Where to eat in Houston?

I'm looking for decent home-style cooking (any ethnicity) in Houston, which seems to have a dearth of Roadfood-type restaurants (I have eaten at Goode Co. BBQ). I'm interested in Tex-Mex, Southwestern, or any good place that isn't fancy or snooty but has great food.

Thanks!

Hey there - Not a "great" place, but when you're ready for some "fast food", you've gotta hit "Watta Burger". This "Texas Only" chain has been in business since the mid 50's, and their food is just GOOD. Decent size burgers, fresh tomatoes, good french fries, served quickly and hot. Try the "jalapeno" cheeseburger - and the shakes!

In addition to these recently posted reviews of[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=2691&RefID=2700']La Mexicana[/url], [url='http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=2689&RefID=2513']Lankford Grocery[/url], and [url='http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=2693&RefID=2703']Williams Grocery[/url], I'd recommend a stop at the Avalon Drug Store on Westheimer for breakfast or lunch.

I recommend Buffalo Grill or 59 Diner for breakfast. Any of the taquerias are rustic but good--and very cheap--try the tortas at Ruchi's (there are several around town.)

Is Cap'n Benny's still around? I haven't been to Houston in a few years. It was the best catfish I ever had.

Yes, there still are Capt. Benny's in the Houston area.

Go to one of the La Tapatia Taqueria locations. Excellent food for not a lot of money. I think I'll go there today actually...

Triple A Restaurant on Airline Drive - just south of Loop 610 North. It is next to the farmer's market.

Busy at lunch - a little quieter in the evening - they do not stay open late (they used to close about 8:00).

Entree and three sides for a reasonable price. (You can count dessert as one of the three sides - my kind of place!)

I've been eating at AAA Restaurant for over 50 years. It was also known as "Truckers" at one time.

I have had a few less than stellar meals in the evening when the crowd was small, probably from food sitting too long. But lunch there is hard to beat. The same family has owned the place possibly from the beginning, but at least for as long as I have been going there. The third generation has it now.

Oh my, we love the food in Houston. Believe it or not, when we lived in New Orleans we used to drive to Houston every three months or so just to eat! (Yes, it is possible to get tired of fried food, fried food and fried food . . .)

At any rate, any of the Arandas taquerias provide great, authentic immigrant Mexican food. You may be one of the only non-Latinos in the restaurant, but don't worry; everyone is friendly and just enjoying the food. In addition to the taquerias there are a few Arandas Osteonerias, specializing in seafood, and a couple of panaderias, with fresh Mexican sweet breads. And there are many, many other little Mexican cafes that you can try.

Like Asian food? Just drive out Bellaire Blvd on the west side of the city. There are probably thousands of great places to eat, from tiny cafes to huge Chinese and Vietnamese banquet houses. Try Lai-Lai Dumpling House. The enormous Ocean Palace serves good dim sum. Don't miss the fabulous Hong Kong Market in the same strip mall with Ocean Palace. Farther afield is Kim Son in Sugarland for the best dim sum we had in the city.

We also found good Indian food in Houston but just now I can't remember the names of any of those. Just look around you -- the possibilities are everywhere. If you happen to live in a new and sterile suburb, just head toward the inner city, and you'll find lots of variety.

Arandas is usually good with chicken items, but I have gotten sick a few times from their beef. I prefer Taqueria Cancun to Arandas, especially the one on Gessner just north of Hammerly.

Try the ORIGINAL Ninfa's for Mexican (on Navigation?) Or, Treebeards, anyplace for beans and rice.

Try Felix's Mexican Restaurant at 904 Westheimer near Monstrose Blvd. It was opened in 1937 by Felix Tijerina, who would become a prominent Hispanic leader in Houston. His family still runs it. A recent report had it closing but a flood of long-time customers has saved it for now. Try their unique chile con queso and a No. 1 Dinner gets you a good sampling of their fare. It's been rated Best Retro Tex-Mex by The Houstion Press. The dining room is an old style hacienda with arches. You won't be sorry.

Jerry, I asked a similar quesztion just about a month ago. Here's a link to that topic which has lots of additional good suggestions as well as links to previous questions about food in Houston.

Like Kitty said, there are lots of great places to eat in Houston.
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