Where to Eat in Houston Right Now — 10 Reborn Restaurants for Spring

Editor’s note: The Houston restaurant scene is constantly changing, with new hotspots, must-try places and major food events coming along on a daily basis. Even the most dedicated foodie can have trouble keeping up. Don’t worry, PaperCity has you covered.

Spring is the time of rebirth, and the Space City restaurant scene definitely reflects that. Many restaurants on this month’s list are either reborn in new spaces, or new eateries that are reimagining old spaces. What’s old is new again, and you won’t want to miss out.

Cafe Bustelo

Put this one on your list — and fast. The beloved coffee brand has set up a blinding sunshine yellow shipping container cafe in Montrose for a pop-up that’ll stay open through May 25th.  Get your java fix in the open air, either out front or up top beneath the canopy of umbrellas.

Enjoy your basic coffee, or café con leche, or cafecito with the heart-warming truth that in doing so, you’re contributing donations to Houston’s Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts. Houston’s the first stop for this pop-up coffee haven. Make the most of it.

Verdine

The roving Ripe Cuisine food truck has gotten a major brick-and-mortar upgrade with Verdine, recently opened on 19th Street. Vegans and vegetarians should rejoice — it’s 100 percent vegan. But even the carnivore with the greatest meat cravings will find something to love.

Like the pulled jackfruit carnitas that mimic the real thing so well, bistro burgers with quinoa, organic lentils and mushrooms, plus beet falafel bursting with fresh flavors. Get thee to Verdine for eats you can feel good about eating, and even drinks that’ll make you swell with pride — organic, sustainable and biodynamic wines.

Taste Bar + Kitchen

The historic old Sterling House space has been revitalized — and there’s a chicken and waffles revolution going on inside of it. You’ll definitely want a taste of the crunchy, cooked-to-perfection waffles, which you can get until 2 am on the weekends.

Think Cajun chicken and waffles, General Tso’s chicken and waffles — even vegan chicken and waffles, with chicken fried cauliflower. And that’s just the savory side. To satisfy your sweet tooth, consider a red velvet or tres leches waffle. And it must be mentioned that there’s an entire array of dessert cocktails in flavors such as apple pie and bourbon pecan. You read that right.

Les Ba’get

Talk about a triumphant return. After transforming the original Les Ba’Get space into Les Noodles, the owners are back at it again, this time bringing the stellar sandwich shop to a new home in Garden Oaks.

You’d better bet their Bahn mi are still to die for, along with Vietnamese faves like vermicelli bowls.

1751 Sea and Bar

It’s so long Star Fish, hello 1751 Sea and Bar. The newly renovated, refined black-and-white-accented space now bring a new Houston restaurant to the foodie scene. Expect major pistou mussels, house-smoked and baked oysters, snapper, redfish and scallops.

But what you sip on is just as important as what you munch on. In this case, that would be gin — over 110 varieties behind the bar. The name “1751” is an homage to the British Gin Act. At the sea and bar, it’s a daily celebration with four separate gin and tonic varieties.

Kubo’s

Just this month, beloved sushi spot Kubo’s is back in action. The beloved Bellaire Boulevard sushi destination, whose Rice Village location closed three years ago, is making its mark inside the Loop once again.

Head to Washington Avenue, specifically the fleeting Kukuri space. You’ll find everything you love at Cafe Kubo in Asiatown, plus plates of roast duck with egg yolk, nigiri, sashimi and more.

Crawfish & Beignets

This Viet-jun mainstay is back and better than ever, now open in Dynasty Plaza. It’s not far from where it was before, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same old Crawfish & Beignets. In fact, the menu has gotten mightier with new dishes like po’boys, shrimp fried rice, seafood sausage gumbo and seafood platters.

Get Crawfish & Beignets’ fresh, juicy mudbugs in the best time of the year. There are seasonings galore for this season, whether you go with classic ol’ garlic and butter, Cajun spicy or even Thai citrus blend.

Ramen Okidoki

This New York City transplant has found a cozy home on Bellaire Boulevard in the heart of Asiatown, ripe for eager ramen-eaters. It’s already a certified hit, especially because of its flavorful, not-too-salty broth.

Fan favorites are the spicy tonkotsu, shoyu and the signature okidoki, corn, menma, cabbage and bean sprouts with either chicken or pork. For those of you who aren’t so into slurping, there’s steam fried chicken buns and potato croquettes, to name just a few

Tropical’s Colombian Restaurant

This tasty mecca for Colombia eats has expanded from Katy all the way to Montrose, bringing with it counter service for all your casual and grab-and-go needs. You can dine on classic arepas, bandeja paisa, patacones, empanadas and fried plantains, of course.

 The fruity juices at the aptly named Tropical’s are worth the trip alone, made from blackberry, passion fruit and more.

Common Bond Cafe & Bakery

This cult favorite bakery is expanding in a major way, and it’s already debuted in its newest location. The Medical Center is the lucky host to the rustic-chic Common Bond, known for its delicate, fluffy pastries as much as its food menu.

Diners bond over their mutual satisfaction with the quiche Florentine, ancient grains with chickpea croquettes and spicy pepperoni and goat cheese flatbread. At this bakery and cafe, you truly can’t go wrong.