Lodgeur Guide: Houston Restaurants Famous from TV

Name: Lodgeur
Price range: $$$

Want to taste what made the celebrity chefs drool? Here’s your ultimate guide to Houston restaurants that starred on food TV shows!

Taste the Fame: Houston’s TV Food Star Map

Houston’s food scene is so incredible that it regularly attracts TV food stars like Guy Fieri, Anthony Bourdain, and David Chang. These culinary explorers have uncovered some of H-Town’s most delicious hidden gems and iconic establishments. From legendary Tex-Mex to innovative Viet-Cajun cuisine, the Bayou City’s diverse food landscape has become a small-screen star in its own right.

We’ve rounded up all the Houston restaurants that have been featured on popular food TV shows so you can eat like your favorite celebrity chef. Bring your appetite—and maybe your autograph book!

Inner Loop Favorites

Montrose

Hugo’s Restaurant (1600 Westheimer Rd) – “Top Chef” contestants got schooled here by Chef Hugo Ortega himself. Try the mole and understand why this James Beard winner makes other chefs nervous. See the episode on Bravo. Stream on: Peacock
Georgia James Tavern (1100 Westheimer Rd) – Chef Chris Shepherd showed off his Korean-meets-Southern food magic for Netflix’s “Chef’s Table”. The restaurant has evolved from the original Underbelly, but the food’s still camera-worthy! Stream on: Netflix
Mai’s Vietnamese Restaurant (3403 Milam St) – Anthony Bourdain slurped pho and raved about the garlic beef in his “No Reservations” Houston episode. Open until 3am on weekends – perfect for late-night cravings just like Tony would’ve wanted. Stream on: Discovery+

Midtown

Brennan’s of Houston (3300 Smith St) – “Top Chef” contestants sweated it out in the kitchen trying to impress the boss. Order the famous turtle soup and pretend you’re a judge! Stream on: Peacock
The Breakfast Klub (3711 Travis St) – Guy Fieri couldn’t stop raving about those chicken and waffles on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. The line around the block? Totally worth it. Get there early or embrace the wait – it’s part of the experience! Stream on: Hulu, Discovery+

East End

Original Ninfa’s on Navigation (2704 Navigation Blvd) – Anthony Bourdain proclaimed the fajitas here “the best Tex-Mex in America” on “No Reservations”. If you leave Houston without trying these, did you even visit? Pro tip: the margaritas are just as legendary. Stream on: Discovery+
Villa Arcos (3009 Navigation Blvd) – Andrew Zimmern devoured their famous breakfast tacos on “Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations”. Nothing bizarre about these perfect tacos – just pure breakfast magic wrapped in a tortilla! Stream on: Discovery+, Hulu

Upper Kirby

Goode Company BBQ (5109 Kirby Dr) – Bobby Flay tried to out-BBQ the Goode family on “BBQ with Bobby Flay”. Spoiler alert: in Texas, nobody beats a Goode at their own BBQ game. Grab some jalapeno bread while you’re there – it’s legendary! Stream on: Food Network, Discovery+
Kata Robata (3600 Kirby Dr) – Chef Manabu Horiuchi (aka Chef Hori) showed off his knife skills on Bravo’s “Best New Restaurant”. The sushi here is so pretty you’ll spend five minutes Instagramming before you eat it. Stream on: Peacock

Beyond the Loop

Third Ward

Frenchy’s Chicken (3919 Scott St) – This fried chicken institution got major love on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” when chef Bryan Caswell couldn’t stop talking about that spicy, perfectly crispy chicken. The lines move fast, and yes, you definitely want the collard greens too! Stream on: Discovery+, Hulu

Chinatown

Crawfish & Noodles (11360 Bellaire Blvd) – Chef David Chang couldn’t get enough of the Viet-Cajun crawfish here on Netflix’s “Ugly Delicious”. Chef Trong Nguyen’s magical garlic butter sauce will have you licking your fingers shamelessly. Grab extra napkins! Stream on: Netflix
Mala Sichuan Bistro (9348 Bellaire Blvd) – Featured on CNBC’s “Restaurant Startup,” where investors fell in love with their fiery Sichuan peppercorn dishes. Try the water-boiled fish and feel your lips go delightfully numb. Stream on: Amazon Prime
Golden Dumpling House (9896 Bellaire Blvd) – On Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” chef Justin Yu raved about their perfect soup dumplings. Technique is key—poke a hole, slurp the soup, then eat the dumpling! Stream on: Discovery+

Pearland

Killen’s BBQ (3613 E Broadway St, Pearland) – On “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”, Guy Fieri basically proposed marriage to Ronnie Killen’s brisket. That line you’ll see? Just think of it as a pre-meal appetite builder. Worth. Every. Minute. Stream on: Hulu, Discovery+

Take a Bite Out of Houston’s TV Fame

The best part about Houston’s TV-famous restaurants? They’re actually as good as they look on TV! From Anthony Bourdain’s Tex-Mex picks to Guy Fieri’s comfort food destinations, these spots deliver the authentic Houston flavors that made them TV stars.

For a different kind of star-spotting experience, check out our guide to Houston’s Most Famous Movie and TV Filming Locations where you can walk in the footsteps of famous actors and recreate iconic scenes!

The Last Bite

Houston’s diverse culinary landscape continues to draw food TV shows looking to showcase the next big thing in American cuisine. Barbecue enthusiasts, Tex-Mex aficionados, and fans of global flavors all have plenty of TV-approved restaurants to choose from. Just be prepared to make some tough decisions – with so many amazing options, you might need to extend your stay to try them all!