Food scene
Fu Lu Su Restaurant
2487 Cartwright RdBest Thai. Family-owned.
House of Manna
508 Murphy RdFar best to any Caribbean in NYC
Grand Indian Kitchen
6701 Hwy 6Very impressive Indian food. Take-out only.
Japaneiro's
2168 Texas DrFusion
Don Cafe
609 Dulles AveOf the bahn mi sandwiches around town, this is one of my two favorites.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria
2643 Commercial Center BlvdBest Napoli-style pizza outside of NYC
Keepers
4654 Hwy 6All my dates have been impressed with the style & ambiance of this place.
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
9827 Katy FwyLocal steak house staple.
Gotta try their beef rib and desserts!!! Long lines. Show up before opening hour or on bad weather days.
84 locals recommend
Killen's Barbecue
3613 E Broadway StGotta try their beef rib and desserts!!! Long lines. Show up before opening hour or on bad weather days.
Aga's Restaurant & Catering
11842 Wilcrest DrThe goat chops are renown.
Artisans
5745 Louisiana StBest French restaurant. Sommelier is especially talented.
Hugo's
1600 Westheimer RdSolidly delicious Mex. Buffet is amazing meat decadence.
Uchi
904 Westheimer RdMost inventive and seductive sushi.
Avesta Persian Grill
11165 Wilcrest DrBest Persian. P.S. I’m not a fan of Kasra’s food.
Cooking Girl
2400 W Holcombe BlvdFavorite local Szechuan!
Pepper Twins
315 Fairview StOwner of Cooking Girl. It’s very slightly more upscale Szechuan.
M & M Burger
210 Wayside DrHole-in-wall-ish, but all your dream burgers are well-executed here.
Chama Gaúcha Brazilian Steakhouse
5865 Westheimer RdMy fav for the Brazilian meat parade
Best tea of your life. Nose-y, overly friendly clientele. NOT bubble tea. My fav is the frozen matcha.
The Path of Tea
2340 W Alabama StBest tea of your life. Nose-y, overly friendly clientele. NOT bubble tea. My fav is the frozen matcha.
Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff
6575 W Loop SEvent in Spring.
SeaSide Poke
2118 Lamar StI lived in Hawaii. Nothing beats Seaside’s poke, to me.
Kata Robata
3600 Kirby DrHorrible acoustics. Fantastic sushi experiences.
Shun
2802 S Shepherd DrCrazy expensive, but palate wonderful.
Really good grass-fed beef burgers. Beef bacon too, because they keep halal. Gotta try a spicy sauce.
Fanoosh - Burgers & Bites
7215 Museum Square DrReally good grass-fed beef burgers. Beef bacon too, because they keep halal. Gotta try a spicy sauce.
Mori Ichi
4502 Hwy 6Really good. Often crowded. Owned by older Japanese couple.
El Tiempo Cantina- Stafford
12710 Southwest FreewayHeavy on the Tex for Tex-Mex. Very grilled and smoked meat-y.
Possibly best fajitas, but the servings are relatively tiny even though by weight.
Lupitas Mexican Restaurant
3121 Hwy 6Possibly best fajitas, but the servings are relatively tiny even though by weight.
I love this place! Everything great on the platters. Tea is amazing and a bit decadent to me.
Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen
415 Rayford RdI love this place! Everything great on the platters. Tea is amazing and a bit decadent to me.
Raizes Mexican Kitchen
345 Dulles AveNeighborhood-y Tex-Mex.
Lupe Tortilla
1511 Shepherd DrA local fav. Solidly good meats, tortillas and sauces.
Lupe Tortilla
1511 Shepherd DrTorchy's Tacos
15810 Southwest FreewayMy fav are the brisket tacos. In fact, they’re my fav tacos of all, anywhere.
Perry & Sons Market & Grille
614 S Friendswood DrActivities
Closest Texas approximation to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. I miss that park.
18 locals recommend
Oyster Creek Park
4033 Hwy 6Closest Texas approximation to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. I miss that park.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park DrFarmers Market at Imperial
234 Matlage WayGood for a city park. Horrible parking. Daily anti-climatic bat experience.
549 locals recommend
Buffalo Bayou Park
Memorial DriveGood for a city park. Horrible parking. Daily anti-climatic bat experience.
Saint Cloud River Oaks
2020 W Gray StFor the better quality, more rare movies.
Hermann Park
6001 Fannin StreetBe prepared for the sight of practically naked male runners.
I studied w NYC’s Kaeshi Chai, eventually invited to join her troupe. Debbie will bring your skills to levels even beyond that.
Sirrom School of Belly Dance
9803 Stella Link RdI studied w NYC’s Kaeshi Chai, eventually invited to join her troupe. Debbie will bring your skills to levels even beyond that.
AMC Fountains 18
11225 Fountain Lake DrBig recliners.
Art
Lawndale Art Center
4912 Main StOften some of the most interesting art is here.
Very good artist lectures here. Also, try the thick hot chocolate, a.k.a. hot chocolate. Great place to walk around inside and out.
13 locals recommend
The Glassell School of Art
5101 Holcombe BlvdVery good artist lectures here. Also, try the thick hot chocolate, a.k.a. hot chocolate. Great place to walk around inside and out.
Amazing exhibitions. South, East, West and Central Asian Art.
26 locals recommend
Asia Society Texas Center
1370 Southmore BlvdAmazing exhibitions. South, East, West and Central Asian Art.
Jerry's Artarama
2201 Taylor StSightseeing
Well-respected in the international art scene. In the art world, CAM maps Houston!
144 locals recommend
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
5216 Montrose BlvdWell-respected in the international art scene. In the art world, CAM maps Houston!
The Menil Collection
1533 Sul Ross StPrivate art collection of Oil heirs. Free.
Menil Park
1423 Branard StJohnson Space Center
2101 E NASA Pkwy VERY pricey
Art Car Museum
140 Heights BlvdArt Car was born in Houston. Yearly parade in Spring.
Quite a bit magical and mesmerizing. Plan to arrive just before sunset.
66 locals recommend
James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany Skyscape
Quite a bit magical and mesmerizing. Plan to arrive just before sunset.
Fascinating tour on its history, and play on interior space and sound. Tour guides are entertainingly sardonic.
126 locals recommend
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
105-B Sabine StFascinating tour on its history, and play on interior space and sound. Tour guides are entertainingly sardonic.
Generally old-money heirs and heiresses, local and international. Nouveau riche is rare.
124 locals recommend
River Oaks
Generally old-money heirs and heiresses, local and international. Nouveau riche is rare.
Everyone wonders, except Existentialists and admirers of Art Minimalism.
164 locals recommend
Rothko Chapel
3900 Yupon StEveryone wonders, except Existentialists and admirers of Art Minimalism.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
1150 Brand LnTurkish Center
9301 W Bellfort AveShopping
Costco Wholesale
17520 Southwest FwyCentral Market
3815 Westheimer RdBest cook-at-home steak selection. Love the spice bins.
Urban Harvest Farmers Market
2752 Buffalo SpeedwayBuchanan's Native Plants
611 E 11th StMagical place to even just walk through.
Phoenicia Specialty Foods
12141 Westheimer RdTheir kebabs and lamb merguez are my favorite.
Daiso
11151 Westheimer RdBasically a Japanese dollar store, except it often starts at $3.
This is best place to grocery shop, whether or not you’re wary to give tax-avoidant Jeff Bezos more of your money via Whole Foods
Sprouts Farmers Market
13550 University BlvdThis is best place to grocery shop, whether or not you’re wary to give tax-avoidant Jeff Bezos more of your money via Whole Foods
Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness
15890 Southwest FwyEffort efficient
Coffee shops
Better than Starbucks, except no foam for the nitro. However, this location nickels and dimes every customization.
Minuti Coffee
1535 Hwy 6Better than Starbucks, except no foam for the nitro. However, this location nickels and dimes every customization.
Very interesting aesthetics, but often sadly lukewarm and/or watery coffee.
7 locals recommend
BlendIn Coffee Club
8410 US-90 ALTVery interesting aesthetics, but often sadly lukewarm and/or watery coffee.
bean here coffee
4340 Sienna PkwyVery good locally-roasted coffee. The creme brûlée coffee is a popular experience.
This might be the best of the many locations. Solid execution, spacious place, and often less packed than the others nearby.
11 locals recommend
Starbucks
4721 Highway 6This might be the best of the many locations. Solid execution, spacious place, and often less packed than the others nearby.