserts like the deep dish double chocolate chip cookie and crème fraiche cheesecake are worthy. Weekend brunch is equally as enticing with a fried egg-topped hot chicken biscuit and seasonal quiche.

Dish Society

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At this health food hot spot, the focus is on cooking with fresh, local ingredients from vendors like Blackhill Ranch and Atkinson Farms. The restaurant offers plenty of ways to dine, including daily brunch service — complete with cocktails, beer and wine, and fresh-squeezed juices — and lunch, dinner and social hour, featuring items like a seasonal grain bowl loaded with vegetables and warm farro, avocado toast, and Gulf shrimp tacos.

White Elm

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Breaking bread at this popular cafe is always a good choice — the in-house bakery turns out fresh baked scones, tarts, and muffins in the morning while delivering a lengthy menu of lunch and dinner options. The charred octopus arrives with toasted baguette, while layered meat sandwiches are presented on brioche buns and butter croissants.

Postino

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Memorial residents no longer need to trek to Montrose or the Heights in order to wine down at Postino — the beloved Phoenix-based wine bar has opened a location among the retail and restaurants at Town & Country. In addition to shareable bruschetta boards and daily $5 wine happy hour, the Memorial location is the first to debut wine-based cocktails.

With its chic dining space and lively bar, Kuu serves as one of the area’s top sushi destinations. Score sushi staples and inventive cocktails here during lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. There are fresh nigiri selections, from bluefin tuna belly to Japanese sea urchin and truffle yuzu vinaigrette-topped yellowtail rolls, plus heartier entrees like the A5 wagyu hot rock and miso sea bass. Save room for a slice of toasted red bean cheesecake for dessert. 

State Fare Kitchen & Bar

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Find old-fashioned comfort eats like beef chili Frito pie and fried green tomatoes at this neighborhood gem, or indulge on King Ranch chicken spaghetti or a fried Gulf shrimp platter with jalapeño hushpuppies. Burgers are worth a mention here too. Built with a half-pound Texas Akaushi beef patty and a potato bun, fun varieties include a bacon and egg-topped brunch burger and the Dixie burger with a slather of pimento cheese.

ReikiNa

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As restaurants offering exclusive tasting menus continue to trend, ReikiNa is the latest to hit the scene, now open at CITYCENTRE. The reservation-only restaurant, helmed by former Uchi chef Thomas Stacy, offers a journey through an adventurous eight-course menu which will rotate often in an effort to maintain its seasonality. At the moment, guests may see dishes like chicken liver mousse with a lychee reduction and char siu pork with cherry bao and pickled fennel.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille

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This beloved Houston steakhouse is a longtime fixture in the area, situated steps from Memorial City Mall. A destination for ladies who lunch, happy hour-goers and the Energy Corridor’s power lunch crowd, Perry’s features steakhouse classics like jumbo shrimp cocktail and crab cakes, plus steaks, chops and bone-in cuts. Visit on Friday for Perry’s popular pork chop lunch special, and settle in with a glass or bottle of Perry’s own reserve wine for some fine food, drink and people watching.

Masraff's

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This storied Houston restaurant, owned by the Masraff family, may be new to the Memorial area after relocating from its longtime home on Post Oak Boulevard, but it remains timeless and elegant. The dining room is fit for special occasions and the lively bar and lounge serves as a premier destination to be social and splurge on something from the restaurant’s acclaimed wine list. While the space may be unfamiliar and new, guests may still recognize dishes like Masraff’s classic wild mushroom risotto.

Jonathan's The Rub

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This family-owned restaurant nestled among the retail and shopping at Memorial Green offers guests a full-service experience with hearty comfort eats including a section affectionately coined “New Houston” cuisine. Try the blackened shrimp, scallops and grits, or the smoked bone-in pork chop with bacon-onion gravy. Sunday brunch offerings include the usual suspects, from veggie omelets to steak and eggs, but for something truly unusual, spring for the churro-style waffles.

The food is just half the fun at this South Korean-inspired steakhouse. Seating is centered around open grills, where a member of the Bori staff cooks proteins like filet mignon and marinated boneless short rib, allowing guests to take in all of the sights, sounds and smells of their culinary experience. Here, the grilled meats aren’t the only thing worth feasting your eyes on — Bori is home to its own art gallery featuring local Korean artists, as well as pieces from the owner’s private collection. 

Hungry's

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A pioneer among Memorial restaurants, Hungry’s has been a reliable eatery for residents of the area for decades, and it continues to impress. Like its Rice Village location, the restaurant shines when it comes to fresh, farm-to-table eats, sourcing ingredients from Freedman Ranch, Patty’s Herbs and Houston Dairymaids, among others. Opting to evolve with the seasons, Hungry’s remains current with its menus, at the moment showcasing items like chickpea penne pasta, green chile shrimp ceviche, and Cajun red ruby trout. 

Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette-Memorial

This popular seafood destination has a lively location on San Felipe in River Oaks, but its Memorial counterpart is worth visiting too. In addition to a selection of East Coast and Gulf Coast oysters, a sushi menu, and decadences like Texas redfish on the half-shell, the location tucked quietly off of the interstate at Bunker Hill boasts live music from local artists every Friday and Saturday evenings.

Ember & Greens

Run by mother-son duo Nadereh Ahly and Iman Yarjani, Ember & Greens offers a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere (and dog-friendly patio) where diners can feast on a variety of flatbreads, a compelling wagyu burger, sweet chili brussels sprouts, and top-notch seafood dishes like blackened salmon with lemon butter and avocado salsa. 

KP's Kitchen

Houston hospitality veteran Kerry Pauly’s new BYOB bistro is a comfortable place to eat, drink and mingle. Hearty lunch and dinner features include a Gulf crab cake atop a bed of house slaw, and 12-hour baby back ribs with a chili-citrus glaze, while desserts like the deep dish double chocolate chip cookie and crème fraiche cheesecake are worthy. Weekend brunch is equally as enticing with a fried egg-topped hot chicken biscuit and seasonal quiche.

Dish Society

At this health food hot spot, the focus is on cooking with fresh, local ingredients from vendors like Blackhill Ranch and Atkinson Farms. The restaurant offers plenty of ways to dine, including daily brunch service — complete with cocktails, beer and wine, and fresh-squeezed juices — and lunch, dinner and social hour, featuring items like a seasonal grain bowl loaded with vegetables and warm farro, avocado toast, and Gulf shrimp tacos.

White Elm

Breaking bread at this popular cafe is always a good choice — the in-house bakery turns out fresh baked scones, tarts, and muffins in the morning while delivering a lengthy menu of lunch and dinner options. The charred octopus arrives with toasted baguette, while layered meat sandwiches are presented on brioche buns and butter croissants.

Postino

Memorial residents no longer need to trek to Montrose or the Heights in order to wine down at Postino — the beloved Phoenix-based wine bar has opened a location among the retail and restaurants at Town & Country. In addition to shareable bruschetta boards and daily $5 wine happy hour, the Memorial location is the first to debut wine-based cocktails.

Kuu

With its chic dining space and lively bar, Kuu serves as one of the area’s top sushi destinations. Score sushi staples and inventive cocktails here during lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. There are fresh nigiri selections, from bluefin tuna belly to Japanese sea urchin and truffle yuzu vinaigrette-topped yellowtail rolls, plus heartier entrees like the A5 wagyu hot rock and miso sea bass. Save room for a slice of toasted red bean cheesecake for dessert. 

State Fare Kitchen & Bar

Find old-fashioned comfort eats like beef chili Frito pie and fried green tomatoes at this neighborhood gem, or indulge on King Ranch chicken spaghetti or a fried Gulf shrimp platter with jalapeño hushpuppies. Burgers are worth a mention here too. Built with a half-pound Texas Akaushi beef patty and a potato bun, fun varieties include a bacon and egg-topped brunch burger and the Dixie burger with a slather of pimento cheese.

ReikiNa

As restaurants offering exclusive tasting menus continue to trend, ReikiNa is the latest to hit the scene, now open at CITYCENTRE. The reservation-only restaurant, helmed by former Uchi chef Thomas Stacy, offers a journey through an adventurous eight-course menu which will rotate often in an effort to maintain its seasonality. At the moment, guests may see dishes like chicken liver mousse with a lychee reduction and char siu pork with cherry bao and pickled fennel.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille

This beloved Houston steakhouse is a longtime fixture in the area, situated steps from Memorial City Mall. A destination for ladies who lunch, happy hour-goers and the Energy Corridor’s power lunch crowd, Perry’s features steakhouse classics like jumbo shrimp cocktail and crab cakes, plus steaks, chops and bone-in cuts. Visit on Friday for Perry’s popular pork chop lunch special, and settle in with a glass or bottle of Perry’s own reserve wine for some fine food, drink and people watching.

Masraff's

This storied Houston restaurant, owned by the Masraff family, may be new to the Memorial area after relocating from its longtime home on Post Oak Boulevard, but it remains timeless and elegant. The dining room is fit for special occasions and the lively bar and lounge serves as a premier destination to be social and splurge on something from the restaurant’s acclaimed wine list. While the space may be unfamiliar and new, guests may still recognize dishes like Masraff’s classic wild mushroom risotto.

Jonathan's The Rub

This family-owned restaurant nestled among the retail and shopping at Memorial Green offers guests a full-service experience with hearty comfort eats including a section affectionately coined “New Houston” cuisine. Try the blackened shrimp, scallops and grits, or the smoked bone-in pork chop with bacon-onion gravy. Sunday brunch offerings include the usual suspects, from veggie omelets to steak and eggs, but for something truly unusual, spring for the churro-style waffles.

BORI

The food is just half the fun at this South Korean-inspired steakhouse. Seating is centered around open grills, where a member of the Bori staff cooks proteins like filet mignon and marinated boneless short rib, allowing guests to take in all of the sights, sounds and smells of their culinary experience. Here, the grilled meats aren’t the only thing worth feasting your eyes on — Bori is home to its own art gallery featuring local Korean artists, as well as pieces from the owner’s private collection. 

Hungry's

A pioneer among Memorial restaurants, Hungry’s has been a reliable eatery for residents of the area for decades, and it continues to impress. Like its Rice Village location, the restaurant shines when it comes to fresh, farm-to-table eats, sourcing ingredients from Freedman Ranch, Patty’s Herbs and Houston Dairymaids, among others. Opting to evolve with the seasons, Hungry’s remains current with its menus, at the moment showcasing items like chickpea penne pasta, green chile shrimp ceviche, and Cajun red ruby trout. 

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