- Houston
- Eat
- Seafood
H-Town wins again.
By
Brooke Viggiano
Thanks to our location off the Gulf Coast and some serious Southern soul, Houston’s seafood game runs as deep as the Gulf Stream. That means several restaurants can pluck their goodies straight from the Gulf and Galveston Bay, and oysters are pretty much on the docket year-round. When we don’t have something right in our own backyard, the city’s finest seafood establishments take a little help and source high-quality fish from around the globe. From seafood shacks dishing out Gulf red snapper and freshly shucked Third Coast bivalves to sophisticated spots rocking Alaskan king crab, Portuguese octopus, and Black River caviar, here are the region’s top destinations for brining and dining.
Independence Heights
Pitboss and owner Greg Gatlin has moved beyond the beef with this highly-anticipated sequel to his much-beloved Gatling’s BBQ, this time, a love letter to the neighborhood where he grew up that’s penned with feathers and fins. Come here for community and Southern comforts from Gatlin and uber talented Chef Michelle Wallace in the form of Everything Gumbo, fresh oysters and grilled oysters of the Day, heavy-on-the-Worchestire Gulf BBQ Shrimp, Shrimp & Crab Campechana, a Filet O’ Fish Sandwich, and some damn good Fried Chicken.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Downtown
Neo-Fjordic chef Christopher Haatuft knows a thing or two about seafood, as does James Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Qui. So, when the powerhouses combined forces to open this bountiful seafood spot in Post’s food hall, magic was born. Its name Norwegian for “Gulf Stream,” here, Texas Gulf and globally sourced fish blend seamlessly with refined ingredients and technique, from the oysters with “hoggorm” chili oil and Cold Smoked Salmon Snitters to 20-day dry-aged bluefin tuna and Crispy Fried Whole Red Snapper with juniper pickled ramps.
How to book: Reserve via Resy.
Chinatown
The sea creatures at this almost decade-old Asiatown favorite go from fish tank to table. Even better? They are gussied up in a treasure trove of Chino-Viet flavors, from the Crab Fried Rice, Kung Pao Squid, Hunan Style Crispy Fish, and Live Abalone to the Lobster Specials—tossed and fried in things like Ginger & Scallion and Beer & Black Pepper—that’ll have you hankering for your next visit.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or call 281-564-4288 for seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 pm.
Uptown (& The Woodlands)
Stone crabs are popular in Florida but they weren’t exactly a “thing” in Texas until Truluck’s opened up its first crabhouse in Houston 30 years back. Today, the crustaceous empire—which has its own team of crabbers and sources produce locally whenever possible—has locations in the Lone Star, Cali, D.C., and beyond. Work your way through sweet and meaty fresh crab claws, pre-cracked and accompanied by house mustard sauce; plus other Rolls Royces of the sea from South African cold-water lobster and Mediterranean branzino to Black River Oscietra caviar.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable (Houston and Woodlands).
Montrose
A remake of the beloved Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood, this familiar haunt may have changed its name and moved to a new space, but it kept its traditional Southern flavors intact. Now, with a few years under its belt, Eugene’s has hit its stride with a menu of Cajun and Third Coast-inspired eats with Gulf Coast catches. Feast on Shrimp and Oysters en Brochette, Blue Crab Stuffed Redfish, Seafood Courtbouillon, and a damn good dark roux Gumbo (which also makes its way into the famous Bloody Danton at brunch, by the way). Dress code is business casual, even if you’re only slurping goodies in the oyster bar.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.
San Leon
You need to take a drive over to San Leon if you want to get your hands on the freshest oysters in town. That’s where you’ll find this bayside concept from second-generation oysterman Raz Halili of Prestige Oysters, who knows his product inside and out and was wise enough to tap executive chef Joe Cervantez (formerly of Brennan’s) to lead the kitchen. You’ll want to start with pristinely shucked oysters on the half shell, available both raw with all the proper accoutrement and char-grilled with extras like crab gratin and fiery habanero butter. Order all that, plus crispy cornmeal crusted snapper, wood-grilled yellowfin tuna, and a baller seafood-spiked Bloody Mary for brunch.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.
Montrose
NOLA darling Acme Oyster House has made a home for itself on the lower Westheimer curve, which means you’ll no longer have to make your way to the French Quarter to shoot oysters like a boss. Get ‘em ice-cold, sizzling in butter and cheese, fried and stuffed into po’boys, or, our personal favorite, straight-shucked into a shot of vodka with a dab of co*cktail sauce. Tack on Acme favorites from Seafood Gumbo and Crawfish Dip to the totally-not-seafood-but-no-joke-tasty roast beef gravy smothered “boo” fries.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.
Heights
We’ve got our eyes on the “tides” portion of this land and sea venture, where you’ll find chef Travis Lenig’s addictive Gulf Coast Smoked Fish Dip and Pulpo studded with chorizo and fingerling potatoes (two starters you won’t want to miss), plus a She Crab Soup that gives you all the low country feels and mains from Spiced Cracklin’ Crusted Redfish to buttery scallops atop seafood risotto. Add on Granny’s Buttermilk Pie and one of their riffs on classic co*cktails and you have yourself a meal for the ages.
How to book: Call 713-861-6143 to reserve.
River Oaks District
This glitzy Mediterranean hotspot is the closest you’re going to get to Santorini in Houston, with fresh seafood flown in daily from Aegean Branzino and Norwegian-born Langoustines straight to Skull Island Prawn. Imagine you’re in the Greek Isles as you work your way through market selections, and when you crave a return (trust us, you will), consider also checking out sibling restaurant Loch Bar, a high-end seafood tavern with one of the biggest raw bars and finest selection of oysters in town.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.
Heights
Rare jewels like otoro fatty tuna and Imperial Golden Osetra caviar service are just part of the charm of this seafood and gin-fueled ace (its name is a nod to the Gin Act of 1751, so you’re bound to find gin and tonics, mules, and spot-on martinis, too). Head chef J.D. Woodward (Underbelly, Rainbow Lodge, Southern Goods) wows with Crispy Skin Snapper, Pozole Steamed PEI Mussels, Ora King Salmon, and a roster of smoked, cured, and preserved selections from Tuna Tartine to Scallop Conserva.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable or order delivery via GrubHub.
River Oaks & Memorial
While it churns out a seriously mouthwatering Foie Gras Truffle Burger, this oyster bar and coastal kitchen’s menu shines when it comes to all things seafood. Start with goodies like poke, sashimi, seafood gumbo, and Grilled Oyster Boards before moving on to big guns like Texas redfish, Crab-Stuffed Shrimp, Broiled Seafood Platters, and Lobster Stuffed Shells. And if your server asks if you want to add Maine Lobster or Colossal Lump Crab to your Mac and Cheese, the answer is YES.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable (River Oaks, Memorial).
San Leon
You’re leaving the Loop for this one, so we’ll give you a moment to get over that. Alright, now take solace in the fact that it’ll all be worth it, because these oysters are so fresh, they don't even need to bother with trivial things like ice. The bivalves are pulled straight from the water, cleanly shucked, and promptly served straight up with lemon, co*cktail sauce, horseradish, and saltines. Perhaps better, though, is when they get a healthy brush-stroke of garlic butter and Parmesan, then take a thrill ride in an oak and pecan-wood barbecue pit before coming out with a crackling, oozing crust a la the Oysters Gilhooley.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Galleria
Husband-and-wife team Tracy Vaught and chef Hugo Ortega already had their hands full with the success of Mexican eatery Hugo’s and classic Southern spot Backstreet Cafe. Thankfully, that didn’t stop them from expanding their empire to include this coastal Mexican concept. Start with Ostiones Asados, wood-roasted Gulf Oysters dripping in chipotle butter, then dive into Campechana, live fire-roasted Gulf shrimp in chile de arbol, and Catch-of-the-Day a la Plancha, which arrives butterflied, wood-grilled, and drizzled in chile sauce. Dessert includes the playful El Coco, a chocolate-coconut shell that you crack open with a tiny wooden mallet to reveal coconut buttercream, coconut ganache, coconut streusel, and whipped coconut. There’s no seafood in it, but it’s damn good.
How to book: Reserve via SevenRooms, order take-out online, or get delivery via UberEats.
Multiple locations
What began as a humble “You Buy, We Fry” shop in the ‘90s has blossomed into an incurable seafood addiction for locals in the know. What is the root of the addiction, you ask? Easy. "Loud Packs" and "Crack Sauce.” That’s some IG-worthy Shrimp and Crawfish Fried Rice with extra spice and more shrimp that you can and will absolutely smother in creamy garlic butter sauce. Good thing there are a handful of outposts at which you can do so.
How to book: Dine-in, take-out, and delivery options vary by location.
Galveston
Sitting pretty on the Pelican Rest Marina, this refined chophouse boasts a two-story, island-style terrace coupled with an indoor dining room that’s 100% luxury. Hit up either one to feast on sweet Gulf and East Coast oysters or go all out with the sexy Grand Amuse, an iced seafood tower stacked with East Coast oysters plus co*cktail Shrimp, Smoked Salmon Rillettes, Yellowfin Tuna Poke, Lobster Tail, and Alaskan King Crab. Complete your meal with Blackened Whole Fish, Brown Butter Scallops, and a melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu Oscar for good measure.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.
Downtown
True to its name, the Vuelve a la Vida soup at La Fisheria will give you life. The popular Mexican hangover cure is teeming with clams, mussels, mahi mahi, and jumbo shrimp, plus a whole lotta spice to help you sweat out last night’s poor decisions. And that’s not the only reason folks swear by this downtown seafood shack. Go for what just may be the city’s finest ceviches, the trio of seafood tacos (beer battered shrimp, creamy lobster, and Al Pastor-marinated red snapper), gorgeously charred and super tender octopus, and a whole deep-fried lobster served with black beans, rice, and scratch-made corn tortillas.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable, order take-out via ChowNow, or get delivery via DoorDash, Postmates, and UberEats.
Pants are required to get a taste of this Latin American fine dining game-changer nestled in Galveston’s beautiful historic district. Hang with a slightly-more-casual afternoon crowd munching on Mango Habanero Salmon and fantastic Grilled Fish Tacos, or go for the gold with a dinner of Plantain-crusted Gulf Red Snapper, Spicy Shrimp Diablo Pasta, and Grilled Ahi tuna in jalapeño cream sauce.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.
Brooke Viggiano is a Houston-based writer who would take #PokeAllDay over #RoséAllDay pretty much all day. Do it with her @BrookeViggiano or @brookiefafa.
