Palenque Grill

Palenque is a grill’s best friend.

Nonna

Nonna's sophisticated Italian food sets the bar high.

Tubby’s Ice House

Colorful decor, an engaging staff, and tasty food.

The Frutería

Johnny Hernandez's SoFLo cantina offers a fresh take on all things Mexican.

Botika

Botika enchants with an evocative space and unique menu of Asian and Latin American fusion.

Dakotas

Dakotas is known locally for steaks, but don't miss the seafood and pastas.

Queen’s Bar-B-Que

Smoked meat and house-made cobblers two blocks from the beach.

Marina Bar & Grill

Fresh seafood and spectacular views.

Farm to Fork

Locally sourced and seasonal fare on wheels.

Magdalena’s Supper Club

Juan Rodriguez's multicourse Mexican affairs are reasons for celebration.

Los Asaderos

Ample supplies of old-school south-of-the-border flavors satisfy in a no-frills setting.

Taft-Díaz

History and fusion unite at the Stanton House, in downtown El Paso.

Felix Culpa

A big presence in a small space, with lively pop art and European-tinged comfort food.

Mess

Chicken and waffles cooked just right.

Alice Blue

Claire Smith's redo of Shade gives the Heights a new rising star.

Rise N°1

A sophisticated, French-inspired spot offering a menu of sweet and savory soufflés.

Bar Peached

Lively cocktails and eclectic Asian fare in a breezy setting.

Café Central

From steaks its dry-aged in house to excellent wines, Café Central offers the city’s finest dining.

José

With a Jalisco-influenced menu, José feels like a splashy Mexican resort airlifted to North Dallas.

Brett’s BBQ Shop

Wedged between a tailor’s shop and a vacuum store in a Katy strip mall, Brett’s is inconspicuous, to say the least. But when we walked in, general manager Jacqueline Herrera promptly greeted us, expertly determined our order based on hunger level and party size, and pointed us toward the weekends-only

Rusty Buckle BBQ Company

Marty B’s

Blood Bros. BBQ

Many of Houston’s best eateries are tucked inside strip malls, and Blood Bros. is a great example. Owners Quy Hoang and Terry and Robin Wong, who grew up together in Alief, first cut their teeth at pop-ups around town; their brick-and-mortar location has become a bustling hub for inventive barbecue

Louie’s BBQ

Stiky Ribz BBQ

Zavala’s Barbecue

Joe Zavala aimed to bring his South Texas heritage to the Metroplex, as you can see in such items as the Sloppy Juan (chopped brisket, pulled pork, and barbecue sauce wrapped in a locally made tortilla) and in delectable sauces such as the Green Sauce (made with poblanos, cilantro, serranos,

Vargas Cut & Catch

Paco Vargas has done it again, serving seafood and steaks in a contemporary setting.

Uncle Henry’s Tamales

Green’s Texas BBQ

Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que

Joann’s Fine Foods

A stylish all-day kitchen from Liz and Lou Lambert.

Dragonfly Wine & Sushi Bistro

The sushi here makes the ocean seem not so far away.

Fusion Peru

An unassuming spot for great Peruvian food.

The Playwright Irish Pub

Cozy Irish pub brings good, affordable food to the Arts District.

Namo

Hand rolls star at this handsome Uptown sushi bar.

Shun Japanese Kitchen

Innovative and seasonal Japanese fare.

Kulture

Upmarket Southern cuisine in a dramatic downtown setting.

Campo Azul

Come for the carnitas, stay for the margaritas.

Ardovino’s Desert Crossing

Texas and New Mexico meet for great pizza, pastas, steaks, and more.

Indianola

Casual American food in the trendy EaDo district.

Flower Child

Nutritious fare served in a happy space.

Kai

The Lombardis strike gold in Legacy West.

Toro Burger Bar

Creative burgers imported from El Paso.

Mar y Tierra

A modern, homey spot for Mexican standards.

Wabi House

A hipster hangout serving stylized Japanese favorites.

Tre Trattoria

Located in the historic Beretta Hops House, energetic Tre holds down the Italian fort.

Next Bistro

A swanky remodel highlights chef Ying Aikens's contemporary renditions of elegant dishes.

Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que

The offerings are piled high at Brett’s, which serves some of the most indulgent craft barbecue in Central Texas. From an extensive menu—baby back ribs, pork spareribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, four kinds of sausages, sandwiches, nine sides, dessert—a single plate can arrive with enough food to feed multiple mouths.

The Switch

Whitfield’s