Bebidas 2606 Edloe St, Houston, TX 77027
Situated in the the somewhat swanky River Oaks neighborhood of Houston sit Bebidas. As a Californian and a DC-ite I can tell you for sure that this place is a hipster-millennial, health conscious person’s paradise! Bebidas serves cold-pressed juices, brown rice bowls, kale salads and vegan options. They have fancy toasts, all day tacos, breakfast and a kids menu. Throw in the most adorable wallpaper and neon sign, sweet garden area and their famous Snowballs {dessert} put Bebidas on your list for lunch with girlfriends, an early evening date or a place to grab some respite from the Houston humidity.
Coppa Osteria 5210 Morningside Dr, Houston, TX 77005
Coppa Osteria is some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had, and it should be on the list of places you eat while visiting Houston. Located in the South Hampton/Rice University area, it has a small town feel as it sits on a quiet street perfect for outdoor dining and people watching. The inside and outside seating options are equally fantastic choices; and it blends a fancy Italian vibe, with its candelabras and large mirrors, with a casual sidewalk cafe – perfect for a date night or a casual dining experience. The pizza dough and almost all the pasta is made in house (and you can watch your pizza getting made inside).
Velvet Taco 4819 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
When you need some really good food at 2am Velvet Taco is your best choice in Houston. Although I will say at 2am the over TWENTY options is a little overwhelming, but oh so good. Buffalo Chicken, Rotisserie Chicken, Nashville Hot Tofu, Cuban or Korean Pork and Kobe Bacon Burger are just a few of the options you have to pick from. Velvet Taco makes their own tortillas, slow roasts their own chicken and make everything from scratch. This is not your average fast food in the middle of the night. Where else can you get an artfully crafted meal that you might not remember the next morning? Don’t forget to pick up a slice of Red Velvet cake too.
Niko Niko’s 301 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002
Among the must-visit places in Houston that about four or five people mentioned to me before I went the first time was Niko Niko’s. Why? Well, because gyros and history. Opening their first stand in 1977, Niko’s has expanded to three locations and is the one of the historic pillars of the Houston restaurant world. In a city full of new and different, coming and goings, Niko’s has been providing the same amazing food and family experience for over thirty years. And if you were wondering if I might be over-exaggerating a little bit, Guy Fieri saw fit to include Niko Niko’s on Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives “Legends of Texas Episode”
The Rice Box 1111 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019
As soon as I heard about this place {and more importantly – saw the pictures} I was really hoping I’d find the time to make it here. John Peterson, the creator of this dystopian vibe, loves two movies – Blade Runner and Big Trouble in Little China. The food truck gave you vibe, but the restaurants immerse you in the vibe. The neon lights, the exposed wires, combined with the industrial feel give you a unique experience. And while it is simply Chinese take out, its seriously good. You’ll find your food truck staples, for those that remember the good ole days when Rice Box was only a food truck, standard Chinese food fare, house favorites and Thai Tea on Nitro tap…I mean, for real that’s a thing. The chow mein was really good, but my absolute favorite thing was their Yang Chow friend rice. It adds a Chinese sausage to the mix that I’ve never had before and it was YUM!!! I had a real strong desire to eat the entire bin of it. You have two locations to chose from, and while its easy and fast for a grab and go meal, eating in and taking in the vibe is a must as well. 
Maharaja Bhog (Thali) 8338 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77074
Looking for amazing Indian food and a unique experience? Maharaja Bhog provides a traditional Thali experience that is probably one of the most interesting food experiences I have ever had. Thali is an buffet type style dining experience served on a silver platter, or the Thali, to you. No need to get up and go through a buffet line. The idea behind this style of dining is to gather the six different flavor experiences – salt, sweet, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy on one platter. Indian food custom states that a proper meal should a perfect balance of all of that. This particular restaurant we went to is quite amazing, and is well known in the area and internationally, with Houston being their only US location. So, if you are in Mumbai or Dubai look them up. Otherwise, when in Houston, check out this really neat experience.
Present Company 1318 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
High on my personal list of places to visit was Present Company, located in the Montrose area of Houston, is like an instagrammer’s paradise. One of my goals was to get a group of bloggers and influencers together in Houston. After visiting there the first time I completely fell in love, and I knew I had to go back. People have places they love – my mom loves San Francisco, my MIL loves Tahoe, I have friend that loves London and another that is simply nuts over New Orleans. My love is Houston. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I do, and places like Present Company are a part of that love. So, following along with other bloggers in the city I came across Souzi (Confidently Corporate). Together, with another blogger, we got together a group on bloggers and sampled new drinks, food and got to know each other. I connected with another amazing group of Houston photographers and talked one of them {Hidalgo – check out his stuff here} into coming out to take pictures and we were set! It was a blast and I really didn’t want to call it a night. We are already plotting our next get together. The people at Present Company are incredible, the drinks are so interesting and unique and the food is yummy. Plus, you really can’t find ambiance like this anywhere else! Go now, and thank me later.
Christy’s Donuts 1103 W Gray, Houston, TX 77019
I love me a good donut – specifically a donut with white frosting and sprinkles. When I asked around I heard that Christy’s was the place for a good donut in Houston, so I made a swing by while I was out on one of my crazy site seeing days. It looks like a small, hole-in-the-wall typical donut shop, nothing to write home about. But what they don’t offer in Instagram-worthy murals, they make up for in actual good donuts. They’ve been in the game for a long time and they know what they are doing. They are simply here to offer up some freaking good donuts and that’s all folks! No one can really say it better than Joanna from the Houstonia online magazine – with her Ode to Christy’s article. Check it out.
Amy’s Ice Cream 3816 Farnham St, Houston, TX 77098
Amy’s Ice Cream, opening in 1984, hails from Austin, Texas. And yes, there is a real Amy. With a flavor list a bajillion miles long, there’s something for everyone at Amy’s. From Apple to Avocado to super weird flavors like Guinness Gingerbread and Hatch Chili Peach, if you couldn’t find something that peaked your curiosity I’d be shocked. They call the servers “Scoops” and even have Scoop Olympics. Its a safe bet to say they take their ice cream seriously. And as a side note, their Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream is world famous…so even if you like things plain you’re safe.
Tout Suite 2379, 2001 Commerce St, Houston, TX 77002
The only NEW coffee shop I tried this visit was Tout Suite. Part coffee cafe, part bakery, part Brunch spot – Toute Suite is a huge location, with plenty of seating and perfect for working on your computer. Don’t be alarmed by the Tent City across the street, just be aware. I felt safe waiting outside for my Lyft, but if you aren’t expecting it it can be alarming. The highlight is definitely the macaroons, and trying to pick a flavor…or even three might prove difficult. I chose Honey Lavender, Birthday Cake and the Creme Brulee…but had a hard time passing up the Fruity Pebbles and the Churro. I would definitely add this place to my current list of best coffee shops in Houston. To see that list click here.
