15 Iconic Houston Meals

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By Sarah Rufka

We've spotlighted 15 local eateries that offer an iconic taste of Houston, each an essential flavor in our big urban stew.

Barnaby's

Petaluma Salad

Okay, any giant, tasty Barnaby's salad will do. You know they're good when people will willingly pass on the famous ribs or meatloaf to eat rabbit food.

Buffalo Grille

Pancakes and Bacon

In a city that takes brunch seriously, the can't-be-replaced pancakes and amazing, crunchy, pecan-smoked peppered bacon has made Buffalo Grille a favorite neighborhood spot for 25 years.

Captain Benny's

Oysters

This old-school oyster bar serves an awful lot of oysters, so you know they're always fresh. Stop in for a couple dozen and a cold beer.

Churrascos

Parillada

In the beginning (or the Cordua restaurant empire, that is), there was grilled meat. The namesake churrascos are still as addictive as the free plantain chips and chimichurri.

Perfect, never greasy breakfast tacos for under $2 a pop (mostly) provide the best reason in town to get up before 10:30am. Our favorite: the Cuban taco with fajitas, black beans, ripe plantain and a swipe of crema.

Frenchy's Chicken

Fried Chicken

Long lines and an aversion to credit cards do nothing to dissuade fans of this legendary chicken shack. Plan to take out.

Fung's Kitchen

Dim Sum

Weekend crowds don't lie: This Hong Kong-style dim sum menu has everything from steamed shrimp dumplings for the uninitiated to more esoteric selections for seasoned dim sum enthusiasts.

Goode Co. Texas Bar-B-Q

Chopped Beef Sandwich on Jalapeno Cheese Bread

You can't argue with 30-plus years of barbecue. Plus, you know the 'cue is good when West U yupsters line up to sit on picnic benches. We like to dress our sandwich with a few pickles and onions and plenty of sauce.

Lankford Grocery

Cheeseburger

A thick, juicy, delightfully non-round (read: hand-rolled and smushed) patty and plentiful toppings are served up at this red and white shack with the saggy floors. Hit Lankford on the right day, and there's nothing finer.

Les Givral's

Vietnamese Sandwich

Those in the know stop at Les Givral's for fabulous banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches) at freakishly low prices. Vegetarians love the tofu (add a dash of sriracha), but the barbecue pork also pleases.

Ninfa's on Navigation

Fajitas

Sure, there are plenty of great places to get fajitas in town, but only Ninfa's can claim credit for launching this original Tex-Mex concoction as a national craze back in 1973.

Ragin' Cajun

Crawfish

For the past 35 years, during crawfish season there's no better place to be sucking heads.

Star Pizza

Joe's Pizza

There's a bunch of new thin-crust, classic Italian-style pizzerias in town, which is great. But our first pizza crush will always be Star's deep-dish spinach-and-garlic pie on the signature wheat crust.

Taqueria la Tapatia

Chicken Burrito

These huge burritos could feed you for days, and we prefer them at their least healthful: packed with shredded chicken, sour cream, avocado, cheese and refried beans, and smothered in queso.

Taste of Texas

T-Bone Steak

Legendary in Houston, it's all about the meat here, as evidenced by the popular option to walk over to the in-house butcher shop and pick your own steak.