Come to Uchi Houston for innovative, Japanese-inspired cuisine, thanks to James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole. Sit at the sleek sushi bar or in the stylish, wood-paneled dining room to feast on spectacular sashimi and sushi, plus standout dishes like wagyu you can cook tableside over a hot rock. For celebrations, opt for the 10-course omakase tasting menu and sake from the restaurant’s extensive collection.

Get swanky London supper club vibes stateside at The Marigold Club from acclaimed restaurant group Goodnight Hospitality. In a Mayfair-Maximalist-inspired dining room with jewel-toned banquettes, bespoke Murano chandeliers, and stunning hand-painted murals inspired by New York City’s famed Bemelmans Bar, dig into a decadent, French menu through the lens of London with caviar tea sandwiches, epic seafood towers, and refined entrées—no passport necessary.

This opulent Autry Park steakhouse from notable Houston restaurateur Benjamin Berg dazzles with premium steaks and equally luxe decor. Expect rare cuts of meat, plus white-gloved servers wheeling tableside carts of ice-cold martinis and raw seafood in an intimate, candle-lit dining room with nightly live music.

At her namesake restaurant, 2023 James Beard semifinalist Kiran Verma serves up inventive dishes that pair traditional Indian flavors and techniques with local ingredients. The results are wholly unique: tandoori Texas quail with fig chutney or goat cheese and beet salad with masala cashews, for example. Weekends are an especially fun time to dine, when afternoon tea service stars the restaurant's signature chai blend.

Chef Felipe Riccio trained at top restaurants like Italy’s famed Osteria Francescana, and that pedigree shines at MICHELIN-Starred March. In an elegant, art-filled space, Riccio delights with a rotating six- and nine-course tasting menu spotlighting a new Mediterranean region each season. Past dishes included paella with lamb chorizo and sweetbreads, paired with luscious wines and the restaurant’s signature herbal-infused vermouth.

Top Chef alum Evelyn Garcia and co-owner Henry Lu’s international roots and innovative cuisine are on full display at this James Beard Award-nominated hotspot. In a cozy warehouse-like space outfitted with tropical plants, the pair serve shareable Latin- and Asian-influenced dishes like fried chicken with shrimp paste and Thai chile or beef tartare with a sesame buñuelo, plus excellent sake-based cocktails.

With a Moorish arch-framed bar, clusters of olive trees, and colorful Turkish rugs, a meal at this buzzy Israeli spot is a fully immersive experience. Grab a seat in the energetic dining room or on the charming patio for shareable Middle Eastern-inspired small plates, grilled meat skewers, and arak flights. Come on Thursday evenings to be dazzled by belly dancers in traditional garb and beats from local DJs.

Southern staples get progressive twists at this Houston mainstay helmed by acclaimed chef and James Beard finalist Chris Williams. In a 1920s mission-style home dressed with warm woods and family photographs, he brings a refined touch to Texas favorites like tender oxtail tamales and a brined, slow-fried yardbird with honey-spiced gravy—all inspired by his great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith, a culinary innovator in her day.

Owner Alba Huerta has racked up accolades—including a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program—for her top-notch cocktails incorporating unusual ingredients like marigold leaves. Sip them in an airy, floral-strewn parlor that also serves up an elegant menu of seasonal small plates like Gulf Coast oysters and tomato “caviar” with watermelon.

Grab a seat at the neon-lit bar or in the Bangkok-themed dining room of this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant for knockout Thai food from James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan “G” Jabthong Painter. Expect updated takes on classics, like pad Thai with Gulf shrimp, along with showstopping natural wines and cocktails curated by G’s husband and sommelier, Graham Painter.