Your World Cup Dining Guide to Houston

By: Gabi De la Rosa

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he FIFA World Cup is kicking off in Houston, and while all the action’s at NRG Stadium, these nearby restaurants are your pre-and post-match MVPs. Consider this a curated game plan for eating like a champion in the Bayou City.

Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition

Chef Lucas McKinney designed this Midtown eatery to feel like a welcoming, lived-in dining room, and it delivers. The menu is a mix of deceptively simple dishes: roasted oysters, biscuits with seasonal jam, BBQ blue crabs, and the catch of the day. Each dish showcases the bounty of the Gulf’s delicious offerings, with impressive flavors and techniques that don’t overpower but elevate the natural ingredients, keeping diners coming back for more. Don’t miss the shrimp & grits or Barq’s peanut pie. Every morsel is worth it.

Houston BBQ Blue Crabs — BBQ Blue Crabs at Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition, Image courtesy of Dylan McEwan

Katami

Houston’s most stylish set can be seen wolfing down large amounts of perfectly executed sushi and sashimi at this hotspot from chef-owner Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi. Most of the fish are flown in from Japan within 24 hours of being caught, and the menu features three types of wagyu served in a range of five preparations, making it hard to choose just one. The sake list is also stacked with hard-to-find bottles, and the whole experience, including the kakagori—a mountain of shaved ice and condensed milk for dessert—feels polished without being pretentious.

Maximo

Maximo has emerged as a seasonal, story-driven restaurant that reflects how chef Adrian Torres connects with ingredients and authentic techniques. Nixtamal tortillas, the base of several menu items, are prepared fresh daily, and the seasonal menu gets a thoughtful overhaul every three months, making each visit a unique experience. The Maxi-Martini and taco plate steal the show, and for diners who want to try it all, the chef’s tasting menu with a beverage pairing is the way to go.

Milton’s

The highlight of this Rice Village restaurant is the pasta, which is made in-house daily by chef Kent Domas and his team. Plates are piled high with 100-layer lasagna, pillowy ricotta gnocchi, hearty bolognese, and decadent sourdough tagliatelle, served with white truffle butter and truffle pangrattato. Just like Nonna used to make, there are three kinds of perfectly breaded parm to choose from, including eggplant, chicken, and veal. Wash it all down with a negroni blanco or a glass of imported vintage wine curated by sommelier Mark Sayre.

The Pit Room

The Pit Room proves Houston barbecue can be traditional and inventive. Known for central Texas-style smoked meats, the restaurant delivers on all the classics, including brisket, sausage, pork ribs, turkey, and pulled pork. One of the menu standouts is the breakfast tacos, available until 10:30 am for early birds, and the lunch and dinner a la carte tacos, served with a choice of brisket, pulled pork, or chicken. Not only are they brimming with tasty fillings, but the tortillas, prepared daily, are made with smoked brisket fat instead of lard. The result is a flavorful dish that provides a double dose of smoky flavor.

Zaranda

Named for a traditional wire basket used to cook fish over an open flame, Zaranda, the latest concept from lauded chef Hugo Ortega, is inspired by the bounty of Las Californias. The menu pays homage to the Mexican, Spanish, and Asian influences which have had a major impact on the region’s flavors. Grilled fish, octopus, lamb empanadas, lobster tostadas, and prime-aged beef are all worthy of a taste. Start the meal with a tableside Caesar salad preparation, which, like the rest of the menu, pays homage to Baja California, where it was first served.