From super gourmet recipes to dishes straight out of Mom’s own cookbook, Houston, Texas is home to a wide variety of quality restaurants providing their guests with not only award-winning meals but environments so welcoming and service so impeccable, you’ll find yourself wanting to go back again and again. So many of these restaurants have taken timeless favorites and given them an innovative twist in order to entice guests with even simple and classic preferences into trying something new and adventurous! Be it Cajun, Italian, or even Texan dishes, everyone is sure to find their new favorite amongst one of these places. Please scroll down below for the best casual restaurants in Houston, Texas.
1. North Italia
If there is a standard for Italian food, North Italia takes it and redefines it so that their food stands out amongst Italian eateries as a refreshing, contemporary look at Italian classics. They spice up cult favorite pizza by tossing in some figs, drizzling on some lemon oil, or completely surprising customers with the chef’s daily pick. They make their mafaldine recipe more interesting by cooking it with calamari and white shrimp. And they are bold in their usage of vinaigrettes to give that finishing pop of flavor to the salads and even some of their entrees. For those who love all things Italian but are in search of a change of pace, check out North Italia and be delighted!
North Italia
Address: 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 190, Houston, TX 77056
Website: North Italia
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 11am - 11pm; Wed - Fri: 11am - 11pm; Sat: 10am - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 10pm
2. Urban Eats
Who doesn’t love a locally sourced bistro with a rooftop patio and a menu that’ll make your mouth water just by reading it? Well, Urban Eats is just that kind of place. Like any bistro, Urban serves salads, sandwiches, and other comfort food classics like mac and cheese but unlike just any bistro, Urban takes these classics to the next level! They add bacon, pancetta, ham, and white truffle oil to their mac and cheese; they drizzle pesto-mustard dressing over their freshly cut, freshly tossed salads; they smother their sliders in homemade bourbon barbecue sauce. So the next time you choose a bistro, don’t pick just any. Pick Urban Eats!
Urban Eats
Address: 3414 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
Website: Urban Eats
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 8am - 9pm; Fri: 8am - 11pm; Sat: 9am - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 3pm
3. Nobie's
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Nobie’s is unique for it’s regularly changing 20 - 25 menu items that, although priced on the upper end of casual cuisine, still impress its guests with locally sourced produce from farms within the area and top-notch seafood from the Gulf, delivered daily. Regular visitors to Nobie’s ensure guests that the ever-changing menu is nothing to worry about because every time you’re sure to land upon a new favorite! So relax and enjoy the wonderful service, the lengthy list of wines and cocktails the bartender will help you precisely pair with your meal, and the surprising flavors Napie’s food always has to offer.
Nobie's
Address: 2048 Colquitt Street, Houston, TX 77098
Website: Nobie’s
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 5pm-11pm; Thu - Sat: 5pm - 12am; Sun: 4pm- 10pm
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4. Paulie's
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Paulie’s list of awards is almost as vast as the menu itself so you’d better not miss out on an award-winning Shrimp BLT (11 USD) or its coffee brews featured in multiple publications. This place is more than just a bistro, it’s an all-out dining experience for the coffee guru, the salad lover, or the sandwich aficionado. This chic little restaurant is known to be a popular place so don’t be surprised if there’s bit of a wait at the counter – everyone wants to be a part of the incredible dishes Paulie’s is serving up!
Paulie's
Address: 1834 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Website: Paulie’s
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 9pm (closed on Sun)
5. Taste of Texas
Since 1977, Taste of Texas has been the favorite of visitors and regulars alike because of this restaurant’s dedication to providing a dining experience which is delicious, wholesome, and makes you want to return again and again to partake in their Texan hospitality. This restaurant prides itself on being a common destination for celebrations which requires their cuisine to be on the more glamorous side. They offer a wide selection of artistically prepared steak, seafood, and prime rib. But if you’re wanting something simpler, don’t worry – their soups and salads, as well as gourmet sandwiches, come at reasonable prices (between 5.95 - 25.95 USD depending on add-ons) and are sure to exceed all expectations!
Taste of Texas
Address: 10505 Katy Freeway, Houston TX 77024
Website: Taste of Texas
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri: 11am - 11pm; Sat: 3pm - 11pm; Sun: 3pm - 10pm
6. Mia's Table
Mia’s Table is the quintessential American restaurant which welcomes its guest to come, relax, watch a game, and enjoy good food. You can come in, order at the counter, and then sit outside on the patio to enjoy a cool drink while your order is prepared. Locals recommend getting a juicy burger which comes on the softest bun a patty has ever found a home between! But if a burger isn’t what you’re thinking, that’s okay! Mia’s offers all kinds of seafood or country platters, not to mention fresh salads for those hot summer days. There’s sure to be something at Mia’s for even the more selective eaters!
Mia's Table
Address: 3131 Argonne Street, Houston, TX 77098
Website: Mia’s Table
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
7. Roost
Roost is a restaurant as varied and mixed as the old window shutter and Edison light bulbs which decorate its industrial interior. The owner Kevin Naderi prides himself on taking “a little bit” from each place he’s worked, including touches of spice from his Persian heritage. This is why guests will find the menu scattered with flavors from South America, Asia, and the Middle East. So if you’re feeling adventurous, feast your eyes on the Grilled Spanish Octopus or the Cumin-spiced Lamb Meatballs and learn just why this restaurant is a highly-reviewed destination!
Roost
Address: 1972 Fairview Street, Houston, TX 77019
Website: Roost
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 4pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 4pm - 11pm (closed on Sun)
8. Mom's Country Kitchen
Mom’s Country Kitchen provides the exact kind of welcoming spirit you would expect from a place with such a cozy name. This spot gains its popularity not just from the homemade food and incredible prices (5 - 10 USD), but also from the service of the staff, who make each guest feel right at home. The menu is as varied as any mother’s kitchen so whether you’re wanting an enchilada or are craving some real Southern chicken and dumplings, Mom’s is sure to whip up something to satisfy you all the way down to your soul.
Mom's Country Kitchen
Address: 14428 Aldine Westfield Rd, Houston, Tx 77039
Website: Mom’s Country Kitchen
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6am - 3pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
9. Hugo's
If classy Mexican food is the evening’s preference, head straight to Hugo’s without a second thought! This restaurant offers its guests top-notch Mexican cuisine so this is definitely the place to go when the in-laws are coming to town. The prices range on the higher side of the casual scale, but that doesn’t make the rib-eye steak or the catch of the day any less delicious. In an environment which blends the chic urbanization of Houston which the vibrant traditions of Mexico, Hugo’s is a one-of-a-kind dining experience you can’t miss.
Hugo's
Address: 1600 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77006
Website: Hugo’s
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 9pm
10. Dan's Seafood & Wings
Dan’s is all about “good food - not fast food.” Seeking to provide a dining experience which will have you feeling like you’re kicking back in the Louisiana bayou, Dan’s promises its guests dishes which are prepared fresh as soon as you place your order. You can request your chicken or seafood boiled, fried, or grilled, in various sizes depending on varying appetites. And don’t let the oysters and shrimp on the menu scare you away – these delicacies come at a fraction of the price, ranging from 7 - 15 USD. So what’s stopping you from giving this award-winning place a try?
Dan's Seafood & Wings
Address: East Houston: 18 Uvalde East, Houston, TX 77015. Southwest Houston: 3991 S. Gessner, Houston, TX 77063
Website: Dan’s Seafood & Wings
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 12pm - 9pm
Excellent food is the least of your worries
These places offer food so good that it might be worth visiting Houston just to eat! Thankfully, their dedication to excellence has made choosing a restaurant for your next meal out that much easier – you won’t have to worry about quality food. The real problem is whether or not you can choose just one!
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