From six restaurants receiving Michelin stars, to being named one of Travel + Leisure’s top 10 “Best Food Cities in the U.S.”, Houston left its mark on the broader food scene in 2024.

Last year, Houston restaurants were highlighted locally and nationally through a variety of outlets. Here’s a round up of a few that made a buzz and caught the attention of locals and visitors alike.

BASO

BASO, located in the Heights, “celebrates the spirit of Texas and the philosophy of Basque cuisine”. BASO was named one of Yelp’s best new restaurants in the South highlighting its passion for live fire cooking. In addition, BASO received a Michelin recommendation and was featured in the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants list in 2024.

Burger Bodega

Burger Bodega, located on Washington Avenue, is known for its top-notch smash burgers and stays true to its Houston roots while blending the classic bodega vibe with a dash of New York flair. Featured in the New York Times burger roundup, Texas Monthly, as well as Texas Highways’ "Best Burgers Worth the Drive", Burger Bodega has been making its mark not only with its burgers but also with its food collaborations with other restaurants in the city.

Ishtia

Ishtia, located in Kemah, takes you on a 3 hour “journey” and offers Indigenous Chocotaw cuisine made with ingredients from indigenous purveyors. Named one of the best new restaurants in America in 2024 by Eater, Ishtia is “more than just a place to eat; it’s a sanctuary of food, culture, and community.” Ishtia was also featured in Texas Monthly and named one of the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants list in 2024.

Koffeteria

Koffeteria, located in EaDo, is a bakery cafe that celebrates the flavors of Houston. Recently, Koffeteria was named one of the New York Times best bakeries in America and was praised for its breakfast tacos filled with Chinese sausage and beef pho kolaches. Koffeteria was also featured in the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants list in 2024.

Late August

Late August, located in the ION, “celebrates the richness of tradition while embracing the excitement of exploration”. Opening its doors in March 2024, Late August has received noteworthy accolades in a short period of time, starting with receiving a Michelin recommendation. On top of that, Late August, earned a spot on Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America, making it one of the only two Texas restaurants on the list.   

Michelin Awards

With an announcement in November 2024, Houston became home to six Michelin-star restaurants, including BCN Taste & Tradition, CorkScrew BBQ, Le Jardinier, March, Musaafer, and Tatemó.

In the month that followed the announcement, Houston saw a 16.9% increase in reservations on the reservation platform OpenTable compared to the same month in 2023.

Looking forward to 2025, Houston’s dynamic food scene will continue making an impact as the city continues to obtain accolades and adds to its more than 12,000 restaurants.

Written by Norma Salcedo

Le Jardinier pictured above

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