Brad & Lynn's Houston Guidebook
Groceries
Nearby locations for self-catering.
There is a Kroger store on the corner of Polk and Cullen, about a mile east. It's basic but fine.
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Kroger
4000 Polk StThere is a Kroger store on the corner of Polk and Cullen, about a mile east. It's basic but fine.
For convenience items, the Matamoros Meat Market a few blocks down Polk is handy (they also have really great barbacoa tacos at lunch, and tacos al carbon on weekends).
Matamoros Meat Market
4953 Polk StFor convenience items, the Matamoros Meat Market a few blocks down Polk is handy (they also have really great barbacoa tacos at lunch, and tacos al carbon on weekends).
If you need fancy-schmancy organic stuff, the closest Whole Foods is in Midtown south of downtown. (The Kroger does actually have a reasonable selection of organic stuff...)
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Whole Foods Market
515 Elgin StIf you need fancy-schmancy organic stuff, the closest Whole Foods is in Midtown south of downtown. (The Kroger does actually have a reasonable selection of organic stuff...)
Eastwood Restaurants & Bars
These are restaurants and bars in our neighborhood.
In the Tlaquepaque Marketplace on Telephone Road is the neighborhood hub: Bohemeo’s Café, a laid-back indie coffehouse/bar/restaurant with live music many nights of the week. They have a great selection of beers, along with sandwiches, pizza, salads and snacks. Highly recommended.
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Bohemeo's
708 Telephone RdIn the Tlaquepaque Marketplace on Telephone Road is the neighborhood hub: Bohemeo’s Café, a laid-back indie coffehouse/bar/restaurant with live music many nights of the week. They have a great selection of beers, along with sandwiches, pizza, salads and snacks. Highly recommended.
Further down Telephone is Taqueria Monterrey, one of a number of Mexican family restaurants. They are one of the only places to get Tacos de Trompo, sort of a Mexican gyro.
Restaurante Y Taquerias Monterrey
1713 Telephone RdFurther down Telephone is Taqueria Monterrey, one of a number of Mexican family restaurants. They are one of the only places to get Tacos de Trompo, sort of a Mexican gyro.
On the corner of Polk and Dumble is a small family-run Mexican place called Maga’s. All the food is really good and the people are wonderful. Some of the specials are very creative.
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Maga's Restaurant
1123 Dumble StOn the corner of Polk and Dumble is a small family-run Mexican place called Maga’s. All the food is really good and the people are wonderful. Some of the specials are very creative.
On the corner of Cullen and Leeland, just down from Kroger, is an Italian restaurant and deli called Mandola’s. They have great sandwiches and pizzas and pastas, but they close early (6pm) so it’s hard to get dinner there. Good for lunch, though. Great people.
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Mandola's Deli
4105 Leeland StOn the corner of Cullen and Leeland, just down from Kroger, is an Italian restaurant and deli called Mandola’s. They have great sandwiches and pizzas and pastas, but they close early (6pm) so it’s hard to get dinner there. Good for lunch, though. Great people.
Ironworks Marketplace is an old converted factory with a bunch of fun little boutiques and stores, and several places for food and drinks: Segundo Coffee Lab, Gojui Smoothies, Second Slice Pizza, and Adoro Desserts.
Ironworks
Ironworks Marketplace is an old converted factory with a bunch of fun little boutiques and stores, and several places for food and drinks: Segundo Coffee Lab, Gojui Smoothies, Second Slice Pizza, and Adoro Desserts.
Kickin' Kombucha
5420 Lawndale StMore than just kombucha brewed on premises, they have food as well.
A coffee place that is great for those into board and role playing games. Lots to choose from.
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Coral Sword
1318 Telephone RdA coffee place that is great for those into board and role playing games. Lots to choose from.
EaDo Restaurants & Bars
To the west of Eastwood toward downtown is the former warehouse district now called (in a somewhat blatant attempt at sounding New York-ish) EaDo — “East Downtown.” It is a rapidly developing area with a lot of new and hip places to eat and drink.
At McKinney and St. Emanuel is a great Vietnamese restaurant called Huynh (pronouced “hoon” like “book”). It’s very popular for both dine-in and take-out.
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Huynh Restaurant
912 St Emanuel StAt McKinney and St. Emanuel is a great Vietnamese restaurant called Huynh (pronouced “hoon” like “book”). It’s very popular for both dine-in and take-out.
All of St. Emanuel is lined with bars and clubs and is quite popular on weekend nights. Chapman and Kirby is a trendy bar and gastropub.
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Chapman And Kirby
2118 Lamar StAll of St. Emanuel is lined with bars and clubs and is quite popular on weekend nights. Chapman and Kirby is a trendy bar and gastropub.
Down the street and around the corner at Dallas are two great places for outdoor beer drinking: Truck Yard (which also has food and sometimes live music)...
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Truck Yard
2118 Lamar StDown the street and around the corner at Dallas are two great places for outdoor beer drinking: Truck Yard (which also has food and sometimes live music)...
8th Wonder Brewery
2202 Dallas St...and 8th Wonder Brewery, which has good food trucks.
Further down St. Emmanuel and around the block at Leeland or Bell are several more bars and restaurants, including District 7 Grill.
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District 7 Grill
1508 Hutchins StFurther down St. Emmanuel and around the block at Leeland or Bell are several more bars and restaurants, including District 7 Grill.
Also Around the Corner. These places are a little quieter and less “scene”-y.
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Around the Corner
1510 Hutchins StAlso Around the Corner. These places are a little quieter and less “scene”-y.
A really cool place for creative pizza and pasta, always very busy. Order the Greens pizza — it sounds kind of gross but you will not regret it. Trust us.
Tiny Champions
A really cool place for creative pizza and pasta, always very busy. Order the Greens pizza — it sounds kind of gross but you will not regret it. Trust us.
Second Ward Restaurants & Bars
To the north of EaDo and Eastwood is the city’s historic Mexican neighborhood, the Second Ward. There are numerous family Mexican restaurants, all pretty much alike.
Two on the Navigation Blvd. Esplanade that stand out: Ninfa’s and El Tiempo. Both are owned by the same family and are incredibly popular — especially on weekends, expect a wait.
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The Original Ninfa's on Navigation
2704 Navigation BlvdTwo on the Navigation Blvd. Esplanade that stand out: Ninfa’s and El Tiempo. Both are owned by the same family and are incredibly popular — especially on weekends, expect a wait.
Both restaurants are equally good; we marginally prefer El Tiempo. If you like pork, order the carnitas, “old school” style.
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El Tiempo Cantina - Navigation
2814 Navigation BlvdBoth restaurants are equally good; we marginally prefer El Tiempo. If you like pork, order the carnitas, “old school” style.
There are two other particularly interesting places in the Second Ward. On Canal St. is Moon Tower Inn. It’s an outdoor beer bar with really creative wild game hot dogs.
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Moon Tower Inn
3004 Canal StThere are two other particularly interesting places in the Second Ward. On Canal St. is Moon Tower Inn. It’s an outdoor beer bar with really creative wild game hot dogs.
And on Milby close to Harrisburg is Voodoo Queen, a New Orleans-themed “daiquiri dive” with Louisiana food.
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Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive
322 Milby StAnd on Milby close to Harrisburg is Voodoo Queen, a New Orleans-themed “daiquiri dive” with Louisiana food.
If you need some coffee and yummy sweets, the bakery Tout Suite is on the corner of Commerce and Chartres, the US-59 North feeder road.
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Tout Suite
2001 Commerce StIf you need some coffee and yummy sweets, the bakery Tout Suite is on the corner of Commerce and Chartres, the US-59 North feeder road.
A neat little wine bar with small bite plates on rapidly gentrifying Harrisburg Blvd.
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How to Survive on Land & Sea
3401 Harrisburg BlvdA neat little wine bar with small bite plates on rapidly gentrifying Harrisburg Blvd.
Restaurants & Bars Further Afield
Houston seriously has more good restaurants and bars than you could visit in a year. Here are just a few places we think are particularly special and like to take guests...
On historic Market Square downtown is La Carafe, a spooky-feeling bar in Houston’s oldest commercial building. They have incredibly cheap beer and priceless atmosphere. Cash only!
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La Carafe
813 Congress StOn historic Market Square downtown is La Carafe, a spooky-feeling bar in Houston’s oldest commercial building. They have incredibly cheap beer and priceless atmosphere. Cash only!
On Main Street downtown at Capitol St. is the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, with Houston’s biggest beer selection and good food to boot.
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Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
705 Main StOn Main Street downtown at Capitol St. is the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, with Houston’s biggest beer selection and good food to boot.
Our favorite barbecue place is Goode Company on Kirby, off US-59 South. Great atmosphere and great food. “You might give some serious consideration to thanking your lucky stars you’re in Texas.”
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Goode Company BBQ
5109 Kirby DrOur favorite barbecue place is Goode Company on Kirby, off US-59 South. Great atmosphere and great food. “You might give some serious consideration to thanking your lucky stars you’re in Texas.”
Across the street is the Goode Company Armadillo Palace, a wonderful bar/restaurant/music venue with great Texas-y kitsch and amazing venison chili. Pictures in front of the giant mirrored armadillo statue are a requirement for visitors.
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Goode Company Armadillo Palace
5015 Kirby DrAcross the street is the Goode Company Armadillo Palace, a wonderful bar/restaurant/music venue with great Texas-y kitsch and amazing venison chili. Pictures in front of the giant mirrored armadillo statue are a requirement for visitors.
The “Creek” empire is a chain of Texas Hill Country-ish bar/restaurants. Our favorite is the original, Onion Creek in the Heights.
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Onion Creek Coffee House, Bar and Lounge
3106 White Oak DrThe “Creek” empire is a chain of Texas Hill Country-ish bar/restaurants. Our favorite is the original, Onion Creek in the Heights.
Things to Do and See
You don’t need us to tell you about the Space Center (you should definitely go), shopping at the Galleria or going to the various museums. Our favorite things in Houston are the quirky stuff you might not know about.
Consider starting your journey at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center in Memorial Park. Walk the trails through the forest and swamps, and you might never guess you were in the fourth-largest city in the US.
https://goo.gl/maps/dcR5BuXz8QxeW1vr8
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Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
4501 Woodway DrConsider starting your journey at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center in Memorial Park. Walk the trails through the forest and swamps, and you might never guess you were in the fourth-largest city in the US.
https://goo.gl/maps/dcR5BuXz8QxeW1vr8
Drive back east through Memorial Park and take a left on Malone St. A block up, you will come to the Beer Can House. This was the home of a guy who worked on the railroads, and one weekend while his wife was away, he and a buddy were drinking beer on the porch and he decided to start cover his house with the empty cans. You can go in, but it’s not necessary, you can just look from the street.
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Beer Can House
222 Malone StDrive back east through Memorial Park and take a left on Malone St. A block up, you will come to the Beer Can House. This was the home of a guy who worked on the railroads, and one weekend while his wife was away, he and a buddy were drinking beer on the porch and he decided to start cover his house with the empty cans. You can go in, but it’s not necessary, you can just look from the street.
Continue up Malone to Washington Ave. and turn right, and go down to Heights Blvd and turn left. Just over the tracks is the Art Car Museum. Houston is known for it’s huge Art Car Parade each spring, and this museum always has a few on display, as well as other art.
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Kunstbilsmuseet
140 Heights BlvdContinue up Malone to Washington Ave. and turn right, and go down to Heights Blvd and turn left. Just over the tracks is the Art Car Museum. Houston is known for it’s huge Art Car Parade each spring, and this museum always has a few on display, as well as other art.
Back out on Washington, turn right on Sawyer and follow it over and along Memorial Drive. Turn right and you will find yourself on the Sabine Street bridge. Park along Sabine if you can, or turn into the Fonde Recreation Center and park there. The Buffalo Bayou Visitor Center has a great view of the downtown Houston skyline, and the historic cistern is interesting and often has visual art installations. The trails along the Bayou make a nice walk; if you start going west on the north side of the Bayou, you can cross a footbridge by the Houston Police Officers’ Memorial and come back on the south side.
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Buffalo Bayou Park
Memorial DriveBack out on Washington, turn right on Sawyer and follow it over and along Memorial Drive. Turn right and you will find yourself on the Sabine Street bridge. Park along Sabine if you can, or turn into the Fonde Recreation Center and park there. The Buffalo Bayou Visitor Center has a great view of the downtown Houston skyline, and the historic cistern is interesting and often has visual art installations. The trails along the Bayou make a nice walk; if you start going west on the north side of the Bayou, you can cross a footbridge by the Houston Police Officers’ Memorial and come back on the south side.
Coming out of the bridge or parking lot area onto Memorial, turn right at the lights and enter I-45 South towards Galveston. Exiting at Telephone Rd., turn right on Munger and you will come to Houston’s strangest sight, the Orange Show. Built by a local postal worker as a monument to his beloved oranges and to general “right living,” it’s really... something.
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The Orange Show
2401 Munger StComing out of the bridge or parking lot area onto Memorial, turn right at the lights and enter I-45 South towards Galveston. Exiting at Telephone Rd., turn right on Munger and you will come to Houston’s strangest sight, the Orange Show. Built by a local postal worker as a monument to his beloved oranges and to general “right living,” it’s really... something.
Just down the street is Smither Park, a sculpture park built by local artists.
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Smither Park
2441 Munger StJust down the street is Smither Park, a sculpture park built by local artists.
Going back up to the feeder road, turn right and then right on Telephone Rd., and go a few miles down to Hobby Airport to see the historic art deco 1940 Air Terminal Museum.
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1940 Air Terminal Museum
8325 Travelair StGoing back up to the feeder road, turn right and then right on Telephone Rd., and go a few miles down to Hobby Airport to see the historic art deco 1940 Air Terminal Museum.
Finally, on the subject of strange and quirky, if you enjoy either escape rooms or immersive theatre, Houston happens to be home to Strange Bird Immersive. "The Man From Beyond: Houdini Séance Escape Room," voted the #1 escape room in the US by enthusiasts for four years running, is both a theatrical experience and a game. Book tickets and you might even see your host perform.
Strange Bird Immersive Escape Rooms
7026 Old Katy RoadFinally, on the subject of strange and quirky, if you enjoy either escape rooms or immersive theatre, Houston happens to be home to Strange Bird Immersive. "The Man From Beyond: Houdini Séance Escape Room," voted the #1 escape room in the US by enthusiasts for four years running, is both a theatrical experience and a game. Book tickets and you might even see your host perform.