HOUSTON — Americans love eating out so much that restaurant industry sales are expected to top $1 trillion -- or $1,000,000,000,000 -- this year for the first time ever.
Houstonians are no exception and it's no longer a well-kept secret that we're one of the top foodie cities in the country.
Now, Houston's top-notch dining scene is getting more national attention thanks to Yelp's list of the 25 best new restaurants in 2024. Two H-Town hot spots made the cut based on Yelp reviews. Both are in the Montrose area and they feature seafood, sushi, sashimi and steak.
Here's what Yelp had to say about each one.
(WARNING: Reading this will make you hungry!)
"Locals who remember humble Little Pappas Seafood House can’t believe their eyes (or tastebuds) after seeing it reborn as a chic oyster bar.
“Not only did they come back to life, they came back with a vengeance,” says Yelper Olivia K.
Customers indulge in lobster drizzled with black pepper créme fraîche, refreshing tuna crudo with pomegranate, or a “grilled-to-perfection” octopus.
Sip on a choice of more than 50 champagnes in the sleek, intimate dining room. If bubbles aren't your cup of tea, seasonal cocktails include Pink Chai Tini, Dirty Little’s Secret Martini and Golden Martini.
Beyond the glamor, sustainability is paramount to the restaurant’s mission, according to Chef Jason Ryczek. Featured fish is sourced straight from the Texas Gulf, while caviar comes from white sturgeons that Chef Jason helps harvest in his native California."
17. Katami
"It takes less than 30 hours for fresh seafood to travel from the fishmongers at the legendary Toyosu Market in Tokyo to your plate at this Houston fine-dining hotspot.
Katami, which means “gift” in Japanese, is 4-time James Beard award-nominated chef Manabu Horiuchi’s present to his adopted home in Texas.
Snag a spot at the 12-seat sushi bar for a chef’s choice sashimi experience or peruse the vast menu, where classic sushi and nigiri pieces mingle with Texas twists like the Texas Hamachi Roll (featuring a trio of fish flavored with yuzu juice and jalapeno). Wagyu steaks (also imported from Japan), fresh oysters, and even veggie options like the corn mushroom okonomiyaki (a popular kind of Japanese grilled pancake with cabbage, carrot flakes, and onion) round out the a la carte dinner offerings. For dessert, there’s kakigori, a towering mound of shaved ice (with water imported from Japan for a fluffier texture), featuring flavors and toppings such as matcha, red-bean-paste ice cream, and strawberry Nutella."
Only two other restaurants in Texas are in the top 25 and both are in Dallas. Wicked Butcher is a steakhouse ranked No. 6 and Casa Pollastro is a Brazilian-Italian joint ranked No. 20.
Yelp's top 25 best new restaurants in 2024
You'll have to go to New York to check out the trendy restaurant at the top of Yelp's list where you might rub elbows with celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Cardi B.
For the record, Texas is the only state that has four eateries on the list.
Here's the full list.
- 1. Mēdüzā Mediterrania, New York City
- 2. Noko Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee
- 3. Meesh Meesh, Louisville, Kentucky
- 4. Kinme Omakase, San Diego, California
- 5. Burnin’ Shell, Los Angeles, California
- 6. Wicked Butcher, Dallas
- 7. Course Restaurant, Scottsdale, Arizona
- 8. BoujieMana, San Diego, California
- 9. Paseo, Anaheim, California
- 10. Little’s Oyster Bar, Houston
- 11. Kawa Ni, Denver, Colorado
- 12. Gannons Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee
- 13. Rustica Earth Sea and Fire, St. Augustine, Florida
- 14. El Cielo, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 15. Nami, Orlando, Florida
- 16. The Evie, Chicago, Illinois
- 17. Katami, Houston
- 18. Kappo DC, Washington, D.C.
- 19. Sartiano’s, New York City
- 20. Casa Pollastro, Dallas
- 21. Carbonara, Arlington, Virginia
- 22. Love, Makoto, Washington, District of Columbia
- 23. Wolf by Vanderpump at Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada
- 24. Percy, Boise, Idaho
- 25. Catalina Kitchen + Bar, Charlotte, North Carolina
