50 Best American Restaurants in Houston

“The BEST ceviche I’ve ever had!“

“I always enjoy Black Bear and go there at least 3 times a month.. The food and service is great.. and Jody..Rachel and Tiara are the very best servers! Always smiling and helpful.. ?“

“7/4/2026 had dinner there tonight & the cook couldn't get the order correct, the manager finally went to the kitchen & made the burgers himself because he knows how I like them. Santi the manager went above & beyond to make it right. that was a blessing.“

“Stopped in for a work lunch and I am so glad we did! Every single thing we tried was sooo good! I only got pictures of the appetizers because I couldn’t wait to dig in to the actual entrees! Our server, Antonio, was so kind, helpful and really on it!! Highly recommend this place!“

“We had an amazing experience at Balboa! Starting with the complimentary valet, which was quick and friendly service. The entry to the restaurant was super nice and a great photo opportunity spot. Kyrah took excellent care of us during our visit, and we loved the team style service. It felt like we had a team serving us, and they are so quick and quiet that you can continue to hold conversations and visit but someone is always near if you need anything. Kyrah took special care to "refresh" our cocktail glasses when we finished about half of our drinks, and made excellent recommendations. The food was absolutely amazing. Our table tried the fried shrimp, oysters, spicy ahi tuna roll, crab cake, Post Oak ribeye with pureed potatoes, salmon with the most delicious and unique salad, and heirloom tomatoes. The cocktails were delicious, including the Gold Rush, Rum Dum, and el Guero. The restaurant vibe is romantic but fun and sophisticated and has an open kitchen concept where you can see the food being made if you care to watch. I will most definitely be back and can confidently recommend this place to anyone!“

“Here for Thanksgiving! Great food! Excellent service! 10/10.“

“Came by here tonight to grab dinner. Not only is the food delicious, it’s reasonably priced, and the staff are very friendly. I will definitely be back!“

“I recommend the full menu. My wife and I had our 37 year anniversary dinner tonight,and our server Paisley did an awesome job… kudos to you! Thanks Ingrid for checking with us about our dining experience! We will be back soon.“

“1/12/2025-This is a awesome vibe here. The ambiance is a nice bistro with some crazy art to keep you entertained but the music and lighting sets the mood. I would come back here again and again. I visited here without a reservation and was greeted when I first came in. The staff was nice friendly and attentive. Emma was awesome and recommended some dishes. The burger, half chicken, rice, and sesame butter cookie were awesome and the drinks. I had the voodoo drink. I highly recommended and you won't be disappointed.“

“Great staff and great food 10/10 will comeback next time in cibolo/ Schertz Tx !!“

“We flew from Pensacola FL and had to visit. When I saw EVERYTHING was on point and delicious. Staff was so friendly, food was hot & fresh and I have NEVER had better tasting food from a restaurant. I normally can’t say everything was good when I visit a new place. We can on Saturday and again this morning before our flight. See y’all soon ??❤️“

“This spot is seriously amazing, you have to check it out. The food here is consistently incredible, I'm always blown away. I love that they keep things fresh by switching up the menu with new delicious options. Definitely a must-try for anyone looking for banging food and beer!“

“This is one of the BEST restaurants I have eaten at. First, Cori our server is awesome! She is attentive, responsive, knowledgeable, and super friendly! The food is amazing! This was my 3rd time eating at this location and I will be returning. I gotta try more dishes off the menu. Kudos to the chef! Bow Wow!!!“

“Great experience with new ownership! Vibe is upbeat, but chill. The food is both historic and some delicious modern takes on traditional dishes. Service was attentive and friendly, including the ownership’s personal attentiveness. Highly recommend for a date or brunch with friends. Family friendly.“

“Wow! My family and I LOVE to find those old school greasy spoons but this one took the cake. From the outside it’s not much to look at but that’s okay because what waits inside is a diner full of regulars that know where the best breakfast in town is. Yes you go through a seedy neighborhood with questionable businesses in the area but man, it’s worth the adventure. The parking is a free for all so just make sure you can get out. Everyone seems really conscientious about it. We went in and were immediately seated even though they looked packed! We were a party of six. Our server (Elizabeth) greeted us immediately and brought out coffees and waters while we looked through our menus. When we were ready to order she gave us suggestions to make the player even better and boy were we happy we listened! Order the biscuit. Grilled. Don’t question it. Just do it. You won’t regret that order. She brought them out hot and buttered while we waited for our meals. Sooooo delicious!!
I ordered the omelette with every meat and hash browns. Perfection. Hash browns were crispy and well seasoned. Omelette was huge and packed with goodness. My so ordered the monte Cristo french bread Sammie, while the hubby ordered the side of chicken fried chicken with gravy on the side. One of my sons ordered a waffle with sausage patty AND french toast while his girlfriend ordered pancakes bigger than her face! All of the plates did NOT disappoint.
Hungry and in Houston? Don’t forget to check this place out. It’s definitely a restaurant we will be visiting again when back in the area. FIVE STARS!!! ⭐ ask for Elizabeth!“

“Great staff and great food 10/10 will comeback next time in cibolo/ Schertz Tx !!“

“Fortune Nwahaiajuzie is the BEST server ever and she’s so nice and is always smiling and she smells like cotton candy. Will be coming back!“

“I am a huge fan of Black Bear. Monster portions at very reasonable prices. Their breakfasts are to die for....phenomenal scrambled eggs, thick and well cooked bacon, and monster biscuits bigger than your saucer plate! I promise you, you'll be asking for a take home container cuz you can't eat it all. Delicious and SO WELL WORTH the money.“

“I recently attended an educational dinner here in the food was beyond outstanding. It was difficult to decide which entrée to get because they all looked amazing. The appetizers, each one, were some of the best that I’ve ever had and I’m a foodie. I had not even known that this restaurant was located here. I have told all my friends that they have to try it out and I cannot wait to come back here with my own family and friends. Excellent!“

“The food and service were excellent.“

“Great staff and great food 10/10 will comeback next time in cibolo/ Schertz Tx !!“

“First time Birthday Luncheon, food was excellent and the service was great. I’ll be back“

“Excellent service, a real presentation of the food, all courses. I did restaurant week, but most at my table ordered off regular menu. The desserts were not as good as they sounded, but the entrees were great. A little heavy on the salt, but otherwise good. My family lived the Paella, and the beef medallions were rich and the appetizers of fried asparagus and a mix were good, but my favorite was the shrimp cocktail. Would get that again. We were in a private room for 8, and we had an excellent time. Valet is necessary, but I felt good about parking.“

“Small, intimate, romantic, and heartfelt. A local family-owned and operated New American restaurant with some noticeable French influence. My dining experience was perfection and I saw excellence at every turn. I see now why this is the local spot for River Oaks residents. I may have quickly became a lifelong fan of Lucio’s and can’t wait to bring a friend to share the experience with. The staff was very present and intentional, which allowed for the pace to feel slow paced & not rushed, yet the wait time for the food was just right. This would be the absolute best spot for an anniversary or date night. 10/10.“

“A group of us went in over this past weekend and to say the food is good is an understatement. I ordered the fruity pebbles sliders and those things were absolutely delicious. The cooks were very friendly and made the experience feel good. Don't be mistaken, this is not a gas station that happens to sell food, this is a restaurant that just so happens to have a gas station attached. If you ever find yourself looking for some good food then I highly recommend Sizzling Hot Kitchen as your stop. You will not be disappointed“

“Excellent service food was very good and fresh ..“

“Cherriese was GREAT thank you the food was great“

“Their food is amazing!! We decided to stop here due to the picture of their MacNCheese from Google GPS. It did not disappoint. We also ordered Fried pickles, beef quesadilla, and their Matt burger. All so very delicious and seasoned!! This will definitely be our spot when we come in for appts. Oh... and I cant forget to mention that their staff is so sweet!“

“I absolutely love this restaurant. I love design with beautiful fresh roses. We celebrated here our anniversary twice and also been here for Valentine’s day and we loved it so much every time. The food is really good and there are plenty of healthy options. And the hospitality is beyond amazing. Thank you so much everyone for making our anniversary so beautiful, and special thanks to Eddy who went far and beyond to make our night perfect!!“

“I absolutely love y'all 💜 the food is beyond amazing the service awesome just love all in the building and food 💜 I come at least 2xs throughout the week. I can't forget my lean with it lemonade 😁Y'all stay Blessed“

“Had such a lovely meal and experience at Artistry, visiting with my mum :) I am Coeliac and they were so nice and accommodating, making me an absolutely delicious gluten free bowl (the sweet potato one). Amazing bonus is that they don’t cook anything breaded in the fryer so I could have the truffle Parmesan fries (to die for) without worrying about cross contamination! The butterscotch budino dessert was equally fabulous. Thank you from New Zealand!“

“New place we’ve never heard of!
Hot Truffle Chicken. Amazing!
Peach covered wings. Delicious!
All of it was very different than anything we’ve ever had before, but so good!
Oh, and Chase was fantastic! Great recommendations and even better service!“

“Our Cerboni team had a fantastic time at FM Kitchen’s happy hour! The drinks and food were absolutely delicious, and the staff treated us like VIPs. Great vibes, great service — we’ll definitely be back!“

“What a nice hidden gem! We sat on the beautiful patio.. So many amazing choices on the menu. Our Food was Delicious and our server was very friendly and patient with us! We had the Shrimp Egg rolls, avocado burger, quesadillas, Queso fries & a Smoothie! We definitely be back soon!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Excellent dinning experience, very friendly atmosphere, the staff make you welcomed from the time you arrive until the time you leave. We had a group of 12, we tried several dishes. The nilgai steak was very tender and delicious, other dishes that we tried was the artichoke chicken, the game sampler, and there was a chef special of bison steak with lobster. The appetizers are also a must try, we had the scallops with the rainbow caviar, the quail and the delicious rolls. This restaurant is a must try if you have a special occasion.“

“We have a great experience every time we dine at Black Walnut in Rice Village. The food is consistently delicious, and the staff is always helpful and genuinely pleasant. We can honestly say we’ve never had a poor experience at this location. The menu has something for everyone, making it an easy favorite for a casual breakfast, lunch, or dinner.“

“Tried them for the first time on a Friday and went back the next day…I intend to try everything on the menu…lol. I’m talking about so much flavor. I had the garlic lemon butter wings and fries first, then the pork chops the next day…they do not disappoint!!!! What will I try next????“

“Best burgers in houston!“

“Tons of food options (all delicious!) and friendly service! Don't think about it, book them for your next event!!!“

“The food is amazing and the service is fabulous.“

“i was in Grace 1/22/2022 i had a party of 15 from the time we sat down the service was really bad mind you they made some really good money off my party but we was treated really bad the part that sticks out is one of my people paid for a drink that they did not have the manger told her i got your money already so there is nothing i can do about it you probably just paid for someone else drink so deal with it but they really had added an extra drink cuz everyone had paid for there drinks long story short i will not go there anymore“

“I realized my little one had never had a pizooki so we brought him. Kimberly was super sweet! He gave her and the food 10 of 10 stars lol. He's 8 but very serious about food! 😂“

“We visited Leo’s River Oaks on Friday night, and the entire experience was exceptional from beginning to end. The service was impeccable, the food was absolutely delicious, and the piano bar singer created such an amazing atmosphere for the evening.
What truly made the night special was the warmth and professionalism of the staff. The managers took time to speak with us about the history of the restaurant, which added such a personal touch to the experience. They were incredibly friendly and welcoming.
A very special mention goes to our waiter, Manny. He was kind, attentive, and truly professional. He paid attention to every detail and made us feel completely valued and taken care of throughout the evening. Service like his is rare and unforgettable.
Leo’s River Oaks delivers not only outstanding food and entertainment, but also genuine hospitality. We will definitely be back!“

“We love the atmosphere and delicious food! Had a birthday dinner tonight-and everything was delicious❤️ Pork chops, ribs and Brussel sprouts, miso glazed salmon, Mac and cheese, chocolate cake and key lime pie-everything was perfect! Highly recommend“

“Another Houston winner (I may just start a blog the way I’m eating Houston up 😂)! Visited this establishment this weekend and simply, The Bacon Jam Burger sliders…Delicious! That jam! Served with fries and extra Cajun season salt with the dynamite dip! My God! The staff was wonderful! Would recommend and definitely coming back to try the salads!“

“What a fantastic experience. The food was amazing and the staff was wonderful. A little special made whipped cream for a little girl’s pancake goes a long way with a mom! The skillet and chicken and biscuits was fresh and delicious. Thank you for starting our day off just right!“

“I stopped by The Nickel BBQ, Seafood & Chicken over in Fifth Ward and tried the fried pork chop sandwich for $11. I’d give it a solid 3.9 out of 5. The main thing that stood out was how fresh it was — you can tell they cook it to order.

For me, it could’ve had a little more seasoning or at least black pepper, but that’s just my preference.

The service was great and fast, which I always appreciate, and the parking lot was clean — not something you always get, but it definitely adds to the experience.

Overall, I’d go back and try something else on the menu.“

“We had a wonderful brunch at Federal American Grill! The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and perfect for families. The brunch menu had a great selection with something for everyone, and everything we ordered was delicious.

The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making the entire experience even better. A special shoutout to Nick, our waiter, who did a fabulous job! He was attentive, personable, and made sure we had everything we needed.

We will definitely be back and highly recommend Federal American Grill for anyone looking for a great brunch with excellent service!“

“I have no idea how this place has a 4.4. After a few visits not I have to say that this place is a gem. One of the most delicious burgers that I have had, so good we came back a couple days later to get another one.
We sat at the bar, the ladies behind the bar were just AWESOME. They worked together as a team when it came to the customers. When we didn’t know what we wanted, they jumped in with recommendations and smiles. What a great group to represent this companies brand.
We’ve already decided that if we have clients out there then we are definitley stopping in for a burger every time that we can.“