When you leave Toyota center, drive north on 45 until the restaurants are in Spanish names you don’t understand. Stop at any of them and order charro beans instead of refried. You can also drive south or east. Just not west. That's where people evacuate to during hurricanes.
If you're willing to brave the traffic of Chinatown/Vietnam town: Crawfish Cafe for Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish. Thien Thanh has my favorite Banh Cuon (Rice Rolls). They also have good Cha Ca Thang Long (Turmeric Grilled Catfish with Dill). Que Huong or Dakao for Com Tam dishes (Grilled Pork/Chicken/Beef over rice) Pho Dien is the spot for pho according to friends. Have only been there once, but I thought it was good. For dim sum, the popular spots are Ocean Palace, Bellaire Kim Son, and Fung's Kitchen. RIP Stafford Kim Son. Bakeries. Six Ping, Kamalan. 85c is okay, but its a big corporate chain. My Whataburger go-to's: Patty Melt Potato, Egg, Cheese breakfast taquito Chicken Strips
If if you are limited in your meals, and deff want to try some bbq and Tex/mex then I would highly recommend “The Pit Room” Or “Truth BBq for Tex mex or just mex. Teotihuacán on airline. great drinks and decent prices compared to other restaurants trust me
Since you are staying inside the 610 Loop and not that thrilled about being on the road & in traffic, you have the ability to go counter to heavy incoming traffic by doing your distant trips during the day. Places NASA Museum Menil Other museums(s)? To Be Determined Food & Beverage Indian Tex Mex Whataburger BBQ Brewery To Be Determined
I grew up in the NW outskirts. Moved from the area when I was 15. Threads like this remind me that I never got to fully/properly explore the city. Sometime when I'm in town visiting family, instead of staying on The Woodlands or Magnolia, I'm going to have to stay somewhere in the loop and explore properly. I love threads like these, when the suggestions are legit. To the OP, I hope you enjoy the great city. As someone else mentioned, I've always thought of it as a great place to live, but maybe not to visit. Will be curious of your thoughts.
What's with the hype on this place? I been there a few times and just tex-mex typical stuff and not incredibly flavorful. I didn't drink there the few times I been, so maybe that's why I missed out? If you want some real mexican: Buey y vaca at the Flea Market on Airline - They have a ton of greasy stuff here that's fantastic Tacos Tec (Monroe/45) - Very good for a variety of tacos Aguascalientes (Broadway/610) - Great for gorditas, probably some of the best intown. Cielito Cafe on Dunlavy Hugo's or Xochi (this is high end mexican priced food, however, Sunday brunch is your best bet since it's a buffet, but it is pricy). Tacos Los Gorditos on Telephone (damn good tacos al pastor or bistec; their frijoles charros are bomb too)
Huynh Vietnamese is great, especially the Com Bo Luc Lac (Shaker Beef). Pho Saigon has the best Pho in town. Thien An has very good Vietnamese food in general, including Banh Xeo. At lunchtime, Taqueria Laredo on Washington. There will be a wait line. La Mexicana on Montrose has excellent carne guisada.
And if you go to NASA you are just minutes away from giving Tilman more money at the kemah boardwalk!!! If you go to the kemah boardwalk, go to T-Bone Toms. Not owned by Tilman and is a bad ass joint.
Second T-bone Toms- amazing food. Unless it moved, it’s not on the Boardwalk, it’s on 146 on the left just past the Boardwalk. I would eat there then go to the Boardwalk and do the tourist ****.
The guy's got limited time and limited meals in Houston and yall are sending him to a nicer version of Kountry Kitchen and then the Kemah Boardwalk? Shameful s!!t.
Broh I said just go to a scary looking Pho place. Same for BBQ. Or really any food. The best places in H-Town are hole-in-the-wall places.
Is the Boardwalk worth it? I saw the city pass but did not feel I would be able to hit enough spots to make it worth our time. Of all the spots on the pass the Boardwalk was lowest on my list, am I mistaken in that?
Eh....it's a tourist thing. Kids love it because there are fountains that shoot up from the paved area and they can run around in the water. Carnival style games, roller coaster. I wouldn't make a special trip.