Houston, Texas, a.k.a. Space City, is home to at least 10,000 restaurants. While newcomers sprout monthly throughout its 80-plus neighborhoods, not every eatery will receive rave reviews. That’s not the case with these spots! Whether craving elevated Tex-Mex, Vietnamese fusion, European eats, or modern American food with a side of pickleball, here are the new Houston restaurants sure to become neighborhood hits!
Alora Restaurant & Bar
Neighborhood: Montrose
More Info: alorahtx.com
At this casual, modern eatery from married Chefs Ngoc Tran and Diego Ponce, Peruvian cuisine meets Vietnamese, and the results are alluring — think ceviche and green papaya salad with cured beef and crispy garlic. Begin with one of the stunning cocktails and the Causa de Cangrejo, a luscious potato appetizer crowned with blue crab and avocado purée. Move on to the al pastor pork chop with apple jicama salad or Ca-ri shrimp floating in yellow curry and vermicelli noodles.
Camaraderie
Neighborhood: Heights
More Info: camaraderiehtx.com
In a sleek space with an open kitchen, award-winning Chef Shawn Gawle crafts artistic European-inspired fare. Reserve ahead for the sought-after prix-fixe tasting menu of three-plus courses or opt for the à la carte menu. For seasonal choices, anticipate exquisite bites like the salt-baked celeriac perfectly pavéd in paper-thin apple slices, halibut with lobster bits and whipped potatoes, and a showy osso bucco (of fall-off-the-bone veal) served with bucatini pasta.
Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina
Neighborhood: Neartown/River Oaks
More Info: kitchenandcantina.com
There’s Tex-Mex, and then there’s mesquite live-fire Tex-Mex served in a generous space with a fancy cantina. This second location (the original is in Memorial) from Goode Company takes design inspiration from the refined ranch houses of the Texas-Mexico frontera. The food is equally impressive: get your fajita fix with juicy meats grilled to perfection, served sizzling with grilled peppers and house-made tortillas, or huge mixed platters of wild game and fresh vegetables. Tableside guacamole, the Seafood Campechana, wood-fired redfish on the half shell, and Texas-sized breakfasts are also favorites.
Maven
Neighborhood: First Ward
More Info: mavenhouston.com
The first stand-alone restaurant from Rex Hospitality is in Sawyer Yards, a pedestrian-friendly complex of shops and eateries. Come as you are for the all-day café menu of coffees, breakfast tacos, and lunch in a lofty, sun-filled space. Dinner features polished plates of Euro-Spanish-leaning cuisine created by chef Nicolas Balzan Aldecoa. Don’t miss the smoked redfish dip with house-baked saltines, gazpacho, beet salad, steak au poivre, or paella Sundays! P.S. The patio with green space is perfect for kids.
Mexican Sugar
Neighborhood: Neartown/Montrose
More Info: mexicansugarcocina.com
Houston is flush with Tex-Mex classics like Ninfa’s, Molina’s, Picos, Mandito’s, and more. But this modern spot from Dallas showcases a tequila library, an upstairs tortilla-making room, and elevated dishes like mesquite-grilled beef filet and lobster tail fajitas. The massive yet stylish restaurant sports two bars, patios, and a dining room with bold chandeliers and handcrafted tiles. Enchiladas and tacos made with heirloom masa share menu space and brunch featuring Benedictos Rancheros, Cajeta French Toast, and the Chicken Chilaquiles.
Pie Tap Pizza
Neighborhood: Neartown/River Oaks
More Info: pie-tap.com
Every neighborhood needs a pizza haven, and this newbie brings its passion for authentic gourmet pizza from a famed Italian chef who uses a natural Italian dough technique (zero commercial yeast or additives). One signature pie is the prosciutto with medjool dates, pistachio, and arugula, but there’s so much more than great pizza. The Italian menu offers hearty pastas like spicy rigatoni vodka, as well as a hot honey truffle salmon entrée, and rotisserie chicken cooked daily in front of guests. Bring friends for the happy hour and lively bar scene!
Relish
Neighborhood: Memorial
More Info: relishhouston.com
Relish is the kind of neighborhood spot you can frequent several times a week and never tire of its fresh, modern American fare. This second location (the original is in River Oaks) is handsome, comfortable, and smart for any occasion with crowd-pleasing brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. Tuck into grilled pork chops with pickled peaches, salmon citrus salad, Mediterranean meatballs, and fried chicken with hot honey, collard greens, and unforgettable rosemary biscuits!
Remi at Hotel Granduca
Neighborhood: Uptown Park
More Info: remihouston.com
Led by Italian executive chef Maurizio Ferrarese, this new restaurant offers hotel dining with style. Hotel guests and Uptown Park shoppers are enjoying the playful New American menu and stylish restaurant design. Start with delicious crispy potato caviar bites or the Not So Fancy Buffalo Chicken Dip. For mains, consider the Wagyu Beef Rigatoni Bolognese or grilled salmon atop charred broccolini and spicy Romesco. Save room for the soft, warm cookie dessert topped with a giant ice cream scoop.
Solarium
Neighborhood: Midtown
More Info: solariumhouston.com
Housed in a giant former food hall, Rex Hospitality’s Solarium features oh-so-trendy pickleball and padel courts with a side of American eats. Take a break for rib-sticking clubhouse fare like empanadas, house burgers, and grilled skewers. Weekend brunch, enjoyed inside or on the patio, offers pancakes, shrimp and grits, and more. You can also score indulgent desserts, including a banana split and cocktails ranging from classics to frozen. Read all about The Courts here.
Succulent Fine Dining
Neighborhood: Neartown/Montrose
More Info: succulentfinedining.com
Restaurateur Shawn Virine, owner of Champagne-fueled a’Bouzy, brings his passion for wine and farm-fresh produce to Regent Square in a two-story building with a chic Napa Valley farmhouse aesthetic. Inspired by West Coast cuisine, the menu spotlights seasonal ingredients including house-grown herbs and vegetables. Pacific rock fish in lobster curry broth, hangar steak frites with salsa verde, carrot gnocchi with spring peas, and shrimp Louie with little gem lettuces are dishes to have on your radar.
Looking for more dining recommendations? Keep scrolling for more recent Houston restaurant openings!
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*Updates from March 2025
Houston, TX — the fourth largest city in America — is billed as the Culinary and Cultural Capital of the South. Its diverse population and multicultural food scene offer a wide array of offerings from around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned local or a first-time visitor, these 10 new Houston restaurants should be on your must-try list!
Chardon
More Info: chardonhouston.com
Houston foodies have been waiting for this tres chic French restaurant by Table One Hospitality to debut since the Thompson Houston Hotel opened. With its own dedicated entrance, guests are immersed in a dreamy space that combines Art Deco architecture with European neoclassical — think marble floors, walnut entrance arches, brass accents, re-imagined classical artwork, and banquette seating.
Veteran Houston Chef E.J. Miller presents French classics with a modern spin. Start with the charming Bisous Tower of sweet and savory bites and the crab and endive “Caesar” — all shareable. Move on to Gnocchi Pistou Parisienne, Steak Frites, or Honey-Glazed Duck.
Dessert is a must, and no surprise, there’s a Texas-sized le Grande Macaron au Chocolate with raspberries and gianduja mousse, as well as a trolley cart showcasing luxe cheeses with various accoutrements. Celebrating a birthday? Don’t forget to ask about the secret menu item. Oui!
Credence
More Info: credencehtx.com
Restaurateur Levi Goode of famed Goode Co. Restaurants has culled the best Texas dishes — and most are cooked over live fire — at his classy South Texas ranch-inspired restaurant in Memorial. Salads and entrées get table-side service treatment, and an extensive raw bar showcases fresh ocean gems.
Other luscious starters include hot fried quail with tomato bacon jam and the signature pan de campo Texas-style flatbread with toppings like roasted mushrooms or fennel sausage.
Grilled over Texas mesquite and post oak wood, expect a myriad of steaks and sauces for embellishing, as well as rich entrées of wild Gulf snapper with smoky lemon butter, barbecue Gulf shrimp, and black truffle linguine with kale. At brunch, look for Southern classics like shrimp and grits. Start or end your evening at Goode’s swanky adjacent lounge, Sidebar. The retro-styled cocktail bar offers caviar and classic American fare.
Doko
More Info: sushidoko.com
From the team behind Handies Douzo, Aiko, and others comes this intimate Japanese-fusion sushi spot in Autry Park. Plush two-seater sushi bar banquette seating and dining room tables with flickering candles give the dining room a date-night vibe. Menus range from lunch sushi sets to a six-course tasting menu and yakitori.
From the à la carte menu, nigiri and sashimi bites, including bluefin akami and hamachi Japanese yellowtail, are supremely fresh, as are the crudo selections. Try the masu crudo of ocean trout, celery, leche de tigre, and sundried tomatoes.
From the yakitori menu, the smoky-flavored torched king trumpet mushroom with pork belly is terrific, and if you love garlic, order the Japanese chicken meatball with jidori egg. Makimono rolls are large and ideal for sharing. The unique all-natural wine list provides perfect pairings, and for more sake and cocktails, you can also visit the new Bar Doko right across the breezeway.
Kira
More Info: Instagram
Comma Hospitality, the group behind the omakase experience Neo, opened this handsome hand-roll restaurant this summer. It quickly became a hotspot—so hot that reservations are usually necessary for a place at the intimate 15-seat sushi bar.
Along with various hand roll combos and à la carte items, you can enjoy music from a vinyl collection inspired by the Japanese listening bars that emerged in the 1950s. Of the nine hand rolls offered, the warm lobster roll =with Hollandaise sauce is a crowd favorite. But don’t overlook the delicious maitake hand roll with grilled hen-of-the-woods mushrooms slathered in brown butter emulsion.
Milton’s
More Info: miltonandlees.com
On the second floor of a vintage redbrick Rice Village building, you’ll find this cozy-chic Italian newcomer from Local Foods Group. Milton’s draws a buzzy crowd, filling its velveteen banquettes, tight tables, and fun 11-seat bar. Prepare to be wooed by the aromas of garlic, red sauce, and freshly baked bread, and the service remains sharp even on a packed weekend night.
Although the menu is rooted in classic Italian cuisine, it pushes the envelope with sophisticated surprises like freshly shaved hearts of palm salad, chopped tuna crudo with spicy nduja (spreadable salume) and grilled sourdough, and arancini with truffle-studded cheese and charred lemon aioli.
Infallible entrées include crispy-skin roasted chicken with escarole, a meaty 100-layer (!) lasagna, and grilled hangar steak sliced over lemony potato pavé with anchovy garnish.
Okto
More Info: oktorestaurant.com
The stylish patio beckons at this Mediterranean newcomer in the Montrose Collective. Sof Hospitality, the team behind Israeli-inspired Houston hits like Hamsa and Doris Metropolitan Steakhouse, is dishing innovative flavors inspired by Greece, Spain, and the Levant.
Anticipate a moody-lit dining room with an upbeat vibe and a jazzy bar that feels right for a date night. One of the signatures of Sof Hospitality’s restaurants is crave-worthy house-baked bread like the fluffy frena served with pistachio whipped butter, olives, and pickled peppers.
Greek salad, eggplant carpaccio, and the octopus in spicy romesco sauce are popular starters. For main plates, we recommend the Colorado-raised lamb chops atop silky cauliflower-sunchoke purée and the colossal Tiger Shrimp bathed in creamy beurre blanc with garlic and tarragon. End on a French note with soufflé-like Basque cheesecake in a pool of strawberry-tomato coulis.
Perseid
More Info: bunkhousehotels.com
French cuisine comes and goes in Houston, but right now it is having a moment. Chef Aaron Bludorn and his team, the group behind trendy Bludorn, Navy Blue, and Bar Bludorn, have settled into the sleek new Hotel Saint Augustine.
Nestled in Montrose, the French bistro delivers big flavors for every meal: fluffy stacks of pancakes for breakfast, saucy short ribs for brunch, and duck frites with mango for dinner. Dessert nearly steals the show. Indulge in an artful éclair brightened with raspberry ganache and pistachio cream.
Just want to grab a drink? Head to the Augustine listening lounge and bar area for drinks and bites prepared by Perseid.
The Kennedy
More Info: thekennedyhouston.com
If you want a more unique dining experience, consider heading to this piano bar and clubby restaurant with a two-story patio. At the intersection of River Oaks and Montrose, the lofty space has been transformed into an stylish retreat with rich, moody hues, dark wood paneling and cozy seating vignettes.
Music is woven into the experience with live performances by pianists, DJs, and vocalists, creating a vibrant late-night lounge ambiance. Chef Adriana Maldonado crafts luxurious fare such as Wagyu Ribeye Tartare and Truffle White Wine Lobster Spaghetti with Vodka Sauce. Start with the giant, playful mozzarella stick coated in potato chips and topped with crème fraîche and caviar, along with the clarified Millionaire Margarita. Cheers to that!
The Marigold Club
More Info: themarigoldclub.com
Channeling an exclusive London supper club, Goodnight Hospitality Group’s newest venture in Montrose has decor just as elaborate as the menu. Guests are enveloped in posh touches throughout the vibrant space, featuring Murano floral bouquet chandeliers, lively wall coverings, plush velveteen gold and green banquettes, and a baby grand piano.
Kick back and enjoy ice-cold martinis, grand seafood towers, and a Kaluga caviar toast. Other specialties from chef Austin Waiter include Duck Wellington, Veal Cuscinetto with Vermouth Fig Mostarda, and Halibut a L’oignon with Boquerones. Don’t miss the beautiful afternoon tea with sweets, substantial finger sandwiches, or the delightful table-side sundae cart.
The Pit Room Memorial City
More Info: thepitroombbq.com
While there’s no shortage of barbecue joints in H-town, the West side has been lacking … until now. Sambrooks Hospitality recently expanded to Memorial with this Central Texas-style barbecue destination. Hold on to your cowboy hats: This one is roomy with indoor and outdoor seating areas (the patio has its own bar) and a retail meat market. The rustic, wood-framed space sports two 26-foot-long bars and 27 flat-screen televisions peppered throughout the restaurant.
Roll up your sleeves for smoky brisket, pork and beef ribs, turkey, chicken, pulled pork, and three kinds of homemade sausage, all cooked in wood-fired, barrel-style offset smokers. Classic sides share menu space with the Pit Room’s signature tacos wrapped in flour tortillas.
A separate grill menu includes burgers, steaks, and chicken fingers for the kids (also note there are breakfast tacos and crawfish when it’s in season). Adults can expect an extensive cocktail menu, as well as wine and buckets of beer. Go ahead and belly up to the bar — the self-serve ice cream sandwich bar — and create your own sweet masterpiece.
Happy dining, Houston!
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