HOUSTON – Houston is known for being one of the top cities to dine and Yelp’s Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list of 2024 helps solidify that.
This year, the food-loving community on Yelp reviewed and rated their faves from coast to coast and five Houston eateries made the list.
These restaurants have captured the hearts and tastebuds of people from all over, according to Yelpers:
27. Burger-chan- Houston
Burger-chan is home to oversized, umami-powered burgers made with beef, chicken, fish, or falafel. According to Yelp, it’s chef-owner Willet Feng’s secret sauce that has fans coming back for more.
The Japanese tare glaze lavished on all burgers is “very umami-forward, with soy sauce, brown butter, roasted garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and shiitake mushrooms,” Willet explains.
Guests can also choose from a wide range of classic and creative toppings—such as Spam, bacon, charred jalapenos, and soy serrano peppers.
Most popular/most photographed dishes: Popular topping combos include the Burger-chan; BBQ (with cheddar, bacon, onion strings, pickles, and barbecue sauce); and Spicy (with pepper jack, pickled and charred jalapenos, soy serrano peppers, and sambal mayo). Every item on the menu is customizable.
38. Tacos Doña Lena- Houston
Family-owned Tacos Doña Lena is a two-time Top 100 Tacos honoree on Yelp and has made the Top 100 Restaurants list for a second time.
Co-owner Angel Cabrera’s mother, whom the restaurant is named after, came to the United States from Mexico in the 1990s and helped support her family by selling tacos out of her home in Houston. Once Angel grew up, the duo became co-owners of the fast-casual spot.
The tacos, tortas, handmade gorditas and sopes, and birria tacos with house-made consomé are authentically delicious.
Most popular/most photographed dishes: Birria Tacos (braised beef in corn tortillas served with cilantro, onions, and accompanying consomé for dipping), Quesabirria (three filled tortillas with beef birria, grilled crispy with melted cheese, and consomé), and traditional tacos with beef or another choice of filling.
61. Avesta Persian Grill- Houston
Avesta Persian Grill is known for serving huge portions of stews, kabobs, rice, curries, and other delectable appetizers. Owner Zaffar Anvari, who is from Tajikistan, cooks with traditional recipes that often include a twist, such as falafel made from both chickpeas and red lentils or baba ganoush made with both smoked and fried eggplant.
Many customers love the large serving of lamb shank, slow-cooked for two hours as well as the Persian Hummus and homemade bread that comes with every meal.
Most popular/most photographed dishes: Lamb Shank; Chicken Chinjeh Kabob (saffron-marinated chicken tenderloin breast); Cherry Rice (made with cranberries, pistachios, slivered almonds, and cherry syrup); Koobideh Kabob (seasoned ground beef mixed with grated onions); Persian Hummus.
63. Pappa Gyros- Katy
This Katy eatery offers the perfect mashup of Greek cooking and Midwestern diner food. Owner Christos “Chris” Batsios, enjoys blending his Greek heritage with his family’s background running restaurants in Michigan. The menu features everything from a Chicago-style Italian Beef sandwich to classic Greek gyros, but some of the best dishes bring those flavors together.
Another fan favorite is the baklava made with Batsios’ Grandma Flora’s recipe with crushed walnuts and sweet, crispy layers of phyllo dough. The dessert routinely sells out.
Starting out in 2015 as a small spot near a gas station, Pappa Gyros soon landed on an early version of Yelp’s Top 100 list. The restaurant’s popularity continues to grow over time.
Most popular/most photographed dishes: Original Gyro (traditional lamb with tomato, onion, and house tzatziki sauce); Chicken Gyro (marinated chicken with tomato, onion, and tzatziki); Italian Beef (thinly sliced roast beef on an Italian sandwich roll with sweet peppers and giardiniera—hot pickled vegetables).
99. Southern Yankee Crafthouse- Houston
Southern Yankee Crafthouse is a family-owned and operated eatery that makes Neapolitan-style pizza with its traditionally prepared “three-day dough” in addition to a rotating selection of 15 craft beers and bites from its brewery.
Yelpers say they love the Pickle Pizza (with Parmigiano cream, house pickles, roasted fingerling potatoes, and house ranch drizzle) and Wood-Fired Wings by the Pound, with your choice of sauces, including BBQ, garlic-parm, and mango habanero.