Have You Tried the Tamales at Las Tarascas?

Authentic Mexican cuisine is at the core of Las Tarascas, a friendly eatery in Katy. Known to draw a repeat crowd, this restaurant offers daily lunch specials, plus soups, tacos, and aguas frescas. The tamales seem to be the go-to item on their menu. The tacos are inexpensive and made with simple ingredients, while the ffajitas are marinated in a powerful blend of chilies and spices. Be sure to request the white cheese and some of their green sauce.

Las Tarascas also has a reputation of being the place to buy fresh fruit and veggies. It is always super clean and the staff is always friendly and willing to help. The music adds to the atmosphere, as well!

Las Tarascas
1025 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(832) 739-9222
www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Tarascas/117632988262975

Order the Red Lentil Soup at Ephesus Mediterranean Grill in Katy

If you’re craving authentic Mediterranean cuisine, head to Ephesus Mediterranean Grill. This family-owned restaurant is where you’ll find the unique zest of Turkish-Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. They always use fresh produce and prepare all of their meals from scratch. The food is consistently fresh and is quickly delivered to your table.

Be sure to start out with the red lentil soup, then order the char-grilled, marinated filet mignon kebab as your entree. The stuffed cabbage rolls are also a crowd favorite. They consist of cabbage leaves stuffed with a mix of ground lamb, rice, and herbs and are stewed and dressed with tomato sauce and served with a side of yogurt and fresh vegetables.

Ephesus Mediterranean Grill
510 S Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 391-4777
www.ephesusgrill.com

Z&T Chinese Cafe: Savor Authentic Chinese Fare

Fiery General Tso's chicken. Tender eggplant tossed with chicken and shrimp. Hunan beef infused with heat. These are just three of the signature dishes at Z&T Chinese Cafe, a recently unveiled restaurant in Katy known for its fresh Asian food, efficient service, and simple, clean design.

The menu is divided into chicken, beef, shrimp, and veggie dishes, plus a few other categories, so pick your meal based on your chosen protein. Savor tender chicken in dishes like the sweet-and-our chicken, the chicken with broccoli, or the cashew nut chicken. When it comes to red meat, there's beef with garlic sauce, pepper steak with onion, and jalapeno beef. You can also indulge in some shrimp with lobster sauce or crispy shrimp with walnut. Almost all of the dishes come with a side of rice, making each meal hearty enough to fill you up at dinner.

Z&T Chinese Cafe
3030 Falcon Landing Boulevard
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 394-4511
www.yelp.com/biz/z-and-t-chinese-cafe-katy

Little V Vietnamese Bistro: Start with the Spring Rolls

Jumbo lump crab meat, rice noodles, peanut-roasted shallots, mango, and lettuce mingle inside of crispy rolls of rice paper, all drizzled with fish sauce. These are the Little V spring rolls, a steadfast favorite at the Little V Vietnamese Bistro. You can also choose your own meat and order the classic spring rolls, which come ith pork, chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Or you can skip appetizers all together and get to the main event: dinner.

The shaking beef wok is a house specialty, an entree of beef tenderloin over steamed jasmine rice. For something with more heat, try the spicy lemongrass tofu, chicken, or beef over rice. There's also the decadent roasted duck with a side of fresh fruit and rice. Vermicelli bowls, curry, and, of course, noodle soups round out the menu at Little V Vietnamese Bistro in Katy.

Little V Vietnamese Bistro
4031 FM 1463
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 394-9888
www.littlevbistro.com
www.yelp.com/biz/little-v-vietnamese-bistro-katy

Don’t Miss the Beef Fajitas at Jimmy Changas

Jimmy Changas may be known for its Tex-Mex first and foremost, but local parents and grandparents appreciate it for another reason: Jimmy's Jungle. The covered, tropical playground features tons of bamboo and ample playthings (slide included) to keep your little ones entertained while the adults finish up dinner.

And finishing dinner may take a while, because you're going to want to savor every bite of your meal. That's especially true if you order the popular Rio Grande, a plate of beef fajitas tossed with grilled onions, plus a cheese enchilada, a beef taco with freshly whipped guac, and queso for dressing any of the above. You can also dig into a set of fish tacos stuffed with grilled tilapia and mango relish, the signature nine-layer Mexican lasagna with beef and chili, or the avocado stuffed with meat and cheese.

Jimmy Changas
300 Westgreen Boulevard
Katy, TX 77450
(832) 321-5927
freshmexfun.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jimmy-changas-katy

Dig Into a Locally Sourced Brunch at Dish Society

Dish Society's staff can point directly to most of the sources of its fresh, colorful food, and you will probably recognize some of the names. There's Atkinson Farms in Spring, Sustainable Harvesters in Houston, and No Label Brewing Co. right in Katy. Those are just a handful of the eclectic cast that provides everything from fresh bread to fresh beer for Dish Society—you can see the full list here.

The eatery reinvents the classic diner with these locally sourced, sometimes organic and sustainable ingredients. That much is obvious from one look at its popular brunch menu, which includes customer favorites like the pork belly hash. It features Texas-bred pork with skillet potatoes and two free-range eggs served sunny side up, plus avocado-laced Hollandaise sauce. Customers also like the Nutella French toast and anything that comes with the rosemary sweet potato. Lunch, dinner, and happy hour are on the schedule at Dish Society, too.

Dish Society
23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 394-7555
www.dishsociety.com
www.yelp.com/biz/dish-society-katy-2

Tsukiji Fusion Sushi: Trade In Your Fork for a Pair of Chopsticks

If you’re in the mood for Japanese cuisine for tonight’s dinner, Tsukiji Fusion Sushi is a great dinner option. This popular Katy sushi spot has a thoughtful, artistic decor complete with dim lighting, a sleek sushi bar, and colorful fish tanks along the walls.

The food is just as artistic, from the colorful sushi rolls to the decorative garnishes that decorate each plate. You’ll find classics like California rolls and spicy tuna, as well as more inventive maki that are signature to Tsukiji Fusion. In addition to sushi, this stylish eatery offers tuna tartare and fried rice dishes, as well as combination platters and sushi boats that the whole table can share. Add a glass of wine or an exotic Japanese beer to your order and you’ll enjoy a true taste of Japan without leaving Katy.

Tsukiji Fusion Sushi is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Tsukiji Fusion Sushi
24449 Katy Freeway
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 769-9038
www.tsukijifusionsushi.com

Palma de Cera: Fine South American Cuisine

If you normally think of upscale American cuisine when you imagine a fine dining restaurant, Palma de Cera will add more varied flavors to your next special occasion. This fine South American eatery is both elegant and laid-back, with a sparse yet cozy dining area and an atmosphere that will make you feel like you’re in on a well-kept secret.

Here gourmet chefs prepare the most popular dishes from Columbia, Cuba, Brazil and Chile using only authentic, high quality ingredients, including empanadas, pargo roji frito and hearty steaks. Order creamy flan for dessert and a glass of fine wine to pair with the meal, and if you bring the little ones, try a smaller portion from the equally fresh, healthy children’s menu. Palma de Cera proves that you don’t have to pay a fortune to enjoy upscale cuisines, and its welcoming atmosphere will keep you coming back again and again.

Palma de Cera
2004 S Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 392-3800
www.palmadecerarestaurant.com

Savory Meets Sweet at The Original Marini’s Empanada House

With a small, cozy dining room and a friendly, open atmosphere, it’s easy to see why so many residents call The Original Marini’s Empanada House a must-try. Flavorful, scratch-made empanadas are stuffed to plump perfection and come in styles like beef gaucho, chicken Florentine, and chicken poblano, as well as sweet styles like fig and mozzarella and strawberry, banana, and cream cheese.

Regulars recommend ordering a wide variety of different empanadas, and because they’re so easy on the wallet, you can make a filling meal out of as many as you’d like. Marini’s also offers a great beer selection to go along with their traditional cuisine, including Mexican cervezas that you won’t find at most places nearby.

The Original Marini’s Empanada House
3522 S Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 391-4273
www.yelp.com/biz/the-original-marinis-empanada-house-katy

Beijing Ranch Chinese Restaurant: Traditional Chinese Food Perfect for Takeout Night

With its rustic, exposed brick walls, traditional Chinese wall hangings, and ornate wooden tables, Beijing Ranch Chinese Restaurant is much more stylish than your typical Chinese buffet restaurant. The restaurant serves authentic Chinese dishes prepared in the traditional style, and while it does not offer a lunch buffet, there are unique chef’s lunch specials every weekday.

Beijing Ranch’s regular menu includes hot soups and favorite appetizers like steamed dumplings and egg rolls, as well as rice and noodle bowls with savory seasoned sauces. Meat and tofu dishes like General Tso’s chicken, Kung Pao shrimp, and many others come with vegetables and an optional rice side. The dining room is small, but Beijing Ranch offers takeout on all of its menu items for those who prefer to take their food to go.

Beijing Ranch Chinese Restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Beijing Ranch Chinese Restaurant
1251 Pin Oak Road
Katy, TX 77494
(832) 437-7002
www.beijingranch.com
www.yelp.com/biz/beijing-ranch-chinese-restaurant-katy

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