Convenience Big Store: Our critic's top 25 restaurants to try this spring

March 31, 2026

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Pick of the Day

Grilled pork and combonation banh mi sandwhiches at Baguettea in Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Best restaurants in Houston for spring 2026

Our critic's favorite dining spots this season include the Pappas family's Greek restaurant, a new barbecue joint and crawfish specialists.

Local eats

Vintage rice cooker at Agnes and Sherman

Photo by: Annie Mulligan, Contributor

6 Houston restaurants and chefs named James Beard finalists

Houston earned recognition for Emerging Chef, Best New Restaurant and Best Chef Texas, among other categories.

Memelita is shown at Late August in Houston, Monday, March 16, 2026. Late August explores the African-American and Mexican culinary heritage of Chef's Chris Williams and Sergio Hidalgo, at ION District in the former Sears building.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

The best dishes restaurant critic Bao Ong ate in March

Buffalo-style pizza at Cup N Char and a cemita from a taco truck were among his best bites in March.

This spring's festivals will serve tacos, barbecue, alcohol and oysters. The Tacos and Tequila Festival is among the events returning to Houston.

Photo by: Social House Entertainment

11 Houston food festivals to visit, celebrating barbecue, tacos and more

Throughout April and May, Houston sees an explosion of food festivals.

Openings & Closings

Photo by: Madelynne Grace

Exclusive: New restaurant brings East, West and Gulf Coast seafood to Houston

Atlantic Ocean restaurant blends Southern flavors with seafood that pays homage to the owner's childhood in Atlantic City.

The breakthrough energy coffee is shown at Trung Nguyen Legend in Houston Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

Vietnam's biggest coffee brand is opening a massive Houston cafe

Trung Nguyen Legend brews both expensive coffee blends and trendy drinks like a salt foam-topped espresso.

Aprons on

Spinach lime soup from Anita Jaisinghani

Photo by: Carolina Ayala, Contributor

A spinach soup infused with the bold aroma of makrut lime

This spinach lime soup recipe uses coconut milk and makrut lime for a fragrant, citrusy broth that's simple, comforting and easy to customize.

Enchilada Queen Sylvia Caseres' cheese enchiladas with chili gravy are among nearly two dozen enchiladas available at Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen.

Photo by: Paula Murphy

42 iconic Houston recipes you can make at home

To celebrate Houston's favorite foods, we compiled a cookbook of dishes and drinks from the city's favorite chefs and restaurants.

Barbecue

Derrick, wife Whitney, and daughter Desaray Caldwell at A Taste of Kansas City BBQ

Photo by: J.C. Reid, Contributor

Can Kansas City barbecue win over Texas?

A Cypress pitmaster is introducing Houston to Kansas City-style barbecue with rib tips, sweet sauce and hickory smoke in a Texas brisket world.

Houston's top restaurants

Explore the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 restaurants of 2025.

Photo by: Alexandra Kanik

Houston's Top 100 Restaurants

Explore Houston's Top 100 Restaurants — our critics pay for every meal to bring you an honest guide to the city's best dining spots.

Jody Schmal, Food Editor

jody.schmal@houstonchronicle.com

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Convenience Big Store

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