Discover the Best New Restaurants in Houston

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!

MAD

4.6

4.6 (2443)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined today

Truly an amazing dining experience. We did the astronaut special - the waiter picks all the food. It’s really a fun experience.

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4.7

4.7 (1164)

$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

Samiekavip

Dined 1 day ago

I met a few for drinks and more friends came out than expected. The host was accommodating and added an additional few chairs and a table! The service was incredibly accommodating, and everything flowed seamlessly. The staff ensured our needs were met promptly, making it a stress-free experience. A special shout-out to Anna, who was exceptional—attentive, friendly, and made great recommendations. Whether it’s for a quick lunch, happy hour or a relaxing dinner, Loch Bar does not disappoint. Highly recommend.

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4.7

4.7 (2593)

$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.

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Kimberlyvip

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious date lunch. Oysters, gumbo, cornbread and coffee. Wonderful food, delightful service and intelligent staff. Thank you for a nice afternoon!

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Crispy Brussels Sprouts

The Original Ninfa's Uptown

4.6

4.6 (749)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 13 Nov 2024

I had an amazing experience at Ninfa’s Uptown. The food was delicious followed by an amazing service from the staff. The atmosphere was great.

a'Bouzy

4.7

4.7 (2669)

$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.

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Carlavip

Dined 4 days ago

I love Abouzy! It’s always a great time and great food.

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Popular dish

Tuna Watermelon Sashimi

Blanco Cocina + Cantina – Houston

4.6

4.6 (512)

$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.

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Moyo

Dined 7 days ago

Really good! Went at about 4:30 PM so wasn’t too busy but there were people in there. Our server was super sweet and helpful. Didn’t catch his name, but he was a tall black guy. It took less than 30 minutes to order get all the food for a party of 3. The food was amazing and it wasn’t outrageously priced. Will definitely be back

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - River Oaks

4.7

4.7 (2413)

$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.

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Patti

Dined 2 days ago

The manager was so helpful with the new parking system in place.

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Popular dish

Dinner-Cut Pork Chop

Popular dish

Rocky Road Bread Pudding

Popular dish

New York Strip Flight

Warehouse 72

4.6

4.6 (803)

$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.

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Brendonvip

Dined 7 days ago

The food was pretty good. I had the crab cakes, the seafood risotto, the chocolate hazelnut torte and a cappuccino. My server was very attentive, keeping my drinks filled. I went for Sunday brunch.. It was a little loud because there was a live saxophonist doing a mixture of show tunes, R&B, and yacht rock (he had a great tone). Will definitely return.

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Popular dish

Ribeye Steak

Popular dish

Chicken Fried NY Strip Steak

Popular dish

Steak Frites

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Willowbrook, TX | Commons at Willowbrook

4.3

4.3 (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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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Experience

Expansive Happy Hour Options!!

The Union Kitchen (Towne Lake)

4.5

4.5 (844)

$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.

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annette

Dined 3 days ago

We went for happy hour and the tree lighting. The drinks were subpar and no limes and not a lot of ice. Seemed like it was a off night

Sorriso Italian Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (599)

$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.

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Venetta

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was absolutely amazing! Our favorite appetizer was the Charred Octopus! My favorite dinner was the Black Spaghetti with seafood! Canolli cake was delicious!