Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine 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!

Lucio's BYOB & Grill

4.9

4.9 (1294)

$50 and over

American

Montrose

About the restaurant

Lucio's is a hidden gem that takes the art of New American cuisine to new heights and offers a refined yet intimate dining experience, perfect for any occasion. Specializing in a menu that celebrates the best of both seafood and meats, every dish is crafted by our Chef using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients transforming them into bold, flavorful creations.
The warm and inviting atmosphere, combined with exceptional service, make the perfect spot for a memorable dinning experience.

Top review

CurtVIP

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Great diversified menu. everything on It is good from the tuna, to the lamb chops, to the duck, and ribeye, which is normally a special. Ask for Alayna’s apple pie!! Service outstanding. And it’s BYOB!

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

5.0

5 (611)

$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

JenniferVIP

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Outstanding food and service! Very creative menu and flavors!

Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar

5.0

5 (4093)

$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

Mike

Dined 7 days ago

Great always a good experience with food and service

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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!

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Experience

Handroll Eating Competition

Handies Douzo - Montrose

4.9

4.9 (126)

$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

JayVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Always amazing. The staff is so friendly and love the camaraderie among them. Makes it a great environment

Aburi Sushi

4.9

4.9 (105)

$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

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing!!! Fresh sushi, great service, beautiful restaurant.

Merlion Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (1708)

$30 and under

Thai

Kemah / Seabrook

About the restaurant

Escape to Merlion Restaurant, a culinary oasis in Seabrook where the vibrant flavors of Thailand await. Experience a warm and inviting atmosphere filled with the aroma of exotic spices and candlelight. Chef Andrew Lobeck, a second-generation expert in Thai cuisine, crafts each dish with passion and precision. From the delicate Pad Thai to the bold Panang curry, every creation highlights fresh local ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. Savor delectable appetizers like crispy Dragon Fire Dumplings and Crab & Cream Cheese Rolls. For your main course, explore the Rock The Wok dishes with fresh Thai basil and a medley of vegetables, or indulge in exquisite seafood options. Our extensive wine list is curated to enhance your meal, with knowledgeable staff ready to assist in finding the perfect pairing. Join us for an unforgettable dining experience at Merlion Restaurant, where every bite is a celebration of Thai culinary artistry.

Top review

AlVIP

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Had a great time in the bar area on martini night. Clay and Desiree took excellent care of us. We really enjoy the teamwork of everyone at Merlions and of course the drinks and food.

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Popular dish

Jumbo Shrimp

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 4 days ago

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

Little's Oyster Bar

4.8

4.8 (26)

$50 and over

Seafood

Montrose

About the restaurant

Welcome to Little's Oyster Bar, located in the heart of Montrose. Our Executive Chef, Jason Ryczek, prepares decadent, hand-selected seafood dishes that are seasonally inspired and focus on freshness. Our menu offers a rotating selection of oysters, shellfish, and other offerings from the shore. Our caviar can be paired perfectly with your choice of cocktail, champagne, or vodka. At our bar, enjoy exciting craft cocktails and a wine list with a special focus on European wines and bubbles. Our Certified Sommelier has crafted a perfectly curated list of wines from Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and more. As a tribute to our roots, we have repainted and restored the vintage exterior signage, which is a nod to the location's opening in 1987 as Little Pappas Seafood House. Chef Ryczek takes every opportunity to elevate and surprise guests. The team at Little's takes pride in presenting a concept to Houston that's new and refreshing - fine dining but not stuffy. Extremely high quality in all areas, yet comfortable. Just like Houston. Come to Little's Oyster Bar - we have a seat waiting just for you.

Top review

HermanVIP

Dined 2 days ago

It was one of our most enjoyable dining experiences in a while, and we eat out a lot. Starting out with Dane who filled our water and informed us that he would be assisting Isa our primary server. Bottom line the serving staff was well trained, and knowledgeable of what was on the menu. I’ve lived in the area for years and had patronized the previous Pappa’srestaurant there many times . This took our dining experience to a new level. We will be back.

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