Best authentic mexican food in houston

When Sipple, Texas' first non-alcoholic bottle shop, opened in Houston's Rice Village in October 2021 , owners Danny and Helenita Frounfelkner knew the city was ready, but didn't know exactly how thirsty it was for booze-free drinks. As it turns out, the answer was: very. Business has boomed at the store, which carries dozens of non-alcoholic spirits, beers, wines, CBD seltzers and other beverages that barely even existed five years ago, before "sober curiosity" became a movement. But people have been abstaining from alcohol—permanently or temporarily, and for endless reasons—for eons before this new trend. So it's about time shops and restaurants around town start catering to them . On a recent Wednesday evening, between greeting customers, Helenita relays that Sipple is having its busiest time yet—a result of Dry January coinciding with a well-read Texas Monthly profile on the store. A half-hour before closing, an older couple walks in, looking apprehensive and … [Read more...] about The best drinks at Sipple, Houston’s only non-alcoholic bottle shop

Houstonians who might refer to themselves as terminally online are once again abuzz with opinions about yet another national media outlet's attempts to summarize the city's greatness in just a few thousand words. This week, it was the New York Times, which published the latest edition of their "36 Hours In" travel series , this time ending up in Houston. I always brace myself when these pieces come out—whatever mood I'm in, I'm sure to get a bit more sour. Houston is a wonderful, complex place that is often misunderstood by parachuters, although I was relieved to read that the author "grew up in Houston and lives there today," per a note at the very top, probably to brace themselves for the onslaught of online clapbacks from locals. There were indeed some infuriating omissions in this "36 Hours in Houston" and definitely a few headscratchers, but I'll admit to not being as annoyed by this guide as I typically have been in the past. Stick with me. My biggest pet peeve about … [Read more...] about Is the New York Times’ 36 Hours in Houston as bad as people say?

The homey universe of Ninfa's Houston has had a huge impact on food culture in and far beyond H-Town. For thousands of long-time fans of the legendary The Original Ninfa's on Navigation , this slogan sums it up: "The Best Mexican Food in Texas Since Texas was in Mexico!" The self-taught chef responsible for that food was Ninfa Laurenzo. Born Rodriguez in Harlingen, Texas, she eventually earned the nickname "Mama Ninfa" for the way she cared for the children in her community and the diners at her Houston restaurant. Mama Ninfa went to the big kitchen in the sky in 2001, but she will live on forever in culinary history for making fajitas a wildly popular staple of Tex-Mex cuisine . Ninfa and husband Domenic Thomas Laurenzo opened a tortilla and pizza factory in Second Ward after moving to Houston in 1949, and began selling their fresh packaged pizzas in grocery stores. "My parents also packaged masa harina and bottled chile con queso and hot sauce," said daughter Phyllis … [Read more...] about How Houston’s The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation got so famous

It’s no secret that Houston offers some of the best Asian food in the country, a fact that’s made abundantly clear if one is lucky enough to catch the Asian Night Market on one of the few nights a year it takes place. So it makes sense that “Top Chef” dedicated an entire episode paying homage to this event during its Houston-based season. Hosted by the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinities, the real Asian Night Market held at Hong Kong City Mall is a favorite for anyone interested in sampling street food from across the vast Asian continent. Stalls feature dishes from Vietnam of course, in addition to offerings from Japan, China and Pacific Island nations, among others. The Asian Night Market is not on a set schedule and had scaled back during the COVID-19 pandemic. Houstonians had to hear about it from word-of-mouth or catch a glimpse of an announcement on the organization’s Facebook page. Perfectly timed with its nod on “Top Chef” this week, the Asian Night Market … [Read more...] about Houston’s real Asian Night Market is as awesome as ‘Top Chef’ makes it look

Houston nightlife is a lively scene. Whether you're indulging in the city's best late-night food , enjoying a vibrant cocktail , or belly laughing your way through the evening at one of the best comedy clubs in Houston, there's plenty of fun to be had after dark. The next time you're in need of some entertaining chuckles , look no further than these Houston comedy clubs where hilarity is sure to ensue . ComedySportz Houston At ComedySportz every Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m., two teams compete in improv games on stage to get the most laughs. This fast-paced improv is similar to the TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," as it includes audience suggestions and a referee helps determine the winning team. Additional shows include "Improv! The Musical" and "Benji and the Beer Babies" (an ode to beer). ComedySportz also runs the Houston School of Improv with four levels of classes, if you're inspired to step behind the mic. Find it: 2201 Preston St., Houston, … [Read more...] about Laugh out loud at these excellent comedy clubs in Houston

While Central Texas may get all of the praise for its star-led barbecue destinations, there are plenty of power players packed within the urban confines of the Houston area. Trusty pitmasters that have served the city for decades continue to thrive, but there are also a number of hidden gems worth seeking out, including innovators who are interpreting the cuisine in new ways. Lines have long been blurred between barbecue and Tex-Mex . These days, East Asian, Cajun and even French influences have joined the mix. While you may think you know all the who’s-who and what’s-what in Houston's barbecue community, consider our pro tips next time you set out on a 'cue excursion. Here's where to dive in at 15 of the best BBQ joints in Houston. Blood Bros. BBQ In recent years, this barbecue joint located in a nondescript Bellaire retail strip has skyrocketed in popularity, even opening an outpost in the buzzy new Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas. Helmed by brothers Robin and Terry … [Read more...] about These 15 restaurants serve the best barbecue in Houston

There may be countless barbecue joints in Houston today, but Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue was here before them all. The storied restaurant dates back to 1935, when John and Leila Davis opened it with the name Shepherd Drive BBQ. The couple quickly garnered a loyal following for their hickory-smoked meats and tangy barbecue sauce, but during the Jim Crow segregation era, they offered dine-in service only to other Black people , while white guests had to take their barbecue to-go. From a walk-up window behind the restaurant, white patrons would wait long periods to score brisket, sausage and ribs, enjoying their meal at one of the picnic tables on the property. So where does the random Italian name come from? One of those devoted white customers was Jerry Pizzitola. He would frequent regularly with his father, and fell in love with the food. The restaurant moved a couple of blocks south when construction for I-10 began in the '50s, but many customers, including Pizzitola, … [Read more...] about The history of Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, Houston’s oldest barbecue joint

It's official: Local hero Bun B is bringing his uber-popular Trill Burgers to the Houston Rodeo for the second time. The smashburger concept made its debut at the event in 2022, but even before then, it had been making the rounds in the city. The legendary rapper's venture began as a pop-up at Sticky's Chicken in 2021. It went on to serve thousands of burgers at Coachella, Rolling Loud, the Southern Smoke Festival , outside City Hall, and at other local businesses such as 8th Wonder Brewery. At the end of 2022, Bun B made the highly anticipated announcement that he had finally found a brick and mortar space for Trill Burgers. It's none other than the James Coney Island on Shepherd Drive, the Montrose location of the beloved local fast food chain that Houstonians mourned when it closed its doors earlier that year. The Trill Burgers restaurant is slated to open in spring 2023. Trill Burgers also won Good Morning America's "Best Burger in America" national competition, … [Read more...] about Bun B’s Trill Burgers are coming back to the Houston Rodeo

Houston chef Dawn Burrell can handle the heat. Before the Houstonian competed on the 18th season of Bravo's Top Chef , Burrell represented the United States at the 2000 Olympics as a long jumper. The chef did not win gold in either competition, but she has a second shot at becoming the next Top Chef. Burrell is joining 15 other former contestants in London for the show's 20th season, a Top Chef: All Stars edition. Burrell's impressive athletic career ended with an injury, so she decided to pursue another passion and enrolled at the Art Institute of Houston to study culinary arts. It was as executive chef at Kulture, Houston's "urban comfort kitchen," that Burrell next received her high accolades. She was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Texas in 2020. After more than two years at the helm, Burrell left the restaurant during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to care for her mother. Since then, Burrell has stayed busy with I'll Have What She's … [Read more...] about Houston chef Dawn Burrell returns to ‘Top Chef’ for redemption