The best restaurants in Houston for 2026

Grab a seat at the neon-lit bar or in the Bangkok-themed dining room of this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant for knockout Thai food from James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan “G” Jabthong Painter. Expect updated takes on classics, like pad Thai with Gulf shrimp, along with showstopping natural wines and cocktails curated by G’s husband and sommelier, Graham Painter.

Like his beloved food stall, James Beard semifinalist Ope Amosu’s first brick-and-mortar restaurant is a full-on celebration of the West African diaspora. Come for hits like jollof jambalaya, suya with yaji peanut pepper spice, and a deviled Scotch egg that landed the restaurant spots on the New York Times’, Esquire’s, and Eater’s 2025 best-of lists. Don’t miss playful cocktails like a plantain-garnished old fashioned, ideal for lingering in the vibrant space decked out with African textiles, books, and records.

An opulent two-story space filled with carved wooden columns and brocade paneling sets the stage for regal Indian feasts at Musaafer. Expect elegant, à la carte dishes like kofta meatballs with Texas wagyu along with a decadent multi-course tasting menu starring the likes of caviar and a lamb chop with beetroot dust. Add in theatrical, tableside presentations and inventive cocktails like a paan-infused negroni, and it’s easy to see why the restaurant earned a MICHELIN Star.

Chef Felipe Riccio trained at top restaurants like Italy’s famed Osteria Francescana, and that pedigree shines at MICHELIN-Starred March. In an elegant, art-filled space, Riccio delights with a rotating six- and nine-course tasting menu spotlighting a new Mediterranean region each season. Past dishes included paella with lamb chorizo and sweetbreads, paired with luscious wines and the restaurant’s signature herbal-infused vermouth.

BCN Taste and Tradition is where you go for the ultimate Spanish fine-dining experience, thanks to Barcelona native and chef Luis Roger. In a charming 1920’s-style bungalow decked with art from Spanish artists like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, Roger impresses with artfully plated dishes like a suckling Ibérico pig and salt-cured cod with saffron mousseline. Stellar, all-Spanish wines and a deep gin and tonic list add to the transportative vibe at this MICHELIN-Starred Montrose gem.

This opulent Autry Park steakhouse from notable Houston restaurateur Benjamin Berg dazzles with premium steaks and equally luxe decor. Expect rare cuts of meat, plus white-gloved servers wheeling tableside carts of ice-cold martinis and raw seafood in an intimate, candle-lit dining room with nightly live music.

Southern staples get progressive twists at this Houston mainstay helmed by acclaimed chef and James Beard finalist Chris Williams. In a 1920s mission-style home dressed with warm woods and family photographs, he brings a refined touch to Texas favorites like tender oxtail tamales and a brined, slow-fried yardbird with honey-spiced gravy—all inspired by his great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith, a culinary innovator in her day.

With a Moorish arch-framed bar, clusters of olive trees, and colorful Turkish rugs, a meal at this buzzy Israeli spot is a fully immersive experience. Grab a seat in the energetic dining room or on the charming patio for shareable Middle Eastern-inspired small plates, grilled meat skewers, and arak flights. Come on Thursday evenings to be dazzled by belly dancers in traditional garb and beats from local DJs.

At her namesake restaurant, 2023 James Beard semifinalist Kiran Verma serves up inventive dishes that pair traditional Indian flavors and techniques with local ingredients. The results are wholly unique: tandoori Texas quail with fig chutney or goat cheese and beet salad with masala cashews, for example. Weekends are an especially fun time to dine, when afternoon tea service stars the restaurant’s signature chai blend.

The Houston Chronicle, Eater, Esquire, The Infatuation, and more have all heaped praise on this gorgeous seafood restaurant in Montrose. Chef Jason Ryczek puts a fresh spin on Gulf cuisine with dishes like baked Gulf oysters stuffed with blue crab and absinthe or chicken fried snapper with sauce ravigote. The raw bar is a main focus, as is caviar service if you’re feeling flush, and the creative cocktails, such as the vodka-based Dill Breaker, served at the beautiful mirrored bar are another reason the restaurant has become a local favorite.

Owner Alba Huerta has racked up accolades—including a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program—for her top-notch cocktails incorporating unusual ingredients like marigold leaves. Sip them in an airy, floral-strewn parlor that also serves up an elegant menu of seasonal small plates like Gulf Coast oysters and tomato “caviar” with watermelon.