Houston: An ever-evolving steakhouse capital
“Houstonians are serious about steakhouses,” said Bao Ong in the Houston Chronicle. Texas raises some of the best beef in the nation, so it stands to reason that locally sourced options are fantastic. Some chefs, though, are doing their best work with imported, premium wagyu. The three new-guard options, which join old-school institutions like Pappas Bros. and Taste of Texas on our latest list of the city’s best steakhouses, are pushing boundaries and raising standards. Andiron “A sumptuous design” and “magnificent” open kitchen with a 22-foot wood-burning grill made this 10-month-old steakhouse in the Allen Parkway corridor “one of the must-do dining experiences” of 2023. “That ember-stoked grill is where the magic happens,” as live fire meets top cuts of American Prime and Japanese and Australian wagyu. Good wines, “impeccable service,” and sides like crispy brandade bits with osetra add to the allure. 3201 Allen Parkway B&B Butchers & Restaurant A relative newcomer at just nine years old, B&B stands out thanks to its in-house butcher shop, and it consistently delivers “big-ticket good times for both the wealthy and aspirational.” Choose the old-school chateaubriand for two, or a Kobe rib eye that meets “the highest standards of wagyu dreams.” Power sides include foie gras, truffle butter, and crab or lobster scampi. 1814 Washington Ave. Karne This upscale Korean steakhouse in the Heights is “not your traditional meat-and-sides establishment.” Servers cook hanger, filet, and wagyu tableside. The highlight is the $60-perperson “Karnivore” platter, which includes five chef’s cuts and superb sides like the “pillowy” egg soufflé and “nasal-clearing” kimchi stew. 2805 White Oak Drive