- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: The Full List
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: American
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Asian
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Cajun
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Italian
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Fine Dining
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Seafood
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: BBQ
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Tex-Mex
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Burgers, Dogs & Pizza
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Pub Grub
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Sweets/Bakery
- Cynthia Mullins’ Ultimate Heights Dining Guide: Coffee Shop
⋆ As a proud Heights resident, there are too many reasons to count why I love calling the neighborhood home, from its walkability to its fantastic schools, and everything in between. But one thing that makes living in the Heights a particular treat is its abundance of quality restaurants!
You can find any culinary experience you want in the Heights, whether you’re craving a greasy, but delicious taco from a hole-in-the-wall Tex Mex joint or are seeking mouthwatering lobster in an upscale setting. The Heights has so much to offer in terms of delectable food and amazing culinary experiences that there’s no need to fall into a rut of always going to the same restaurant.
Below is a list I’ve compiled of Heights restaurants that simply must be checked out! With so many tasty options to choose from, I’ve divided them up by cuisine type to assist you in your decision-making process. Follow the restaurant links to find out more about any of these eateries and get out there and start exploring the Heights dish by dish…
American | |||
Alice Blue | 250 W. 19th St. | Modern bistro fare & a lively, energetic bar in a comfortable community gathering place. | $$ |
Barnaby’s | 2802 White Oak Dr. | Colorful, upbeat eatery supplying heaping portions of classic American & Tex-Mex dishes. | $$ |
Bellagreen | 748 E. 11th St. | Health-conscious spot with a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian & gluten-free menu items. | $$ |
Common Bond | 449 W. 19th, Suite B-100 | Rustic-chic cafe & bakery with acclaimed chefs creating sweet pastries & seasonal savory dishes. | $ |
Crisp | 2220 Bevis St. | Gastropub featuring craft beer & wine on tap, updated comfort foods & extensive to-go service. | $$ |
Dish Society | 1050 Yale | Farm-to-table cafe serving American fare, with a sizable bar area, lounge with games, and patio with picnic tables. | $$ |
Field & Tides | 705 E. 11th St. | Charming, airy bistro for locally sourced Gulf Coast & Southern fare, plus craft cocktails. | $$ |
Jus’ Mac | 2617 Yale | Family-friendly, patio-equipped eatery packs locals for a variety of gourmet mac ‘n’ cheese dishes. | $ |
Local Foods | 714 Yale #1A | A gourmet sandwich shop showcasing local edibles, seasonal salads, fresh soups and home-made snacks. | $$ |
Lola | 1102 Yale | Modern, counter-serve diner boasts an all-day menu of American eats with veggie & gluten-free items. | $$ |
On-the-Go by Common Bond | 601 Heights Blvd. | Outpost of the popular cafe & bakery that features “grab ‘n go” offerings complimented by their first express drive through. | $ |
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery | 718 W. 18th | Vibrant, retro chain serving a seasonal menu of creative breakfast & lunch fare, plus cocktails. | $$ |
Verdine | 449 W. 19th | Neighborhood restaurant providing a 100% fully plant-based, vegan menu full of global flavors. | $$ |
Yale Street Grill | 2100 Yale | One of the oldest diners in the city serving old-fashioned burgers, tuna melts, shakes, malts & more. | $ |
Asian | |||
Asia Market Thai Lao Food | 3620 N. Main St. | Established storefront supplying Asian produce & groceries, also serving a Thai lunch & dinner menu. | $ |
Asia Market Thai Restaurant | 4822 Fulton St. | Thai restaurant preparing authentic Thai dishes using only Thai ingredients, spices and vegetables. | $ |
Heights Asian Cafe | 2201 Yale | Chinese stir-fries & Vietnamese noodle soups served in a spare cafe with dark woods & pendant lamps. | $$ |
Hughie’s Tavern & Grille | 1802 W. 18th & 4721 N. Main St. | This relaxed hangout with craft beers features a menu of burgers & Vietnamese sandwiches & entrees. | $$ |
Jenni’s Noodle House | 620 E. 20th St. | Vietnamese curries & noodles, plus vegetarian options, in a playful setting with modern decor. | $ |
KA Sushi | 1901 N. Shepherd | Contemporary sushi bar serving twists on Japanese classics, inventive small plates & cocktails. | $$ |
Nam Eatery | 502 E. 20th | Casual Vietnamese restaurant with modern vibe & menu including pho, bún and homemade yogurt. | $$ |
Pho Binh Noodle and Grill | 2916 White Oak Dr. | Branch of local Vietnamese chain (since 1983) known for its pho, egg rolls, spring rolls & banh mi. | $$ |
Street Food Thai Market | 1010 W. Cavalcade Suite D | Thai-style eatery offering popular street food dishes like boat noodles, pad thai, panang beef, and more. | $ |
Tarka Indian Kitchen | 721 W. 19th St. |
Local counter-serve chain dishing up Indian curries, kebabs & more in a contemporary setting.
| $ |
Thai Spice Asian Cuisine | 460 W. 19th St. | Branch of a local chain offering classic Thai food in a colorful, casual space. | $$ |
The Rice Box at Heights | 300 W. 20th St. | Elevated American Chinese takeaway bar serving General Tso, Sesame, Sweet Sour & Kung Pao Chicken their way. | $ |
Cajun | |||
BB’s Cafe | 2701 White Oak Dr. | Local Tex-Orleans chain serving po’ boys, gumbo, fried seafood & more in a casual setting. | $ |
Boil House | 606 E. 11th St. | Louisiana crawfish boiled to perfection using fresh ingredients & available for takeout or catering. | $$ |
Flying Fish | 1815 N. Durham | Laid-back eatery serving seafood with a Cajun twist, from fried catfish to po’ boy sandwiches. | $ |
Harold’s In The Heights | 350 W. 19th St | Atmospheric Southern restaurant with a uniquely Houston menu based on local farm raised foods. | $$ |
Italian | |||
Bellissimo Ristorante | 1848 Airline Dr. | Colorful eatery with a casual vibe, offering create-your-own pasta & pizzas plus other Italian fare. | $$ |
Collina’s Italian Café | 502 W. 19th St. | 1 of a small local chain serving pizza & pasta in a simple, BYOB setting, with takeout & delivery. | $$ |
Fine Dining | |||
1751 Sea & Bar | 191 Heights Blvd. | Seasonally inspired seafood & meats from the Gulf Coast & beyond, plus an extensive gin bar, in upscale setting. | $$ |
Coltivare | 3320 White Oak Dr. | Welcoming eatery featuring wood-fired Italian pizzas & more in cozy digs with a vegetable garden. | $$ |
Elliot’s Table | 465 TC Jester Suite B | Elevated regional American fare plus local desserts served in a rustic-chic space. | $$ |
Maison Pucha Bistro | 1001 Studewood | Upscale, yet casual French restaurant featuring some Ecuadoran and South American flavors. | $$ |
Mastrantos | 927 Studewood Suite 100 | Family-owned neighborhood restaurant that offers a diverse range of global-inspired tastes for breakfast and dinner. | $$ |
Mutiny Wine Room | 1124 Usener St. | Upscale wine bar & retail specializing in boutique wineries from around the world & wine-country inspired food pairings. | $$ |
Rainbow Lodge | 2011 Ella Blvd. | Upscale spot for American fare including wild game & seafood served in an elegant, historic cabin. | $$$ |
Revival Market | 550 Heights Blvd. | Speciality market & cafe with a seat-yourself setup selling sandwiches, soups & weekday breakfast. | $ |
Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant | 801 Studewood | A contemporary bar for wine & beer flights, glasses & bottles with charcuterie, pizzas & more. | $$ |
Squable | 632 W. 19th St. | Modern dining experience with European & American dishes, classic cocktails & natural wines with bold flavors. | $$ |
Seafood | |||
Connie’s Seafood Market & Restaurant | 2525 Airline Dr. | Colorful, iconic eatery with an in-house market serves up homey Mexican-style seafood. | $$ |
Golden Seafood House | 2407 Airline Dr. | Energetic, no-frills seafood house with simple, Mexican-inspired dishes, micheladas & margaritas. | $$ |
La Lucha | 1801 N. Shepherd | Fried chicken & seafood (oysters, shrimp, crawfish & more) served up in a relaxed, informal environment. | $$ |
Tampico Seafood & Cocina Mexicana (Temporarily Closed) | 2115 Airline Dr. | No-frills combination Mexican seafood eatery & market serving fresh catch from the nearby gulf. | $$ |
BBQ | |||
Pinkerton’s Barbecue | 1504 Airline Dr. | Texas-style brisket & ribs, plus sides & cobbler, dished up in a classic setting with rustic decor. | $$ |
Truth Barbeque | 110 S. Heights Blvd. | BBQ joint serving up generous plates of smoked meats and homemade sides, plus a rotating assortment of cakes. | $$ |
Tex-Mex | |||
Alma Latina | 2203 N. Shepherd | All-day Mexican restaurant serving a big menu of classic fare & offering a big list of tequilas. | $$ |
Andy’s Cafe | 1115 E. 11th St. | This late-night option offers a Tex-Mex menu in a simple space with homey touches. | $ |
Berryhill In The Heights | 702 E. 11th St. | Cantinalike local chain furnishing fish tacos & Baja-style Mexican staples along with margaritas. | $ |
Cantina Barba | 3701 N. Main St. | Rustic joint crafting house-smoked meat tacos, coffee, beer & mezcal with very late-night service. | $$ |
Chiloso’s Taco House | 701 E. 20th St. | Busy, homey Tex-Mex joint featuring breakfast tacos & lunch specials with tortillas made in-house. | $ |
Fusion Taco | 4706 N. Main St. | Asian-influenced Latin fare, wine & beer are offered at this brick-&-mortar food-truck offshoot. | $ |
La Carreta Restaurant | 208 E. 20th St. | Local chain known for Cuban classics like ropa vieja & picadillo served in a hacienda-style setting. | $ |
La Vibra Tacos | 506 Yale St. Suite A | Fast-casual restaurant serving up a variety of authentic Mexico City style tacos & dishes. | $$ |
Spanish Flowers Mexican Restaurant | 4701 N. Main St. | Hearty Mexican favorites served late-late-night, including fresh tortillas, enchiladas & margaritas. | $$ |
Superica | 1801 N. Shepherd | Tex-Mex & Mexican dishes ranging from tacos to pozole, plus margaritas, beer & wine in a colorful space. | $$ |
Tacos A Go Go | 2912 White Oak Dr. | Fajitas, quesadillas & other familiar Mexican eats in kitschy quarters with a Carmen Miranda motif. | $$ |
Taqueria Tepatitlan | 4720 N. Main St. | Area chain serving Mexican street eats, breakfasts & house specialties with beer & shakes. | $ |
Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe | 1511 Airline | Old-school cafe with vibrant decor serving classic Tex-Mex plates from breakfast through dinner. | $ |
Torchy’s Tacos | 350 W. 19th St. | Local chain serving Mexican-street-food-style tacos in inventive varieties, including for breakfast. | $ |
Burgers, Dogs & Pizza | |||
Chicago IBP | 1777 Airline Dr. | No-frills, compact venue for Chicago favorites such as deep-dish pizza & Italian beef sandwiches. | $$ |
Good Dog Houston | 903 Studewood | Charming counter-serve joint doling out creative hot dogs with housemade condiments & craft beers. | $ |
Hopdoddy Burger Bar | 449 W. 19th Suite D-100 | Bustling, eco-minded burger joint serving all-natural meats, homemade buns, shakes & craft beers. | $$ |
Hubcap Grill | 1133 W. 19th St. | Laid-back, window-serve spot offering specialty burgers & craft brews, plus a patio with a jukebox. | $ |
Pink’s Pizza | 1403 Heights Blvd. | Outpost of a small local chain serving slices & hand-tossed specialty pies in a casual setup. | $$ |
Someburger | 745 E. 11th St. | No-nonsense burgers, fries & malts are the main attractions at this bare-bones stand duo. | $ |
Star Pizza 2 | 77 Harvard St. | Go-to spot for fully loaded, Chicago-style pizza with a laid-back vibe & optional patio seating. | $$ |
Pub Grub | |||
Better Luck Tomorrow | 544 Yale | Neighborhood bar with great cocktails & an outstanding wine list as well as food that meets a restaurant standard. | $$ |
Bungalow Heights | 1919 Beall | Gastropub serving up craft beer and creative food in a cozy atmosphere. | $$ |
Cedar Creek | 1034 W. 20th St. | Laid-back restaurant showcasing sandwiches, drinks & more in a funky setting with an outdoor patio. | $$ |
Christian’s Tailgate | 2820 White Oak Dr. | Lively hangout featuring burgers with up to a pound of meat & other American eats plus lots of TVs. | $ |
Eight Row Flint | 1039 Yale | Upscale icehouse serving rare bourbons, craft beer & margaritas, & tacos from a food truck. | $$ |
Heights Bier Garten | 1433 N. Shepherd | Beer garden offering 96 beers on tap and a casual menu of elevated pub grub plus an expansive patio. | $ |
King’s BierHaus | 2044 E. TC Jester | German-inspired beer hall & beer garden serving German, Austrian & American beers, wines & dishes. | $$ |
Little Woodrow’s | 2631 White Oak Dr. | Outpost of a bar chain offers a selection of seasonal & craft beer, plus sports on TV & patio seats. | $ |
Onion Creek | 3106 White Oak Dr. | Casual breakfast & lunch eatery serving burgers & local beers inside or on the woodsy outdoor patio. | $$ |
Postino | 642 Yale #A | Wine cafe combining unique & approachable wines with delicious locally grown fare in comfortable setting. | $$ |
Worcester’s Annex | 1433 N. Shepherd | Chill hangout offering eclectic cocktails & a large whiskey selection, plus a spacious patio. | $$ |
Sweets/Bakery | |||
Angela’s Oven (T-Sat 8AM-2PM) | 204 Aurora | Family owned and operated bakery serving artisan bread and pastries fresh daily. | $ |
Bakery Donuts | 1203 W. 11th St. | Compact, no frills bakeshop known for colorful treats, sugary fritters & savoury kolaches. | $ |
Cloud 10 Creamery | 711 Heights Blvd. #A | A modern parlor for artisanal ice creams & sorbets, with seasonal flavors & custom orders. | $$ |
Dolce Neve Gelato | 4721 N. Main St. | Airy dessert shop serving artisanal gelato & sorbet in creative flavors, alongside local coffee. | $ |
EggHaus Gourmet | 2042 E TC Jester | Hip breakfast spot serving kolaches, egg sandwiches & breakfast tacos, plus a full coffee & matcha program. | $$ |
El Bolillo Bakery | 2517 Airline Dr. | Cozy bakeshop doling out handmade breads, pies, cookies & tres leches, wedding & custom cakes. | $ |
Fat Cat Creamery | 1901 N. Shepherd | Small, locavore ice cream parlor featuring creative frozen treats, old-timey sodas & other items. | $$ |
Hugs & Donuts | 1901 N. Shepherd | Gourmet donuts with fresh ingredients and housemade fillings, as well as apple fritters and bear claws. | $ |
Kolache Shoppe | 1031 Heights Blvd. | Local bakery offering over 30 flavors of Czech-style pastries, plus a full-service espresso bar serving Boomtown Coffee. | $ |
Kraftsmen Baking & Cafe | 611 W. 22nd St. | Cozy bakery offering fresh breads, light fare at breakfast & lunch, plus weekend BYOB brunch. | $$ |
Melange Creperie | 711 Heights Blvd #B | Popular street cart turned brick and mortar serving simple and elegant French crepes. | $ |
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt | 512 W. 19th St. | Cheerful self-serve chain with dozens of frozen yogurt flavors & toppings, sold by weight. | $ |
Red Dessert Dive | 1045 Studewood | Creative takes on classic baked goods pair with locally roasted coffee, beer & wine in a cozy space. | $ |
Shipley Do-Nuts | 3932 N. Main St. | Chain with a variety of yeast, cake & filled donuts, plus kolaches, espresso drinks & smoothies. | $ |
SMOOSH | 718 W. 18th St. | Dessert spot specializing in custom ice cream cookie sandwiches, plus shakes, sundaes, soda floats & more. | $ |
Market/Deli | |||
Le Café Joséphine | 201 E. 20th St. | Casual setting for American fare (sandwiches, salads & more) with Moroccan, French & Italian influences. | $$ |
Coffee Shop | |||
A Second Cup | 1111 E. 11th St. | Non-profit coffee shop with proceeds going toward ending human trafficking. | $ |
Antidote | 729 Studewood | Neighborhood hangout open early & late for coffee & locally sourced light bites, plus beer & wine. | $$ |
Boomtown Coffee | 242 W. 19th St. | Comfy cafe serving small-batch house-roasted brews & pastries in a space with couches & local art. | $ |
El Gato Coffeehouse & Cat Cottage | 508 Pecore | Houston’s first cat cafe with adoptable cats from the Houston Humane Society. | $$ |
EQ Heights | 1030 Heights Blvd. | A mellow spot with locally sourced furnishings & nourishment, as well as artisanal coffee & teas. | $ |
Revolucion Coffee + Juice | 1231 W. 11th St. | Vegetarian coffee & juice shop providing new flavors & alternatives to traditional healthy beverages. | $$ |
Throughgood Coffee | 732 W. 27th St. | Relaxed coffee-shop with a portion of proceeds helping people transition out of homelessness. | $ |