for dim sum.. go to yum yum cha in rice village! it's sooo good!

 

I don't know if you like great Mexican food... El Tiempo Cantina is amazing! def try it out

 

I'm not from Houston, but I was there last week and went to a few places that were pretty good. One of my favorites was Rattan, the best sushi and steak I have ever had. Saltgrass was also pretty good if you haven't been there. Also went to this Italian place not too far from the museum district that was good, I'll try to look up the name later.

 

Around Westchase area- (Westheimer near B8)

Pho One is good for a quick bowl of Pho or a vermicelli/rice bowl. Their spring rolls are awesome as well. good service, nice people. family-run business and they know everyone in my office by name, so I make it a point to return the favor and keep coming back.

Red Basil is one of my faves for Thai food. it's on Westheimer around Kirkwood or so. forget which shopping center, but it's kinda hard to see from the street. From WEstheimer, all you see is a small sign that said "thai food" on it. I figured it was a rattly little hole-in-the-wall place. Then we walked in an WOAH! very nice place. excellent food- although not typically as spicy as the thai I've had elsewhere... great service as well. For dessert, be sure to get their sticky rice and mango dish. daaaaamn that's good stuff.

Masala Wok has some excellent Indian food. watch out for the Blazing Masala Noodles- especially if you order them extra spicy. I ordered that one night and my throat was almost swollen shut the next morning! ooooo the pain! awesome!

Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet is also worth a try. I'm not huge on Mediterranean food, but the rest of the guys at the office say it's some of the better stuff around. (They just opened a Fadi's not far from the office- I'll have to try it as well.)


In Pearland.....
Spring Creek BBQ is pretty good. They just opened a couple months ago, so the place is brand new. very clean inside. typical cafeteria-style bbq for around here. go through the line and order and take your food to the table. The good part is they have good sauce. Texas-style BBQ sauce is like colored water, just too damn soupy. Spring Creek has REAL sauce. ribs have always been very tender and their sliced/chopped beef is excellent.

Sekula's bbq in Manvel was also very good, but they had a kitchen fire in early June and they're not sure when or if they'll reopen. They put so much work into that place and then the kitchen burned down. owner said he's not sure if he wants to do it all again. Sucks for them.

BJ's Brewhouse & rest. is great for pizza and beer. they have a GREAT deep-dish pizza. I won't call it Chicago style cause its not quite that thick, but you definitely want to eat it with a work. the crust is amazing. soft bread in the middle and crispy on the outside.

Pei Wei is good for 'random asian cuisine'. it's americanized enough I can get the wife to eat it, but it's god enough variety to keep me happy. it's also pretty consistent from store to store so you know what you're getting wherever you go.

 

What Saltgrass did you go to? I work at the Mayerland one

 

Eh.. Saltgrass is okay.. It's a Landry's franchise, so you'll always see them next to a Joe's Crab Shack or Landry's seafood or whatnot. they're decent, but just another steak joint. then again, they're better than most overpriced steak franchises.

 

i've fallen in love with Fadi's Meditteranean Cuisine. There's two on Westhiemer that I know of. Go during lunch, you can get a 1 meat, 2 side meal for around 7 or 8 bucks. That's what Subway has been costing me these days, it's a great deal.

Taco Milagro is a cool mexican place on Kirby.

I really like Uptown Sushi in Uptown Park. Their beef fajita roll is EXCELLENT, they also do good chicken rolls in addition to the other normal stuff.

+1 on Fogo de Chao - you gotta try it at least once

Oh - and Bubba's burgers under Westpark Tollway right outside 610 is great - it's a sketchy little shack-type place, but it's great. Gotta try it