Houston’s Top Dishes of the Month

As a city editor and host of a bi-weekly podcast about Houston restaurants, I have the privilege of dining at various restaurants and forming opinions about them. In this article, I will share my favorite dishes from Houston-area restaurants that I had the pleasure of trying in October.

Introduction to My Picks

I started documenting my favorite dishes of the month on Instagram a couple of years ago, and since then, local influencers and food writers have put their own spin on the format. In addition to those posts, I will share a few thoughts about my picks here. These are not reviews, but rather a quick summary of what I liked about each dish. My rules are simple: expect approximately 10 dishes each month, with only one dish per restaurant, and no restaurant will appear twice in the same month.

Favorite Dishes of the Month

Here are the dishes that made it to my list:

• Bucatini Amatriciana at Paulie’s: a tube-shaped pasta paired with an unapologetically spicy Amatriciana sauce.
• Fried squash blossom taco at Late August: a crispy squash blossom paired with lettuces and wrapped in a tortilla made with nixtamalized blue corn.
• Mezze at March: an impressive spread of small bites, including freshly baked pita and caviar.
• Wonton soup, grilled beef spring roll, and Vietnamese egg rolls at Kim Son: a perfect source of salty, savory comfort.
• Stone crab and cold seafood at Truluck’s: sweet, briny crab that remains as compelling as ever.
• Barbecue tray at Redbird BBQ: hot honey ribs, expertly-rendered brisket, and Persian-style koobideh sausage.
• Capellini with lobster at Coltivare: delicate noodle that allows the lobster’s natural sweetness to shine.
• Sea bass with frisee and smoked trout roe at Leo’s River Oaks: seared sea bass with a boost of umami from the smoked trout roe.
• Ginger-scallion lobster at Fung’s Kitchen: wok-seared meat that is never rubbery or overcooked.
• Chicken Milanese at Maximo: crispy, juicy, and paired with a spicy green spaghetti.
• Wild mushroom pizza at Murray’s Pizza & Wine: an elevated approach to pizza centered around a sourdough crust.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these dishes represent the best of what Houston’s restaurants have to offer. From spicy pasta to sweet seafood, and from comforting wonton soup to elevated pizza, there’s something for everyone in this list. Whether you’re a foodie or just looking to try something new, I hope this list inspires you to explore the diverse and vibrant culinary scene in Houston. For more Houston food coverage, follow @ericsandler and @culturemaphou on Instagram and subscribe to "What’s Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.