Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bloofin Sushi

5.0

5 (25)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Spring

About the restaurant

Welcome to Bloofin Sushi and Bar!
Dedicated to serve the finest and freshest fish from Japan. Celebrate the traditional umami flavor of Japanese culinary, with a modern touch.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Great food and service. Unique options such as fresh ground wasabi made for a memorable dining experience.

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Experience

Social Hour

Soto - Houston

4.9

4.9 (615)

$50 and over

Sushi

Montrose

About the restaurant

Soto offers sushi dressed to taste giving you a unique experience you won't forget. Chef Andy and team curated an award winning menu that also features two different Omakase'. Our bar carries an extensive Japanese whiskey and sake menu guaranteed to have something you will love. Stop in today for an upscale Japanese dining experience!

Top review

RhondaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great Omakase- and wonderful waiter nice casual environment

Joyce's Seafood & Steaks

4.9

4.9 (487)

$30 and under

Seafood

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks is a neighborhood bistro experience in Houston that has become a favorite with locals ever since opening the doors in 1997. Known for the freshest Gulf seafood and mouthwatering steaks, Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks has been given kudos and awards galore, including from Houston Press, Texas Monthly, Saveur Magazine and the Houston Chronicle.

House specialties at Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks include lobster and shrimp enchiladas, seafood gumbo, fresh fish, and Texas Gulf oysters . For something other than seafood try the filet mignon. Just be sure to save some room for dessert because the white chocolate bread pudding with pecans and bourbon sauce is to die for.

Top review

RODVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Fabulous food and service. Couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (4101)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Galveston

About the restaurant

Paco is the definition of the "All American Dream", awarded the 2019 "Faces of Diversity Award" by the National Restaurant Association. This prestigious award honors those who have achieved success through perservance and determination embodying the American Dream.

Rudy & Paco's offer the freshest seafood and steaks with a Central American flare. Come experience fine dining at its best with Paco and his staff.

We are honored to have the opportunity and privilege to serve you and your family.

~ Paco Vargas and Family

Lunch - Street parking is available, pay at parking meter or by App
Dinner - Street parking is free after 6 pm.

Dress code is strictly enforced for Dinner.
No shorts for men, women (including rompers) and children. Men must have a collared shirt (no t-shirts) and no hats.

Dress code for Lunch is casual with shorts acceptable but no hats.

Top review

Faaye

Dined 1 day ago

Delicious food with excellent service. Definitely will return in the near future

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Handies Douzo - Heights

4.9

4.9 (118)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

Handies Douzo is Houston's first hand roll focused sushi bar in the trendy Houston Heights neighborhood opened in 2019. With over 25 years of combined experience in award winning Japanese cuisine and sushi, rising star chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee present their first brick and mortar restaurant.

Top review

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Cozy yet fun and friendly ambiance over delicious food! Must try if you love sushi and fresh Japanese cuisine! Highly recommend and would definitely come back!

Handies Douzo - Montrose

5.0

5 (128)

$30 and under

Sushi

Montrose

About the restaurant

Handies Douzo is Houston's first hand roll focused sushi bar. Following the popularity in the Heights, the team brings its second location to Montrose in 2022. With over 25 years of combined experience in award winning Japanese cuisine and sushi, rising star chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee are excited to join the trendy neighborhood.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 2 days ago

Have been wanting to try this place for awhile- it was so good! They know what they’re doing and it was some of the best sushi I have had in Houston.

Uchi Houston

4.9

4.9 (4562)

$50 and over

Sushi

Montrose

About the restaurant

Bringing its hallmark level of quality and service to an urban location, Uchi Houston made its debut in 2012 in the former historic Felix space on Westheimer. Melding culinary innovation with an approachable vibe, the menu features items culled from both Uchi and Uchiko in Austin, along with signature seasonal items created by our Chef team. Reservations are encouraged and can be booked online up to 1 month in advance. Walk-in bar seating is available and is subject to wait times. We look forward to serving you, Kanpai!

Top review

Thomas

Dined on Jul 3, 2025

The best place in Houston for fusion sushi. I’ve been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. The staff is amazing!

Aburi Sushi

4.9

4.9 (106)

$31 to $50

Sushi

University of Houston

About the restaurant

Aburi refers to the technique of torching fish, enhancing its flavor by lightly searing it. This process not only brings out the fish's taste but also benefits from the use of premium Japanese white oak charcoal, imparting a subtle smokiness & effectively filtering out torch-related gases. Aburi involves a gentle searing, leaving the fish partially cooked.

Hailing from Houston, a city renowned for its cultural diversity, our restaurant draws inspiration from this multicultural hub. Despite our Japanese name, our culinary concept transcends borders, aiming to showcase a medley of global cuisines, mirroring the diverse food scene of Houston.

Fresh fish is flown in directly from Tsukiji Market, Japan.

ATTENTION:
We recommend arriving early to experience our specialty cocktail menu before dining!

Top review

Miranda

Dined 6 days ago

Wagyu Beef was amazing! I also got one of the hand rolls. It was good, but didn’t stand out like the beef. Spicy edamame was also great.

Amrina

4.9

4.9 (606)

$50 and over

Contemporary Indian

The Woodlands

About the restaurant

Located off the beautiful Waterway of The Woodlands, Amrina is a fine-dining eclectic restaurant. The menu is a testament to the artistry of Chef Jassi and his chefs, crafted with an unparalleled devotion to culinary excellence. From the opulence of oysters and caviar to an array of tantalizing vegetarian, meat, and seafood delights, every dish reflects the diversity and richness of Indian gastronomy. Steaks include succulent filet mignon, mouthwatering bone-in ribeye, ever-popular New York strip, and sumptuous A5 Miyazaki ribeye.

The restaurant has been honored Restaurant of the Year 2022 by several publications, including Eater Houston. Alison Cook of the Houston Chronicle, has hailed Amrina “one of Houston’s most exciting restaurants, with destination-worthy dining”. Amrina has also been awarded the Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator.

Enjoy Happy Hour with colleagues, a date on the Patio, business in the Private Dining Room, or intimate experience at the Chef's Table!

Top review

PRAVEEN

Dined 5 days ago

Exceptional food quality, presentation and superb ambience

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Experience

Chef’s Table Experience

Experience

Main Dining Tasting Menu $150

Experience

Fantasy Hour - A Royal Happy Hour Experience

Bistro Le Cep

4.9

4.9 (1042)

$30 and under

French

Westchase

About the restaurant

Opened in 2001, Bistro Le Cep features French home cooking at its finest that can be best described as deeply flavored, elegant, yet straightforward. Combining traditional fine dining with a modern perspective, Bistro Le Cep will impress you and your guests with mouth-watering specialties inspired by authentic age old country recipes. We feature a well stocked bar and our extensive wine list includes an exceptional selection of grand vintages, as well as coveted wines from small producers.

Top review

Mary AnnVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

I took my granddaughter to dinner. It was perfect as usual. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The food is always excellent and this time was also. Sloane loved it and we will be back.

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