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The Dishes Houstonians Can't Stop Ordering, Mapped

by Darla Guillen
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by Darla Guillen
1 comment / new

Last week we asked readers to tell us what dishes they can't stop ordering in Houston. Because even with a bustling culinary scene, and many dishes that have gained popularity, the easiest way to eat pleasurably is to return to familiar flavors you love. That's why only those dishes you keep returning to made the cut. Some spots received multiple votes for different dishes, others were only mentioned once but with particularly compelling arguments. Here now is a map of mom-and-pop places, higher-end spots and all other places that have provided some of our readers with crave-worthy favorites. If there are any dishes you think we're missing, let us know here. And because sifting through tons of hunger-inducing emails was an awesome task, we're asking you to keep submitting favorite dishes for the next installment of this map next week.


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Haven

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Reader Vianei says: "My pick is the free range chicken with bacon spaetzle at Haven. I keep going back to it over and over – it’s comfort food in the best upscale sense. Gotta start with the shrimp corn dogs, too."
2502 Algerian Way, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 581-6101
(713) 581-6101

Teotehucan Mexican Restaurant

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Reader Del says: "The beef fajitas at Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe can't be beat, and [I] have been craving them weekly for years now!"
Airline, Houston, TX 77091

Down House

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Reader Hanna and her husband can't stop ordering the fried chicken at this Heights-area favorite. Another reader mentioned the fish curry with mashed potatoes on the side.
1801 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 864-3696
(713) 864-3696

Romano's Pizza

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Reader Kelly says the baked ziti at this River Oaks pizzeria is her can't-miss dish. "Every time we go to our favorite neighborhood Italian joint, I try to order something different, but I just can't seem to order anything different than the baked ziti. It is so authentic, cheesy and delicious. The portion is big enough to share, but I wouldn't dare."
1528 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 526-1182
(713) 526-1182

Also featured in:

Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine

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The chicken shawarma at this Montrose place is a go-to dish for Zagat writer Amber Ambrose.
912 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(866) 417-8367
(866) 417-8367

Also featured in:

Shanghai Restaurant

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The Peking Duck from here is a Houston classic and another of Zagat writer Ambrose's picks.
9888 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX
(713) 771-8825
(713) 771-8825

Also featured in:

Biryani Pot

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A reader says about local favorite dish: "The non-vegetarian lunch combo at Biryani Pot, served only during the week, which is more food than anyone could possibly eat. We can smell the spices daily, since we live right across the street from this wonderful restaurant!"
6509 Westheimer Rd, Ste B, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 278-8085
(713) 278-8085

Also featured in:

Cafe TH

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While a few wrote in for TH, it was the vegan curry that got more than one vote.
Houston, TX
(713) 225-4766
(713) 225-4766

Pho Binh

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Reader Tran swears by the bone marrow dish here. Others opted for some noodle dishes.
5901 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 781-8881
(713) 781-8881

Kris Bistro and Wine Lounge

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The charcuterie plate here is a local staple, voted on by more than one reader. The cheese and cured meat combo from this restaurant is hard to beat.
7070 Allensby, Houston, TX 77022
(713) 692-0077
(713) 692-0077

Vieng Thai

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Reader Hanna says she and her husband also love the Panang Curry at this Spring Branch Thai staple. Plus, it's still BYOB!
6929 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055
(713) 688-9910
(713) 688-9910

Also featured in:

Uchi

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Reader Haldre can't quit the Brussels sprouts at this Montrose spot. Some notable chefs also love that dish here.
904 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4808
(713) 522-4808

Also featured in:

Happy Valley

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Reader Stefan Gilthorpe has a frequent craving for the spicy noodles at this Chinatown restaurant.
9889 Bellaire Blvd, #306, Houston, TX 77036

Roost

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The cauliflower with bonito flakes from this Fountainview spot received more than a few votes form local readers. It's also been on a few national lists for its addictive flavor.
1972 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77019

Brasserie Max and Julie

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The cheesy cauliflower au gratin at this upscale French spot is a Roost cauliflower contender.
4315 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 524-0070
(713) 524-0070

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Cafe Rabelais

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The mussels in garlic butter sauce at this tiny Rice Village shop is a local favorite.
2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 520-8841
(713) 520-8841

Also featured in:

La Fogata

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Reader Stephanie says that this spot is a "family-owned restaurant that is to die for!"
11630 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77099
(281) 575-8736
(281) 575-8736

Local Foods

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The egg salad sandwich at this beloved Rice Village shops is about as delicious as the crunchy chicken option. Head here while we track the next location opening up in Rice Village next year.
2424 Dunstan Rd, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 255-4440
(713) 255-4440

Also featured in:

Ruggles Green

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Reader Michael Gunning keeps returning here for the hemp protein brownie. Another great dessert here: the white chocolate bread pudding.
2311 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 533-0777
(713) 533-0777

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Haven

2502 Algerian Way, Houston, TX 77098
Reader Vianei says: "My pick is the free range chicken with bacon spaetzle at Haven. I keep going back to it over and over – it’s comfort food in the best upscale sense. Gotta start with the shrimp corn dogs, too."
2502 Algerian Way, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 581-6101
(713) 581-6101

Teotehucan Mexican Restaurant

Airline, Houston, TX 77091
Reader Del says: "The beef fajitas at Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe can't be beat, and [I] have been craving them weekly for years now!"
Airline, Houston, TX 77091

Down House

1801 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
Reader Hanna and her husband can't stop ordering the fried chicken at this Heights-area favorite. Another reader mentioned the fish curry with mashed potatoes on the side.
1801 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 864-3696
(713) 864-3696

Romano's Pizza

1528 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
Reader Kelly says the baked ziti at this River Oaks pizzeria is her can't-miss dish. "Every time we go to our favorite neighborhood Italian joint, I try to order something different, but I just can't seem to order anything different than the baked ziti. It is so authentic, cheesy and delicious. The portion is big enough to share, but I wouldn't dare."
1528 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 526-1182
(713) 526-1182

Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine

912 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
The chicken shawarma at this Montrose place is a go-to dish for Zagat writer Amber Ambrose.
912 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(866) 417-8367
(866) 417-8367

Shanghai Restaurant

9888 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX
The Peking Duck from here is a Houston classic and another of Zagat writer Ambrose's picks.
9888 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX
(713) 771-8825
(713) 771-8825

Biryani Pot

6509 Westheimer Rd, Ste B, Houston, TX 77057
A reader says about local favorite dish: "The non-vegetarian lunch combo at Biryani Pot, served only during the week, which is more food than anyone could possibly eat. We can smell the spices daily, since we live right across the street from this wonderful restaurant!"
6509 Westheimer Rd, Ste B, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 278-8085
(713) 278-8085

Cafe TH

Houston, TX
While a few wrote in for TH, it was the vegan curry that got more than one vote.
Houston, TX
(713) 225-4766
(713) 225-4766

Pho Binh

5901 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057
Reader Tran swears by the bone marrow dish here. Others opted for some noodle dishes.
5901 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 781-8881
(713) 781-8881

Kris Bistro and Wine Lounge

7070 Allensby, Houston, TX 77022
The charcuterie plate here is a local staple, voted on by more than one reader. The cheese and cured meat combo from this restaurant is hard to beat.
7070 Allensby, Houston, TX 77022
(713) 692-0077
(713) 692-0077

Vieng Thai

6929 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055
Reader Hanna says she and her husband also love the Panang Curry at this Spring Branch Thai staple. Plus, it's still BYOB!
6929 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055
(713) 688-9910
(713) 688-9910

Uchi

904 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
Reader Haldre can't quit the Brussels sprouts at this Montrose spot. Some notable chefs also love that dish here.
904 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4808
(713) 522-4808

Happy Valley

9889 Bellaire Blvd, #306, Houston, TX 77036
Reader Stefan Gilthorpe has a frequent craving for the spicy noodles at this Chinatown restaurant.
9889 Bellaire Blvd, #306, Houston, TX 77036

Roost

1972 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77019
The cauliflower with bonito flakes from this Fountainview spot received more than a few votes form local readers. It's also been on a few national lists for its addictive flavor.
1972 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77019

Brasserie Max and Julie

4315 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
The cheesy cauliflower au gratin at this upscale French spot is a Roost cauliflower contender.
4315 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 524-0070
(713) 524-0070

Related Maps

Cafe Rabelais

2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
The mussels in garlic butter sauce at this tiny Rice Village shop is a local favorite.
2442 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 520-8841
(713) 520-8841

La Fogata

11630 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77099
Reader Stephanie says that this spot is a "family-owned restaurant that is to die for!"
11630 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77099
(281) 575-8736
(281) 575-8736

Local Foods

2424 Dunstan Rd, Houston, TX 77005
The egg salad sandwich at this beloved Rice Village shops is about as delicious as the crunchy chicken option. Head here while we track the next location opening up in Rice Village next year.
2424 Dunstan Rd, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 255-4440
(713) 255-4440

Ruggles Green

2311 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
Reader Michael Gunning keeps returning here for the hemp protein brownie. Another great dessert here: the white chocolate bread pudding.
2311 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 533-0777
(713) 533-0777

Related Maps