Primarily known for its deep ties in the oil and energy industries, H-town has quietly built itself into one of the fastest expanding cities in the country with booming real estate, medical, and tech opportunities. As transplants settle into the endless sprawl of suburbs surrounding the hubs that make up the “City Without Limits,” land and cost of living remain relatively affordable, making it the ideal landscape for aspiring chefs to make a name for themselves.

Whether its Southern comfort food or high-concept, locally-sourced vegan delicacies, the diverse makeup of Houston’s population makes any restaurant concept feel right at home.

There is simply something for everyone. Here are my favs:

• Caracol

• MF Sushi

• 60 vines

• Killen’s

• Moxies

• Postino

• Kirby Ice house

• Drift

• Tony’s Milk & Cookies

• Jenis

• Pinkerton’s BBQ

• BB’s Tex Orleans

• Liberty Kitchen

• Brennan’s

• A’Bouzy

• Brassiere 19

• The Breakfast Klein

• Lucille’s

• Backstreet Cafe

• Grace’s

• Max’s Wine Dive

• Better Luck Tomorrow

• The Hay Merchant

• Anvil

• Present Company

• Axelrad

• Julep

• Pitch 25

• Smoosh

• State of grace

• BCN Taste and Tradition

• The Annie

• Trulucks

• North Italia

• Coltivare

• Rosie Cannonball

• Nancy’s Hustle

• Houston’s (Hillstone)

• One Fifth

• Prego

• Hugo’s

• Kata Robata

• Steak 48

• Eunice

• Da Marco

• Goode Co

• Helen Greek

• La Lucha

• Maison Pucha

• Truth BBQ

• Uchi

• Hando

• 1751 Sea

• House of Pies

• El colonial

• Toulouse

• Killen’s

• MAD

• Pappasitos