We'll be in and around Houston. I'm looking forward to trying some proper chili!
Fish Taco at Berryhill Baja Grill. This place won’t look like much. You order at the counter. Nothing fancy. It’s a small local chain restaurant. If you go, do NOT order anything BUT the FISH TACO. it’s friggin amazing. Best fish taco in all of Texas. Heck, i’ve never had another fish taco as good as this one.
The first time I ever took my son there I told them to order the fish taco. He didn’t listen. He ordered a burrito. When the plates came out he looked at my plate; he looked at his plate. He frown. He took a bite of his burrito, then he asked to switch orders with me. I said no, that he should have listen to me. He pouted.
I said I’ll give you one bite of one taco but that’s it. This is mine, all mine. He took one bite of the taco. He said, “Oh My God, I made a mistake, I ordered the wrong thing.” He should a listen to mom.
The taco is Baja style, meaning it’s battered and fried. Every other Baja style fish taco I have ever eaten I’ve hated the batter. What sets Berryhill apart is their light and crunchy coating. It reminds me of really good tempura. So it’s not just the flavor but the texture of the tacos that makes it an amazing eating experience.
Back in the day when I lived in Houston and ate gluten, I used to go to Berryhill about once a week just for the fish taco.
https://berryhillbajagrill.com
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Fajitas (called Tacos El Carbon at Ninfa’s): The one dish that says Tex-Mex like on other dish is the beef fajitas. It’s grilled skirt steak served on a cast iron sizzling platter, next to all the fixings. Think of it as building your own beef tacos at the table. Most Tex-Mex restaurants are rated on their fajita. The sizzling sound of the meat is part of the experience.
Pappasito’s Cantina or Ninfa’s on Navigation are the two best. Again, nothing fancy. Just consistently great fajitas.
Ninfa’s is often credited with creating the fajita in 1973, but the fajita was being made by a guy named Sonny Falcon in Austin in 1969.
These restaurants have expanded and opening locations throughout Texas. Both have been around for decades, so remain local favorites. They can be very crowed, especially Friday - Sunday.
https://pappasitos.com/home/
https://ninfas.com
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Texas Chili...sorry to disappoint Becky, but Tony Vallone’s Steakhouse, the only place that made Texas chili the way it should be made, apparently closed a couple months ago. Their chili was only served at lunch, but had a cult following. They made it from the trimmings of premium aged beef they were famous for at the steakhouse. I’m sure all of Houston is mourning since Tony Vallone been around in one form or another for more than 50 years. Vallone was a legend.
Unfortunately most of the chili you’re going to find nowadays in the Houston area is chili con carne which is with ground beef and beans. It’s not to say that it’s bad chili it’s just not Texas chili.
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Upscale Mexican: Hugo’s is the place for upscale Mexican dining.
http://www.hugosrestaurant.net/
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Breakfast or Brunch: Weights and Measures, A restaurant with its own bakery. Or maybe a bakery with its own restaurant. They do good to bake goods and incorporate the bakery side of the house into the menu.
http://weights-measures.com/menus/bakeshop/
