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Discover the Best New Restaurants in Houston

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by The OpenTable Team
Updated 23 October 2019

Thanks to its roots as a port city and energy giant, immigrant workers flocked to Houston, Texas from nearby Latin America and Cajun Louisiana all the way from Vietnam. Ethnic neighborhoods sprung up, as a result, showcasing cuisines from home. Since Houston has more restaurants per capita than New York City, this diverse city has everything from Tex-Mex to Eastern European eats. A trip to the Third Ward feels more like a trip to Saigon! But where do the city’s savviest foodies consistently trust for an amazing meal and experience? Welcome to TasteMaker 20. By gathering data from thousands of restaurants within the OpenTable network, we’ve identified the spots that experienced diners love the most. Make a reservation and let the feasting begin!

A photo of MAD restaurant
MAD
4.6
4.6 (2459)
$31 to $50
Spanish
River Oaks
About the restaurant
The bright sign outside of MAD combined with the inviting outdoor dining area have a magnetism that attracts even passing cars. Luckily, there’s a valet outside to help them along their journey. Inside, guests are treated to animalistic art, avant-garde globe lighting, intriguing sculptures and other décor reminiscent of Madrid nightlife. The menu offers Spanish delicacies such as serranito, Bravas Tomas, Salmon Ahumado and a variety of tapas and desserts. Diners have to be careful not to get hypnotized by the neon-covered walls in the restroom hallway.
Top review
CarrieVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Have a unique gin and tonic! Fragrant, beautiful, and so good. Wonderful Tapas and By the Piece selections. All very very delicious and unusual. We had many selections and all were super. I felt the large plates fell a bit short. The make-your-own paella was fair at best, MAD burger overdone but tasty, but the star was the pork lettuce wraps. My opinion would be go "mad" and wild for all the tapas selections. Very pretty restaurant and not loud, so you could actually talk while you shared delicious food. Superb service.
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A photo of Paella Valencia of a restaurant
Popular dish
Paella Valencia
A photo of Grilled Pulpo of a restaurant
Popular dish
Grilled Pulpo
A photo of PULPO of a restaurant
Popular dish
PULPO
A photo of Loch Bar-Houston restaurant
Loch Bar-Houston
4.8
4.8 (1177)
$30 and under
Seafood
River Oaks
About the restaurant
One of the favorite new restaurants in Houston, Loch Bar, is a classic seafood tavern that has live music every day of the week. Popular East Coast dishes are prepared with Gulf and local seafood to create delectable menu offerings ranging from Maryland crab and grilled Atlantic swordfish to Classic Baikal caviar and live Maine lobster. In addition to one of the largest raw bars in the city, guests are treated to a relaxing ambiance that includes soft lighting, unique marine wall decor, elegant seating and well-dressed staff members.
Top review
Quincy
Dined 1 day ago
Awesome food and incredible service. The establishment’s Manager Christopher made sure our experience was first class.
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A photo of Grilled Oysters of a restaurant
Popular dish
Grilled Oysters
A photo of Fried Lobster Tail of a restaurant
Popular dish
Fried Lobster Tail
A photo of Chesapeake Crab Dip of a restaurant
Popular dish
Chesapeake Crab Dip
A photo of Eunice restaurant
Eunice
4.7
4.7 (2613)
$30 and under
Creole / Cajun / Southern
Upper Kirby / Shepherd Corridor
About the restaurant
Named after the Southern Louisiana town that the executive chef hails from, Eunice provides a taste of modern Cajun-Creole that’s cemented its place as one of the best new restaurants in Houston. The menu is seasonally inspired and offers options such as charred broccolini, gulf shrimp etouffee and slow roast pork jambalaya. There's also a full raw bar with everything from oysters to seasonal blue crab. Guests enjoy their meal while surrounded by exquisite décor that includes fancy light coverings, expensive seating and vintage design elements interspersed with contemporary features.
Top review
Stacy
Dined on 16 Dec 2024
Wonderful staff. Food was delicious! Great place for lunch with friends.
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A photo of Specialty Oysters of a restaurant
Popular dish
Specialty Oysters
A photo of Dan Dan Shrimp of a restaurant
Popular dish
Dan Dan Shrimp
A photo of Crispy Brussels Sprouts of a restaurant
Popular dish
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
A photo of The Original Ninfa's Uptown restaurant
The Original Ninfa's Uptown
4.7
4.7 (757)
$30 and under
Mexican
Galleria / Uptown
About the restaurant
“Mama” Ninfa began her culinary career when she opened The Original Ninfa’s in 1973. This champion of cuisine is credited with bringing fajitas to America, but the menu and the number of locations has expanded a bit since that point. Offerings include handmade tamales, combination fajitas, beef brisket tamales and a variety of seasonal specials ranging from wood-oven octopus to roasted duck. The inside offers traditional Spanish décor with a few contemporary ornamentations sprinkled in. Guests can even snag a picture of the ofrenda set up in “Mama” Ninfa’s honor when filling their cup with complimentary flavored water if there's a wait.
Top review
FrancisVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Our waiter did an excellent job of attending to our needs and the food was fantastic! Thank you, Merry Christmas!!
A photo of a'Bouzy restaurant
a'Bouzy
4.8
4.8 (2693)
$30 and under
Contemporary French / American
River Oaks
About the restaurant
Down in the River Oaks neighborhood sits a'Bouzy – a place that is lovingly referred to as "champagne-fueled" and has multiple wine buckets spread throughout the eatery. The exposed brick combines with large antique bottle openers and reclaimed wood to create a uniquely rustic aura. Guests who want to really be impressed by one of the new restaurants in Houston, though, need only look up. There are hundreds of champagne bubbles hanging from the ceiling. Diners should try out the seared Gulf shrimp, local seafood pasta, braised chicken or just head over to the fresh market raw bar.
Top review
Penny
Dined 6 days ago
It was a very lovely and we enjoyed the atmosphere! The food was very good ! I had the avocado crab salad. I will go back for sure!
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A photo of Tuna Watermelon Sashimi of a restaurant
Popular dish
Tuna Watermelon Sashimi
A photo of Baked Oysters of a restaurant
Popular dish
Baked Oysters
A photo of Blue Crab Fingers of a restaurant
Popular dish
Blue Crab Fingers
A photo of Blanco Cocina + Cantina – Houston restaurant
Blanco Cocina + Cantina – Houston
4.5
4.5 (514)
$30 and under
Mexican
Galleria / Uptown
About the restaurant
Not many of the new restaurants in Houston make their food and beverage offerings as obvious in their name as Blanco Tacos + Tequila. Fortunately for those with varying tastes, they offer more than just tacos and Mexican liquor. The menu also includes their famous guacamole, braised chicken, pork chile verde and fajita and margarita selections. The large “Blanco” sign out front makes this place hard to miss, but it’s the packed patio area that usually catches the attention of passersby. The interior offers comfy, intricate murals and a wall packed with decorative flower boxes.
Top review
Jordai
Dined on 9 Dec 2024
Great food and great service, drinks were good as well.
A photo of Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - River Oaks restaurant
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - River Oaks
4.6
4.6 (2445)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
River Oaks
About the restaurant
Opening its newest location in 2018, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille brought its decades worth of culinary excellence to the new Red Oaks location. They provide a social hour, live entertainment Monday through Saturday, and a variety of delicious cocktails at Bar 79. The teal chairs surrounding their marble bar, extravagant overhead lighting, fine dining sets and grand staircase all provide guests with an experience they might expect on a luxurious ocean liner. Guests are treated to a variety of delectable options such as BBQ octopus, prime beef carpaccio, escargot, seafood stuffed mushrooms and the impressive Iced Seafood Tower.
Top review
Bill
Dined 1 day ago
Gavin was a great server. And we liked everything about the place.
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A photo of Dinner-Cut Pork Chop of a restaurant
Popular dish
Dinner-Cut Pork Chop
A photo of Rocky Road Bread Pudding of a restaurant
Popular dish
Rocky Road Bread Pudding
A photo of New York Strip Flight of a restaurant
Popular dish
New York Strip Flight
A photo of Warehouse 72 restaurant
Warehouse 72
4.7
4.7 (809)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Spring Branch
About the restaurant
Guests at Warehouse 72 are surrounded by extraordinary commissioned murals, exposed brick, vintage lighting and stained-wood tables that create an industrial atmosphere. That makes it no surprise that their menu has contemporary American offerings, but each is inspired by Mediterranean and Italian flavors. This includes their salmoriglio grilled filet, Za'atar roasted chicken, Margherita pizza and short rib ragu pappardelle. Just look for the red carpet leading up to the door and murals to find one of the best new restaurants in Houston.
Top review
Agha
Dined 7 days ago
Love the atmosphere, food, and the service. Our server was very quick and full of life. He made my clients feel very welcomed.
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A photo of Ribeye Steak of a restaurant
Popular dish
Ribeye Steak
A photo of Chicken Fried NY Strip Steak of a restaurant
Popular dish
Chicken Fried NY Strip Steak
A photo of Steak Frites of a restaurant
Popular dish
Steak Frites
A photo of Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Willowbrook, TX | Commons at Willowbrook restaurant
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Willowbrook, TX | Commons at Willowbrook
4.4
4.4 (244)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Tomball
About the restaurant
Few of the new restaurants in Houston are as impressive as Gyu-Kaku. Each table has its own personal grill, and they offer "Shared Plates" in order to help guests experience a truly social outing. There’s a brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday featuring popular items like Shio Negi tofu, spicy pork, miso soup and chicken breast teriyaki. Other menus feature similar offerings in addition to the lunch sets which feature around eight different items. The Japanese art spread throughout along with contemporary lighting and décor make this eatery as impressive to the eyes as the palate.
Top review
Chloe
Dined on 20 Oct 2024
Great food for price! Recommend for families or Casual date night
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A photo of Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at... of a restaurant
Experience
Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...
A photo of The Union Kitchen (Towne Lake) restaurant
The Union Kitchen (Towne Lake)
4.6
4.6 (847)
$30 and under
American
Cypress
About the restaurant
Located just minutes away in Cypress, The Union Kitchen is still considered one of the best new restaurants in Houston. It offers a very casual atmosphere and is located on the Towne Lake – making beautiful views of the water a huge appeal. The inside features exposed brick, visible ducts, vintage lighting and an impressive focal wall that all give off an industrial vibe. Outdoor dining is year-round and has air coolers for when the Texas heat becomes a nuisance. The impressively diverse menu offers New Orleans BBQ shrimp, Texas blue lump crab cakes, Frito pie mac & cheese, Korean short ribs and the Lolo Hawaiian tostada.
Top review
ChastityVIP
Dined on 4 Dec 2024
Had a great meal here this week. The food was on point, cooked perfectly. Our server was amazing. I highly recommend.
A photo of Sorriso Italian Kitchen restaurant
Sorriso Italian Kitchen
4.7
4.7 (603)
$30 and under
Italian
The Woodlands
About the restaurant
Located on The Woodlands Waterway, Sorriso Italian Kitchen offers a modern take on traditional fare from the Old Country. Live music, neon-lit stairs leading to the Como Club, a pillar of wine and breathtaking views of the city combine to provide a contemporary atmosphere in this eatery. There’s also a wine list with over 200 unique selections, and many of the boutique offerings are organic. When it's time to enjoy the cuisine, offerings like the broccolini pesto, grilled branzino, roasted chicken marsala and grilled octopus all make this one of the best new restaurants in Houston.
Top review
Heather
Dined 1 day ago
excellent service and very good choice of dishes.

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