Ninfa’s on Navigation not only serves as one of the flagship Tex-Mex institutions of Houston, but also as the de facto pre- and post-game dinner spot for Astros fans. Pop in after watching Yordaddy smack a couple homers, and the entire restaurant will likely be a sea of orange. Nearly everyone here orders a powerful trinity of margaritas, queso, and the famous fajitas, but dishes from the seasonal specials are just as delicious to celebrate (or commiserate) over.
Tiny Champions helps you celebrate any wins, big or tiny. The East Downtown pizza, pasta, and all-around modern mostly-Italian restaurant from the folks behind Nancy’s Hustle has a full bar, a fast kitchen, and a massive covered patio. Split a bowl of fried scamorza cheese, plates of prosciutto, servings of linguine, and pizzas covered in fennel sausage and creamy ricotta. Throw on some big bottles of beer or a crispy rosé with a group or someone special.
The Tex-Mex joint Irma’s is only a hop, skip, and a jump from Minute Maid Park and will likely catch a good portion of the gameday runoff. Grab a seat at the sizable bar before or after the game, get a margarita, and split one of the specials on the menu like a spicy chicken mole, sizzling steak fajitas, or a bowl of hearty carne guisada.
Maybe you went out after the game and need some ‘za before sliding into a rideshare you should have called a couple hours ago. Or maybe you just want pizza—who doesn’t? Hit up Frank’s Pizza in Downtown for a couple slices to stay, or on a folded paper plate to go. And if your whole team needs some greasy carbs, get an entire New York-sized pie late into the night.
The main thing you need to have at Bad News Bar in Downtown is a solid equilibrium, ‘cause the narrow stairs leading up to the bar can get treacherous if you’ve had one too many tall boys between innings. Stay even keel on the way out, too. Just like the output of the Astros’ bullpen, the drinks at Bad News are served fast and strong, with a side order of attitude from the skilled bartenders.
The Vietnamese restaurant Huynh is a cornerstone of East Downtown. Most of the time, it’s hard to tell who’s a regular and who just wandered over from the convention center on their first trip to Houston. Huynh treats everyone like a regular. So whether you want to organize a little pre-game BYOB group dinner, dig into a spicy bowl of bún bò huế, or get ripped on Vietnamese coffee with a side of shaken beef, head over to Huynh.
When the craving for buttery pastries hits before a day game, especially the morning after (or before) a big game, the only answer is Koffeteria in East Downtown. The Cambodian-owned bakery Koffeteria packs in other Houston flavors from Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, and Chinese into pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and tacos. We always grab a pho brisket-stuffed kolache, a couple chocolate croissants, and a Salty Cambodian iced coffee to fill up before a day of yelling at talented sports stars.
Part patio, part frozen drink haven, and part millennial emo nostalgia factory, East End Hardware is overall a very chill bar with a solid jukebox. Take advantage of the relatively large tap wall or, on a hot day (AKA most days in Houston), enjoy an ice cold snowball cocktail. East End Hardware is also located on the quietest edge of EaDo, so no one (except everyone at the bar) can hear you cry on the incredibly rare occasions when the Astros, uh, don’t win.
At any given moment, it’s crucial to know exactly how far away you are from the closest breakfast taco spot. Enter: Brother’s Tacos, a long-time counter service taqueria on the edge of East Downtown. Don’t let the long line thwart your quest for egg-and-bacon or barbacoa tacos—things move fast. And it’s worth the wait for the homemade tortillas and to see who you run into before a matinee game.
Right off the METRO line in the East End, Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive is an eight-frozen-machines deep cocktail bar with a fully-loaded late night menu. Take down a shrimp po’boy or tater tots covered in roast beef and cheddar cheese while double-fisting a neon green frozen drink or playing air hockey. Or split a basket of chicken tenders over a couple jello shots. Voodoo Queen is all about balance.