Kabob Korner: International Fare in Houston

Kabob Korner’s slogan is “food with no boundaries,” and the restaurant’s eclectic mix of food from a number of different ethnicities certainly fits that description. Although the menu does include the eatery’s namesake kabobs, it also offers a variety of other grilled dishes from Mediterranean and South Asian countries. Freshly baked naan bread comes with just about every meal, while vegetable samosas and hummus appetizers are a great addition to your kabob or shawarma. Kabob Korner also offers a few American dishes for less adventurous eaters, including grilled burgers and sandwiches for affordable prices.

The quick and convenient ordering system features a large menu board posted above the ordering counter, and guests can choose to either dine in at one of the small cafe tables or take their food to go for lunch or dinner. Grab a quick lunch that’s more interesting than most with a visit to Kabob Korner.

Kabob Korner
12228 Antoine Drive
Houston, TX 77066
(281) 880-0786
www.kabobkorner.com
www.yelp.com/biz/kabob-korner-houston

Happy Hour Deals Meet Delicious Seafood at Reef in Houston

There’s a reason why Houston’s Reef is consistently voted one of the best seafood restaurants in the country: with its James Beard award-nominated chef, its inventive menu of creative seafood dishes, and its fresh, high quality list of ingredients, the utmost attention is paid to every detail at this popular eatery.

Reef’s menu includes a fish selection that changes daily to include only the freshest options on the market, but you’ll always find staple menu items like the jumbo crab cakes, 3RD Bar Plateau raw plate and red fish on the half-shell. Crunchy calamari and seafood gumbo make delicious appetizers, while fresh fish platters served with seasonal vegetables and homemade sauces are perfect for lunch or dinner. There is an extensive dessert menu and a large wine list to go along with any meal, as well as a happy hour menu that offers big savings on cocktails and small plates from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every weekday.

Reef
2600 Travis at McGowen
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 526-8282
www.reefhouston.com

Holley’s: Sea(food) and Be Seen in Houston

Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a Houston favorite that offers a delicious selection of seafood prepared by some of the most renowned chefs in town. The resulting menu is fresh, modern, and creative, making this a standout eatery that locals adore. Holley’s menu features seafood dishes inspired not only by classic Texan cooking, but also by cuisines found throughout New Orleans, Kentucky Bourbon country, and along the eastern shoreline. A well-curated wine list rounds out the offerings here.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a place for a great dinner in town, Holley’s stylish ambiance and urban feel is sure to fit the bill. There is a business casual dress code throughout the elegant dining room, but if you’re looking for something a bit more laid-back, the attached oyster bar has a casual ambiance that still feels really special.

Holley’s
3201 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 491-2222
www.holleyshouston.com

The Breakfast Klub: Houston’s Most Cinematic Breakfast

The Breakfast Klub is not only one of the most popular breakfast spots in Houston, it’s also one of the most buzzed-about breakfast eateries in the nation. Wooden tables and modern artwork fill the spacious, light-filled dining area, and it’s always filled with a diverse mix of customers, from lawyers to hip college students. Although you’re almost guaranteed to wait in line, regular diners insist The Breakfast Klub is worth it for both the delicious morning fare and the homegrown, nationally known experience.

The Katfish & Grits and Wings & Waffle are two of the most popular breakfast dishes (and yes, you’ll notice the “K” theme throughout the entire menu). Bottomless koffee and kafe au laits perfectly accompany any breakfast dish, and the eatery also serves specialty espresso beverages. Contrary to its quirky name, The Breakfast Klub also serves a full lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, and other midday favorites.

The Breakfast Klub
3711 Travis at Alabama
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 528-8561
www.thebreakfastklub.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-breakfast-klub-houston-2

Benjy’s Restaurant: Lounge Around at This New American Eatery

Benjy’s is an American restaurant done in the style of a 1920s lounge bar, complete with round leather booths, orb-shaped chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and a handsome wooden bar well-suited to enjoying an evening cocktail. While its ambiance is retro, Benjy’s remains one of the hippest spots in all of central Houston.

Here, the focus is on farm-to-table fare. Customers enjoy artfully plated dishes like crispy chicken, ricotta gnocchi, and sake kasu salmon. Wood oven pizzas and entree salads are ideal for lunch, while the brunch menu features a selection of omelets, biscuit sandwiches, and Fresh toast entrees that will cap a weekend off the right way. Although Benjy’s is known for its food, its cocktails, locally brewed craft beer, and an impressive wine list are just as important to the dining experience!

Benjy’s Restaurant
2424 Dunstan Street
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 522-7602
www.benjys.com
www.yelp.com/biz/benjys-houston-3

Irma’s: Enjoy Mexican Cuisine Morning, Noon and Night

If you’re looking for a family-owned eatery serving authentic Mexican cuisine, you’ll find it at Irma’s. If you come for lunch or dinner, Irma’s offers housemade guacamole and crispy chips to start the meal, and the popular strawberry lemonade is truly a can’t-miss menu item. Entrees like shrimp and spinach enchiladas and tender carne asada will leave you feeling full, while the sweet sopapillas make the perfect dessert to finish off your meal. For early risers, Irma’s even offers a traditional Mexican breakfast that consists of huevos rancheros and other favorites.

This local favorite is furnished with casual wooden tables and colorful Mexican decorations throughout, and it even has a full bar with flatscreen televisions for anyone who wants to stop by to watch the big game. There is also a plant-filled outdoor patio, perfect for warm evenings.

Irma’s
22 N Chenevert St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 222-0767
www.irmashouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/irmas-restaurant-houston?sort_by=date_desc

Alwadi Mediterranean Sandwiches: Not Your Typical Deli

A Houston eatery serving sandwiches with a Mediterranean twist, Alwadi isn't your typical deli. Here, sandwiches boast marinated chicken, beef, or lamb, all of which arrive sliced, grilled, and wrapped in pita bread with tomatoes, pickles, and garlic sauce. Regulars recommend the gyro sandwich, which features a blend of lamb and beef stuffed inside a pita and drizzled with tzatziki sauce. Vegans and vegetarians can enjoy the falafel sandwich, made with fried chickpea and parsley.

If you aren’t in the mood for a sandwich, the restaurant serves a number of platters featuring shrimp kabobs, chicken shawarma, or falafel patties. Alwadi serves each platter with a side of hummus, cucumber salad, pita bread, garlic sauce, and your choice or fries. For even more options, check out the appetizers, which include stuffed grape leaves, cracked wheat pies stuffed with ground beef and pine nuts, and fried potatoes mixed with garlic and chopped cilantro.

Alwadi Mediterranean Sandwiches
4551 Cypress Creek Parkway
Houston, TX 77069
(832) 249-1500
www.alwadigrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/alwadi-mediterranean-sandwiches-houston

Chow Down on a Real Philly Cheesesteak at Pappa Geno’s

Grilled onions, steak, and Cheese Whiz. Those are all the ingredients necessary to craft a truly authentic Philly cheesesteak. At Pappa Geno's, an establishment more than a thousand miles away from the City of Brotherly Love, chefs closely observe this Philadelphia culinary tradition. The "Philly style steak and cheese" is just one of their creations, though.

They also recreate the classic Philly cheesesteak with a few fresh additions. Try the Smothered Philly, which includes a layer of zesty brown gravy on top, or the Freaky Philly, served with all the fixings: Cheese Whiz, American cheese, grilled onion, brown gravy, and Italian hot oil peppers. You can also go for another East Coast eat: the hoagie. The Hot Italian hoagie is stuffed with ham, Genoa salami, and provolone in addition to veggies, mayo, and Italian oil. The veggie hoagie, on the other hand, forgoes meat in favor of plant-based ingredients.

Pappa Geno's
1801 Ella Boulevard
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 863-1222
www.pappagenos.com
www.yelp.com/biz/pappa-genos-houston

Enjoy a Smoothie in Houston at Smoothie King

Smoothie King, now an international franchise, grew from humble roots. Back in the 1960s, founder Steve Kuhnau ​set out to mix up a smoothie that would ease his allergies and low blood sugar. Equipped with just some fresh fruit, other nutrients and proteins, and his home blender, Steve eventually found the perfect balance. His health started improving, and in 1973 he decided to share his discovery with the masses at his first nutritional smoothie shop.

The lone shop evolved into more than 650 Smoothie King locations that, today, serve the same nutritional smoothies to customers in the continental U.S., Korea, Singapore, and the Cayman Islands. That includes a location on West Holcombe, where customers note that the staff is especially friendly and the owner often personally oversees operations.

Many of the smoothies can replace an entire meal, with anywhere from 7 to 45 grams of protein in each serving of 20 ounces. Try a Lean1 chocolate smoothie with bananas and almond. It packs 27 vitamins and minerals and 22 grams of protein into a mere 293 calories, staving off later cravings and helping your body burn fat. Or nourish your body with a fruity snack in between normal meals, such as the apple kiwi kale smoothie—it's full of illness-fighting vitamin C and antioxidants.

Smoothie King
2617 W. Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77025
(713) 661-1663
www.smoothieking.com/stores/store.php/134

www.yelp.com/biz/smoothie-king-houston-15

Chew to Beat of Mariachi Music at Rancho Grande in Tomball

Rancho Grande is a popular Mexican eatery serving both traditional recipes and new takes on classic favorites in a lively, colorful atmosphere. As soon as you enter the restaurant’s doors you’ll be greeted by the sounds of Mariachi music and bright, eclectic decor.

Rancho Grande’s lunch menu includes Tex-Mex cuisine, like shrimp ceviche and sizzling fajitas, while for dinner, you’ll find even larger portions of favorites, like tortilla soup, enchiladas, and spicy tacos. There is also a full bar for of-age guests where you’ll find icy margaritas and imported Mexican cervezas. Stop by for the restaurant’s popular happy hour every day of the week, or bring the whole family to chow down on fresh, affordable Mexican fare for lunch or dinner.

Rancho Grande is open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Happy hour is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Rancho Grande
30134 State Highway 249
Tomball, TX 77375
(281) 351-1244
www.ranchograndebarandgrill.com

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