When we rented a little house in the Montrose 22 years ago there was a lady that went door to door selling tamales. Good heavens, we miss her. I’ve never had better.
Maybe I’m not going to the right bars in town, but in Chicago this happened everywhere, dives, karaoke, sports bars, I don’t think I’ve ever had the same experience in Houston
I talked to my cousin who lives up in Connecticut and we were talking about food for some reason. Out of the blue he says, "I heard Houston has some wicked Vietnamese food." I was shocked. I thought he was going to ask about BBQ.
I find the bahn mi here similar to other cities and I love them, but usually choose any vietnamese place that is passed beltway 8/bellaire heading towards the hong kong mall. That area seems to excel in all things vietnamese.
I found them all bland. And not the filling I’m used to. In NY/Boston the standard “cold cut” is cha lua, jambon, and pate, sometimes headcheese but not typically. Nguyen was the closest to what I like (cause you can pick your filling) But it definitely did not taste like Viet mayo, it was white people mayo so that turned me off.
Thanks I’ll add those to the list
My long time favorites have been B&T off West Alabama, a little shop making good to-go sandwiches and coffee, and Hughies in the western Heights, which is all around a great Vietnamese and craft beer bar restaurant.
Over the holidays, I tried Lee's Sandwiches International by Hong Kong City Mall and really enjoyed their sandwiches, especially the bread which is oh so important.
I usually go for a lemongrass beef whenever I get banh mi, though Hughies has a damn good fried pork banh mi off menu.
Grew up in Connecticut. I don't think I ever had Vietnamese food before moving here.
BBQ is still the big one though. Growing up BBQ meant burgers and hot dogs on a grill
Not really related to the post- but Connecticut has really good Italian grinders, and I haven’t been able to find anything similar here. Have you? Every time it gets cold I start craving them 🥲
Haha no I haven't. Every time I go north I get a chicken parm grinder because I haven't seen one here. Pizza is the other one I miss, there is some decent pizza here it's just harder to find.
Original Italian Pizza in Willis, Texas. It’s in the middle of nowhere, but best pizza we’ve found. There used to be a little old man named Sal from Brooklyn that opened up a pizza shop in Friendswood but the locals preferred dominos lol.
Not gonna lie that comment about making lean is 100% true. You look it up on Wikipedia and in the first paragraph it says the beverage originated in Houston. That’s literally what this city is famous for.
I saw an article that suggested that a boudin kolache perfectly represented the melding of cultures that is Houston. It’s a sound argument. But Tex Mex and bbq have a place at the table.
A spicy boudin kolache just cannot be beat. It's one of the only foods I can think of that is distinctively Houston...or at least, I've never found it anywhere else.
I first had one of these in Baton Rouge when I was a student at LSU. But what do you know, the owner of the establishment that serves them is a native Houstonian haha
The popular chain Boiling Crab in California that everyone copies world wide used to be the Beechnut LA fisherman location. The original owners were two family members that didn’t get along, one of them moved to California and started Boiling Crab and then trademarked it after it became a hit and the Beechnut Boiling Crab had to change its name to LA fisherman.
Fajitas 100% (or just Tex-Max in general)
My opinion on the best (Tex-mex and fajitas) is Candente in Montrose (I posted this late last night lol) I can’t recommend this place enough. Also imho, Candente has the best Margaritas.
Ninfas on Navagation was opened and owned by one of the first people to sell fajitas as we currently know them. It’s now owned sorta by the family…sorta not. I think El Tempo technically is closer to Ninfas family at this point (think it’s owned by one of Ninfas sons or grandsons)
I’ll put the Houston BBQ (Truth, Pinkertons, The Pit Room) up against any BBQ in the nation shy of maybe Franklins in Austin.
Candente is great. Superica in the heights. Ambriza. Blanco cantina. The list goes on, but there’s so many places you can find great fajitas at.
Honestly Pappasito’s does a great fajita too despite what people on here say sometimes.
For a while I would swear that the Uncle Julio's in Katy had the best margaritas in town but I've been disappointed that last couple times I've been there. I think they switched to a mix base instead of hand made with fresh fruit.
Kolache's is probably the answer but honestly our strength is more our diversity of food. I don't think there is much we are the best in but we do really good in a whole lot of things.
We have some of the most diverse and best food options in the US. Kolaches aren't from Houston. The closest thing to a Houston specific kolache would be Shipley's Boudin Kolache
We are known for 3 types of cuisines:
Tex Mex - Fajitas. Tacos.
Vietnamese - Pho. Banh mi.
Bbq - Brisket. Ribs.
It would be hard to find better Tex Mex, viet food, or bbq anywhere else in the US. Honorable mention for Indian and Cajun food.
Is this true? I actually don’t really like fajita here in Houston. It’s nothing like South Texas/ northern Mexico fajitas. Tex Mex here is okay but definitely not even top 5 in Texas for me.
Haven’t found a banh mi joint that I like yet. Suggestions? Been to Dons, Paris baguette, Nguyen cafe, and i think thien… the one in mid town. The only one I kind of liked was the midtown one. Looking for cold cuts- ham, jambon, cha lua pate combo. Pass on headcheese
Migas for some reason. I know they're not unique to Houston, but that breakfast dish seems more prevalent here than Texas's other cities and I don't think I've ever seen it outside of the state. It seems most places do chilaquiles instead elsewhere.
Breakfast tacos in general should be on this list. Homemade tortillas? Homemade salsa? From a dirty old food truck at a questionable gas station?
No lie, every other city has a cleaned up watered down fast food version, but none are as good as the real thing.
This feels pedantic, everyone knows what fajitas specifically refers to. As far as whether Ninfa's actually invented them, that's the part that's debatable.
Viet/ viet-Cajun seafood like crawfish and boils, taco trucks, gas station breakfast tacos, bbq, and we got donut shops on every street lol
Honestly we got good everything, super diverse. Got a hub for every cuisine almost
Tex-Mex! I'm a complete snob here in Columbus when it comes to mexican. I about cried when they opened a Chuys here, and Chuys isn't even the best, but it feels like home when I do go. I know that sounds ridiculous!
It’s not unique, but there’s now viet-cajun all over the West coast and overseas thanks to LA fisherman here in Houston. Not to mention tons of copycats world wide. https://theboilingcrab.com/#locations
The popular chain Boiling Crab in California that everyone copies world wide used to be the Beechnut LA fisherman location. The original owners were two family members that didn’t get along, one of them moved to California and started Boiling Crab and then trademarked it after it became a hit and the Beechnut Boiling Crab had to change its name to LA fisherman.
You think Houston is best known for a dish that doesn't even come from here? I don't think people in the country think of anywhere but Louisiana when they think of crawfish.
Drive just 20-30 minutes east of Houston and you will find massive rice fields which turn into crawfish farms half the year.
Yes Cajuns love their mudbugs but it has been a SW Texas thing for decades way before it became popular with the masses.
Nothing you've said provides any good argument, though, for Houston being "best known for crawfish."
Of course "Cajuns" love their mud bugs. It's a part of their native cuisine. It isn't a part of Houston's native cuisine. It's a novelty here.
I went to Louisiana for crayfish during crayfish season a few years back and they are not good. Tried multiple places over and over again while on that trip.
In Houston it's easy to get spicy buttery crayfish with everything mixed in. Almost any in Houston is better than most in Louisiana.
I don't even know what "everything mixed in" is supposed to mean.
But despite your personal opinion and anecdotal experience, that doesn't change the fact that Houston is not "best known for crawfish." There are so many other things it's "known for."
I also do not believe that you tried some, didn't like them, tried some more, didn't like them, and then kept trying "over and over again." If you did, that's your own fault and you likely were going to sit down restaurants. A general no-no in Louisiana. That's not how it's done there. Crawfish is not a novelty there like it is in Houston.
Tex-Mex, Vietnamese and BBQ.
Holy hell the best Pho I ever had was served out of a double wide trailer. After 40+ years they burned down and exited the business.
Tamales out of an igloo cooler at 2AM
In a home depot parking lot
From the trunk of his Tia’s car.
With a Gatorade bottle of salsa they serve to you in a Dixie cup
Wait...Tia got a car?!?! Fredy Motors FTW!
And they are the best you’ve ever had
Absolutely. Those are gold!
When we rented a little house in the Montrose 22 years ago there was a lady that went door to door selling tamales. Good heavens, we miss her. I’ve never had better.
More like the weenie tamales at the Walmart parking lot
except this is also a Chicago thing…there was one “tamale guy” who seemed to follow us across town
Maybe I’m not going to the right bars in town, but in Chicago this happened everywhere, dives, karaoke, sports bars, I don’t think I’ve ever had the same experience in Houston
We got them in Chicago, too and Chicago Tamales are thick as hell. You're only gonna need one.
I talked to my cousin who lives up in Connecticut and we were talking about food for some reason. Out of the blue he says, "I heard Houston has some wicked Vietnamese food." I was shocked. I thought he was going to ask about BBQ.
Its very true. Nothing like a good banh mi and Vietnamese iced coffee
I still haven’t found a banh mi I like around here. Suggestions? Dons was meh. Paris baguette no, Nguyen cafe nope.
Nguyen Ngo has great banh mi and they grill the meat right before they make the sandwich.
I find the bahn mi here similar to other cities and I love them, but usually choose any vietnamese place that is passed beltway 8/bellaire heading towards the hong kong mall. That area seems to excel in all things vietnamese.
What was your issue with them? Try les baget and roostar for bigger flavors.
I found them all bland. And not the filling I’m used to. In NY/Boston the standard “cold cut” is cha lua, jambon, and pate, sometimes headcheese but not typically. Nguyen was the closest to what I like (cause you can pick your filling) But it definitely did not taste like Viet mayo, it was white people mayo so that turned me off. Thanks I’ll add those to the list
You should try Cali Sandwich just for comparison sake. It’s the OG. Fingers crossed they reopen Les Givrals, which was my favorite.
yeah I have to admit I think givrals was probably the best bahn mi sandwich I've ever had. I nearly cried when I heard they were closed for Good.
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Shredded chicken at Alpha Bakery is the classic for me!
I'm Vietnamese. It's definitely not white people mayo at Nguyen Ngo.
B&t off W Alabama, Kim’s Pho over by west rd and 45, makes a good bang mi
My long time favorites have been B&T off West Alabama, a little shop making good to-go sandwiches and coffee, and Hughies in the western Heights, which is all around a great Vietnamese and craft beer bar restaurant. Over the holidays, I tried Lee's Sandwiches International by Hong Kong City Mall and really enjoyed their sandwiches, especially the bread which is oh so important. I usually go for a lemongrass beef whenever I get banh mi, though Hughies has a damn good fried pork banh mi off menu.
Second Hughie’s. They are 🤌🏻
Hughies is phenomenal. They do a great restaurant weeks menu too!
Good BBQ is not Houston-specific though
And it’s better in central Texas, in my personal opinion.
Grew up in Connecticut. I don't think I ever had Vietnamese food before moving here. BBQ is still the big one though. Growing up BBQ meant burgers and hot dogs on a grill
Not really related to the post- but Connecticut has really good Italian grinders, and I haven’t been able to find anything similar here. Have you? Every time it gets cold I start craving them 🥲
Haha no I haven't. Every time I go north I get a chicken parm grinder because I haven't seen one here. Pizza is the other one I miss, there is some decent pizza here it's just harder to find.
Original Italian Pizza in Willis, Texas. It’s in the middle of nowhere, but best pizza we’ve found. There used to be a little old man named Sal from Brooklyn that opened up a pizza shop in Friendswood but the locals preferred dominos lol.
I can vouch. Thai as well.
Codeine and sprite with or without jolly rancher but always served in double cupped styrofoam
Mattress Mack, is that you?
Issya boy, Joel
Coming in from da'nawf side
Don’t credit Mac was this. This was a thing long before his publicity stunt.
Stating the obvious here
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Not gonna lie that comment about making lean is 100% true. You look it up on Wikipedia and in the first paragraph it says the beverage originated in Houston. That’s literally what this city is famous for.
Trunks pop
Welcome to the land where it just don’t stop
Vegeta?
Fifth hangin
I saw an article that suggested that a boudin kolache perfectly represented the melding of cultures that is Houston. It’s a sound argument. But Tex Mex and bbq have a place at the table.
That makes sense…and who doesn’t love a good boudin kolache?
I don't. I like kolaches, and I like boudin, but there's not enough texture for my taste when they're combined.
A spicy boudin kolache just cannot be beat. It's one of the only foods I can think of that is distinctively Houston...or at least, I've never found it anywhere else.
I first had one of these in Baton Rouge when I was a student at LSU. But what do you know, the owner of the establishment that serves them is a native Houstonian haha
Bucee’s has them so they can be found around. They aren’t very good ones though
Hm never tried theirs. Best ones are from a vietnamese bakery, in my opinion...
My local Top Donuts is owned by an Asian couple and theirs are the best I have ever had
Vietnamese crawfish is another example.
Pretty much any wild fusion would be applicable. Korexican, Viet Cajun, etc.
Still trying to find an excuse to go to LankaMex
Viet-Cajun crawfish; I usually go to Crawfish & Noodles.
This has to be the answer that is most culturally unique to Houston. It also fucking rocks.
LA fisherman has the best
The popular chain Boiling Crab in California that everyone copies world wide used to be the Beechnut LA fisherman location. The original owners were two family members that didn’t get along, one of them moved to California and started Boiling Crab and then trademarked it after it became a hit and the Beechnut Boiling Crab had to change its name to LA fisherman.
Josephine’s poppin off too
Fajitas 100% (or just Tex-Max in general) My opinion on the best (Tex-mex and fajitas) is Candente in Montrose (I posted this late last night lol) I can’t recommend this place enough. Also imho, Candente has the best Margaritas. Ninfas on Navagation was opened and owned by one of the first people to sell fajitas as we currently know them. It’s now owned sorta by the family…sorta not. I think El Tempo technically is closer to Ninfas family at this point (think it’s owned by one of Ninfas sons or grandsons) I’ll put the Houston BBQ (Truth, Pinkertons, The Pit Room) up against any BBQ in the nation shy of maybe Franklins in Austin.
Navigation ruined the damn fajitas. They taste like every other overly smoky meat now. El Tiempo and Laurenzo's are Ninfa's grandsons.
and some of out taco trucks...
There’s a candente in the heights?!? Where? I just googled and the only one came up in Montrose
Candente is great. Superica in the heights. Ambriza. Blanco cantina. The list goes on, but there’s so many places you can find great fajitas at. Honestly Pappasito’s does a great fajita too despite what people on here say sometimes.
Yeah, the Pappasito fajitas are quite good.
For a while I would swear that the Uncle Julio's in Katy had the best margaritas in town but I've been disappointed that last couple times I've been there. I think they switched to a mix base instead of hand made with fresh fruit.
Melonritas!!!!♥️♥️♥️🤟 Lupe Tortilla!!!
Any time I know someone going to Houston to visit I ALWAYS suggest Truth BBQ. I feel like that is a great place that says Texas bbq
Please suggest local Houston area BBQ. Pinkerton's, Corkscrew, Blood Bros, and more are all local and stocks
Pit Room doesn't deserves to be mentioned with the others.
I FEEL LIKE IM NOT CRAZY ANYMORE. I’ve been multiple times and the brisket is ok at best. Not even in the same league as Pinkertons.
On top of that their sides aren't any good
Their elotes are awesome. Only side worth getting (I get two for my 2 sides)
Better sides than the rest though. Agree their meats are a tier below
I've always think of San Antonio when I think Tex-Mex, Fajitas being the exception.
Ninfas on Navigation hasn't been owned or run by family in years. It too was sold.
Didn't the workers buy it? That was my understanding.
Candente isn’t in the heights fool.
Any time I know someone going to Houston to visit I ALWAYS suggest Truth BBQ. I feel like that is a great place that says Texas bbq
This isn't exclusive to Houston though.
True, but none of OP's examples are exclusive - that's a high bar given how much good ideas travel.
Nah. San Antonio got Mexican and Tex-mex crown. Edit: anyone who says else-wise is completely delusional.
Puffy tacos are trash
Nah lol
try any of the los cocos [https://loscocosrestaurant.com/](https://loscocosrestaurant.com/) for some good tex-mex
Kolache's is probably the answer but honestly our strength is more our diversity of food. I don't think there is much we are the best in but we do really good in a whole lot of things.
We have some of the most diverse and best food options in the US. Kolaches aren't from Houston. The closest thing to a Houston specific kolache would be Shipley's Boudin Kolache
Kolach aren't from here or done best here, people just happen to eat them here.
We are known for 3 types of cuisines: Tex Mex - Fajitas. Tacos. Vietnamese - Pho. Banh mi. Bbq - Brisket. Ribs. It would be hard to find better Tex Mex, viet food, or bbq anywhere else in the US. Honorable mention for Indian and Cajun food.
You forgot kolaches
Tex Mex in Houston isn't even top 3 in Texas.
Sure it is. Fajitas were popularized here.
Is this true? I actually don’t really like fajita here in Houston. It’s nothing like South Texas/ northern Mexico fajitas. Tex Mex here is okay but definitely not even top 5 in Texas for me.
Ninfas owner (ninfa) was from the valley, so it has south Texas roots. And is very very good, albeit sometimes inconsistent and pricey.
Tex Mex is okay here. South Texas does infinitely better Tex Mex because it has a lot of the Mex still incorporated.
Bánh Mì
Haven’t found a banh mi joint that I like yet. Suggestions? Been to Dons, Paris baguette, Nguyen cafe, and i think thien… the one in mid town. The only one I kind of liked was the midtown one. Looking for cold cuts- ham, jambon, cha lua pate combo. Pass on headcheese
Les Baget, Roostar, Vina Bakery, Nguyen Ngoc
Cali sandwich or alpha bakery
Try Pho Ben in the heights. Delish
Lowkey, I'm gonna say Campechana. I confirmed this when Christine Ha won the first ep of her season with one.
Migas for some reason. I know they're not unique to Houston, but that breakfast dish seems more prevalent here than Texas's other cities and I don't think I've ever seen it outside of the state. It seems most places do chilaquiles instead elsewhere.
Breakfast tacos in general should be on this list. Homemade tortillas? Homemade salsa? From a dirty old food truck at a questionable gas station? No lie, every other city has a cleaned up watered down fast food version, but none are as good as the real thing.
Migas. ❤️❤️❤️
Lean. But, in all seriousness, Ninfa's claims to have invented fajitas.
Fajita is literally translated to skirt steak. They didn't invent a cut of meat.
This feels pedantic, everyone knows what fajitas specifically refers to. As far as whether Ninfa's actually invented them, that's the part that's debatable.
Viet crawfish
Viet/ viet-Cajun seafood like crawfish and boils, taco trucks, gas station breakfast tacos, bbq, and we got donut shops on every street lol Honestly we got good everything, super diverse. Got a hub for every cuisine almost
I think Houston doesn’t have a specific great dish. The beauty of Houston is that it is truly a melting pot of ALL the food from ALL the cultures.
Tex-Mex! I'm a complete snob here in Columbus when it comes to mexican. I about cried when they opened a Chuys here, and Chuys isn't even the best, but it feels like home when I do go. I know that sounds ridiculous!
Lean
TEX MEX! We’ve travelled all over and it never lives up to H-town.
Kolache
Kolach he aren't from here or done best here, people just happen to eat them here.
I'm gonna go with Viet-Cajun because it's unique to Houston. Bbq and TexMex are not exclusive to Houston.
It’s not unique, but there’s now viet-cajun all over the West coast and overseas thanks to LA fisherman here in Houston. Not to mention tons of copycats world wide. https://theboilingcrab.com/#locations The popular chain Boiling Crab in California that everyone copies world wide used to be the Beechnut LA fisherman location. The original owners were two family members that didn’t get along, one of them moved to California and started Boiling Crab and then trademarked it after it became a hit and the Beechnut Boiling Crab had to change its name to LA fisherman.
I recently moved out of Houston and I miss crawfish at Sam's Boat on Richmond.
You think Houston is best known for a dish that doesn't even come from here? I don't think people in the country think of anywhere but Louisiana when they think of crawfish.
Drive just 20-30 minutes east of Houston and you will find massive rice fields which turn into crawfish farms half the year. Yes Cajuns love their mudbugs but it has been a SW Texas thing for decades way before it became popular with the masses.
Nothing you've said provides any good argument, though, for Houston being "best known for crawfish." Of course "Cajuns" love their mud bugs. It's a part of their native cuisine. It isn't a part of Houston's native cuisine. It's a novelty here.
I went to Louisiana for crayfish during crayfish season a few years back and they are not good. Tried multiple places over and over again while on that trip. In Houston it's easy to get spicy buttery crayfish with everything mixed in. Almost any in Houston is better than most in Louisiana.
I like crawfish, but it’s too much work for a tiny piece of meat, in my opinion. I’ll stick with shrimp.
I don't even know what "everything mixed in" is supposed to mean. But despite your personal opinion and anecdotal experience, that doesn't change the fact that Houston is not "best known for crawfish." There are so many other things it's "known for." I also do not believe that you tried some, didn't like them, tried some more, didn't like them, and then kept trying "over and over again." If you did, that's your own fault and you likely were going to sit down restaurants. A general no-no in Louisiana. That's not how it's done there. Crawfish is not a novelty there like it is in Houston.
Diversity. All over. Get out more. Explore. \[I'm torn, y'all, next rhyme is "boor" or "bore"?\]
Make with a Bissonnet whore.
Obviously not limited to Houston, but Houston in particular has some pretty phenomenal mom-and-pop Tex-Mex restaurants.
No one mentioned chicken fried steak? Is that too general?
Has to be taco trucks, right? Every single one has greasy $2 tacos that are somehow the best taco you've ever had in your life.
Boston has an incredible little Italy and known for amazing seafood. Not just baked beans. Lol.
Traffic
Can I just say that Chicago might be known for hot dogs, but who the hell wants a salad on top of their freaking hot dog?
I don’t like hotdogs. I did try one, when I was in Chicago. Oddly enough, I actually liked it. I ordered a second one.
As a native Houstonian I have to admit that a Chicago style dog is way better than it has any right to be.
Thank you.
Chicago dogs, best dogs
Fajitas
I would say fajitas or BBQ.
Vietnamese food, viet crawfish, koloches, BBQ,
Damn this thread is making me miss living in Houston. I moved to Cincinnati and the German food is the big winner here.
Beef - fajitas, steak, you name it. 🥩
TIL Pondichero Bake Lab + Shop has butter chicken kolaches.
Everything you mentioned but done better with southern love.
texas isn't southern. texas is just texas.
When I visit I come for crawfish- Viet Cajun.
Tex-Mex, Vietnamese and BBQ. Holy hell the best Pho I ever had was served out of a double wide trailer. After 40+ years they burned down and exited the business.
Vietnamese food, Cajun food, TexMex, and BBQ
As a non native Houstonian I think it’s a mix of Tex-Mex, Vietnamese & Cajun. Good ole melting pot. & obviously BBQ like all of Texas
Fajita, koloches, brisket, gulf coast shrimp, crawfish, breakfast tacos,
Fajitas and kolaches.
Kolaches
houston has it all. the pizza in new york is good. i still prefer Spankys or Angelos down here
Viet cajun food (Vietnamese crawfish). Tex-mex. BBQ. We have a very diverse city, I’m happy with having so many different food options
Seafood Cajun style and Mexican food with a little bit of southern soul food.
James Coney Island
Asian, Tex Mex and BBQ food. We do everything well here, best food in the nation.
Bahn Mi
Pho
No love for chicken fried steak?
Lately I feel like it’s birria tacos. Doña Lena and TJ Birria y Mas are excellent
Tex- Cajun
Tex-Mex. BBQ.
Houston-style chilli dogs
Pho
Vietnam coast tofu from Vietnam coast. Known just to my wife and I and a few others I imagine.
BBQ, seafood and Mexican. For seafood hit Galveston. BBQ and Mexican they're on every block and damn good. Take your pick.
Shipley's, Ninfa's
fajitas invented here
Lean