Food To Try In Houston, Texas

food to try in houston
Annelene
Annelene 
Updated
| 4 min read

Unlock the wealth of hidden treasures and undeniable charm of the enchanting city of Houston. Houston has a rich culture and a myriad of museums and art exhibitions which are packed with masterpieces and stories to be explored. Travellers to the beautiful city of Houston are gifted with an extensive list of free experiences to be enjoyed. Take a stroll through trails of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Centre and unlock the natural beauty of serenity of this green oasis. Hop on a free 90-minute boat tour of the Port of Houston and the Rothko Chapel. Houston is a melting pot of diverse people, traditions, religion and cultures and with it brings a burst of different flavours and cuisine to be enjoyed. Houston is one of the top destinations in the USA for foodies. There are over 10,000 restaurants in Houston celebrating the tastes from around the world like Vietnam, Lebanon, Ethiopia and much more. Take a gastronomic journey through the streets of Houston and discover these restaurants and read on to find out the food to try in Houston.

1. Chicken-fried steak


Don’t let the name fool you, this mouth-watering Southern-style dish contains no chicken. Instead, the Chicken fried steak is a large beefsteak which is coated in seasoned flour and then friends until there is a crispy, golden coating. The locals of Houston usually pair this dish with a side of creamy brown gravy, an array of vegetables and mashed potatoes. There is a wide selection of restaurant in Houston which serve this crispy goodness each adding a little twist to the recipe and accompanied with other sides like a fried egg, soft mushrooms, spring rolls and much more. It’s an explosion of flavour guaranteed you will be asking for more.

Hickory Hollow Restaurants and Catering

Address: 101 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007, USA

Website: Hickory Hollow Restaurants and Catering

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2. Scratch square biscuit sandwich


Enjoy the buttery, crumbly texture of the Scratch square biscuit sandwich which is a popular snack for the locals and tourist of Houston. Heading out to explore the city? Grab these biscuits to keep you energised for your journey. What makes this different is that they are loaded with melted cheddar, yolk-up egg and butcher’s sausage patty.

Blacksmith

Address: 1018 Westheimer, Houston,TX, 77006

Website: Blacksmith

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3. Queso


Queso is a spicy delight which directly translated to “cheese” in Spanish. Queso is a Texan – Mexican cheese dip which is gooey in texture and found on most Mexican restaurants in Houston. The traditional Queso is a classic mix os a brick of Velveeta cheese, a can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes and green chiles. Nowadays, Queso can be made with any type of cheese and can take on a thinner, less gooey consistency especially if it made with white cheese. The main use for Queso is for dipping purposes but can be put on anything like chips, burritos and tacos.

Torchy's Tacos

Address: 2411 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019, USA

Website: Torchy’s Tacos

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4. Tex-Cajun fries


Everything is Houston is bigger and more flavoursome, and none more appealing than the legendary cheese fries of Tex-Cajun Fries. These crispy fries are drenched in queso, tender roast beef and thick, brown gravy and are an adventure with each bite. This cuisine is best eaten as an appetiser and the perfect comfort food. Tex-Cajun fries are perfect for parties dinners and those late night indulgence after a night out in Houston.

BB's Tex-Orleans

Address: 2701 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77009, USA

Website: BB’s Tex-Orleans

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5. Cajun crawfish


Get the spicy flavours of Vietnam without having to book a flight to Vietnam when you savour the taste of a Cajun Crawfish. This traditional Vietnamese dish is a celebration of cuisine from Vietnam and Houston and is a culinary delight. If you are not afraid to get messy, then the best way to eat crawfish is like the local is using your fingers.

Cajun Crawfish #1

Address: 13480 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77014, USA

Website: Cajun Crawfish #1

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6. Elote

P5312957
Source: Photo by Flickr user Joy used under CC BY 2.0

There is nothing more satisfying than sinking your teeth into the sweet flavours of corn and is a popular side for most dishes in Houston. The best way to enjoy corn is on the cob, especially elote corn. This is famous street food and can be boiled or grilled and then seasoned with a variety of toppings to varying tastes like sweet, spicy, sharp or herbal. The traditional seasoning is coating the corn with salt, butter, lime juice, cotija, chile powder and paired with Mayonnaise or crema fresca. Looking for the perfect summer snack? Sorted!

Tampico Refresqueria

Address: 4520 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009, USA

Website: Tampico Refresqueria

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7. Turtle soup


Enjoy the hearty flavours of Turtle soups, which as the name permits, is made from the flesh of turtle and seasoned with cayenne pepper and lemon juice. The soup can be enjoyed with a side of salad and fresh bread. Turtle Soup is rich in flavour and texture and an elegant stew that can be eaten with egg and spinach and is a refined flavour like no other.

Brennan's of Houston

Address: 3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006, USA

Website: Brennan’s of Houston

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8. Egg & chorizo breakfast taco


Carbo-loading to the max! Preparing for a hike or want to fuel up for your adventures in Houston? Then enjoy a breakfast with a punch and try the Egg & chorizo breakfast taco which is high in protein and healthy carbs. To prepare this breakfast taco, the chorizo is browned and then cooked with the eggs in a pan to soak up the diverse flavours. These tacos can then be sprinkled with feta and some avo and is a breakfast for champions with a Mexican twist.

Chilosos Taco House

Address: 701 E 20th St, Houston, TX 77008, USA

Website: Chilosos Taco House

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9. Tres leches

Tres Leches Cake
Source: Photo by Flickr user Hungry Dudes used under CC BY 2.0

Got a craving for something sweet? Sink your teeth into the fluffy texture of Tres Leches which is also commonly known as three-milk cake. The cake is a combination of three kinds of milk which is then perfectly topped with a cloud of vanilla whipped cream. The three types of milk are evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and whole milk or heavy milk and are a balance of the right sweetness. It is said to believe that Tres leches were brought by the native of Nicaragua and gained much popularity to become one of the most sought-after desserts in Houston.

El Bolillo Bakery

Address: 2517 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009, USA

Website: El Bolillo Bakery

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10. Pork Chop

food to try in houston | pork chop
Source: instagram

A classic pork chop needs no explanation, and the succulent flavours make this one of the must-try dishes in Houston. Pork chops are one of the most popular meats in the world. For pork chops filled with taste, be sure to visit Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille where the chop is slow roasted and then topped with herb-garlic butter.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Address: 9827 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024, USA

Website: Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

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Get a taste of Houston

Tastes of Houston
Source: Unsplash

Take your taste buds on a tantalising adventure enjoying the varying tastes of Houstons eccentric food scene.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Annelene is a marketing graduate with a zest for life and a passion for travel. She believes these things help bring new perspective, introduce new cultures and educate us about life.

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