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John Nechman’s Best Cheap Eats Inside the Loop

Houston Style and Substance Series

South College of Law Houston July 2020

1. Aladdin Mediterranean Middle Eastern 912 Westheimer (Montrose) www.aladdinhouston.com The Nechplate: Entrée and 3 Sides (Chicken , Beets and Jicama, Salad, Roasted Cauliflower), Mango or Strawberry Juice Good to know: BYOB 2. Antone’s Deli 4520 San Felipe (Galleria) and 6618 Fannin (Med Center) www.antones1962.com The Nechplate: Super Original with Chow Chow Sauce, Heated Good to know: Original Houston Po Boy, since 1962, on Royal with Chow Chow Sauce, Often Does Local Celebrity 3. Barnaby’s Cafe American Several Locations, Including Downtown (Original is 604 Fairview in Montrose) www.barnabyscafe.com The Nechplate: Egg Salad with Bacon , Substitute Veggies for Fries, Strawberry Lemonade Good to know: Named for owner’s 12 year old sheepdog; The Montrose original also features Baby Barnaby’s, a great place for 4. BB’s Tex-Orleans Tex-Cajun Several Locations (Original is 2710 Montrose in Montrose) www.bbstexorleans.com The Nechplate: Morning Glory Po’Boy, a Link of Alligator Andouille Sausage, and a Red Headed Wompus-Cat Good to know: Founded 2007—Original in Montrose is a true hole-in-the wall 5. The breakfast klub Soul 3711 Travis (Midtown) www.thebreakfastklub.com The Nechplate: katfish & grits, eggs over easy, , black coffee Good to know: Breakfast and only; lines on weekends can be HUNDREDS of people long

6. burger-chan Burgers 5 Greenway Plaza, Concourse Level Hub www.burgerchantx.com The Nechplate: Falafel Burger or Single Burger, Salvadorian Cheese, Sweet , Fried Egg, Seared Spam, All Veggies, Scallion Aioli, and an Order of Taro Root Chips Good to know: /Owner Willet Feng locally sources everything. Breakfast and Lunch Only; if you park in underground guest parking, ticket will be validated 7. Café TH Vietnamese 2108 Pease St. (East End) www.cafeth.com The Nechplate: Banh Bot Chien, The Heartthrob Banh Mi, Ca Phe Sua Da Good to know: The owner/Chef Minh Nguyen is a Houston legend. It’s BYOB, and Chef Nguyen often hosts special candlelight nights. Celadon Café operates in the and serves breakfast sandwiches and coffee 8. Cali Sandwich & Vietnamese 2900 Travis St. (Midtown) No Website The Nechplate: Cha Gio, Marinated Banh Mi with a Fried Egg, Vietnamese Lemonade Good to know: The owner/Chef is known by all as “The Cali Woman,” and she is wonderful. 9. Champ Burger Burgers 304 Sampson St. (East End) www.champburger.net The Nechplate: Sandwich, Onion Rings, Orange Dreamsicle Shake Good to know: Open since 1963. Most people call their orders in, but there is an outdoor seating area. 10. Cleburne Cafeteria 3606 Bissonnet St. (West U) www.cleburnecafeteria.com The Nechplate: Chicken Fried Steak with Cream , Pea & Cheese Salad, Baked Squash, Mashed Potatoes, Zucchini Muffin, Chess Pie Good to know: Open since 1941. NY Times and Food & Wine have called it the best cafeteria in America 11. The Doshi House Vegetarian/Cafe 3419 Emancipation (Third Ward) www.doshihouse.com The Nechplate: Mumbai Streets Sandwich (Lunch Only), Raw Razzle Smoothie Good to Know: Owner Deepak Doshi dream has been to help revitalize this neighborhood, right next to Project Row Houses. Great nightly dinner specials, too 12. Flip ‘N Patties Filipino Fast Food 800 Capitol St, In Understory (Downtown) www.flipnpatties.com The Nechplate: Fliprolls (Lumpia), Jeepney Burger, Halo Halo Good to know: The location in Understory means there are several other stands and a great bar 13. Frenchy’s Texas/Louisiana Creole 4646 Scott St. (Third Ward) www.frenchyschicken.com The Nechplate: 1 Fried Breast, Small Red Beans & Rice, Small Collard Greens, A Boudin Link, Slice of Sweet Potato Pie, and an Unsweet Ice Good to know: Percy “Frenchy” Creuzot came from New Orleans and opened in 1969—the original location (always the best) operated till last year; it’s in a new building now, open till midnight 14. Fresco Café Italiano Italian 3277 Southwest Freeway www.frescocafeitalian.com The Nechplate: Umbrian Lentil Soup; Sauteed Chicken Marengo with Side Spaghetti, Cannoli Good to know: BYOB, Chef Roberto Crescini is an award-winning Italian chef 15. Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino Italian 3215 Westheimer (River Oaks) www.giacomosciboevino.com The Nechplate: Half Order e Fagioli and Half Order Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Radiccchio Ripieno alla Griglia, Crostata di Limone Good to know: Fantastic wine list with great by the glass selection; Chef Lynette Hawkins has created a faithfully Italian trattoria that is still very Houston 16. Good Dog Houston Hot Dogs 1312 W. Alabama (Montrose) www.gooddoghouston.com The Nechplate: Guac-A-Dog, Side of Apple-Horseradish Slaw, Sweet Potato Hummus, Local Draft Good to know: Started as a ; strong dedication to locally-sourced ingredients 17. Gypsy Poet Pizza 2404 Austin St. (Midtown) www.thegypsypoet.us The Nechplate: The Dream Catcher Good to know: Owners are a nice Venezuelan couple; Decent Beer/Wine Selection; often has live music or poetry readings

18. House of Pies American 3112 Kirby (Upper Kirby) www.houseofpies.com The Nechplate: Patty Melt Deluxe with a Side of Cottage Fries, Bayou Goo Pie Good to Know: 24 hours; the original location on Upper Kirby is lovingly known as “House of Guys” 19. Hu’s Chinese (Szechuan/Taiwanese) 2502 W. Holcombe (Med Center) www.huscooking.com The Nechplate: Braised Pork with Fried Shredded Potato, Chilled Cucumber with Garlic, Stir- Fried Pea Shoots with Garlic, Eel with Golden Chive, Any Fruit/Veg Juice (Including Green Bean!) Good to Know: Chef was originally with the Cooking Girl group 20. JCI Hot Dogs 3607 S. Shepherd (Montrose) www.jamesconeyisland.com The Nechplate: 3 Cheese Coneys with Onions and a Frozen Lemonade Good to Know: Since 1923. Houston’s Hot Dog 21. J&J Lounge Soul 3303 Lee St. (5th Ward) www.jandjlounge.com The Nechplate: Cheeseburger Basket, Side Rice with Seafood Gravy, Unsweet Iced Tea Good to Know: Tuesday is Burger Day—every burger is $5.00 22. Kenny & Ziggy’s Deli 5172 Buffalo Speedway (West U) www.kennyandziggys.com The Nechplate: The “Nechmangabetzky (Fiddler on the Roof of Your Mouth with Swiss Cheese and Chopped Liver) Good to Know: One of the most famous deli’s on earth. Owner Ziggy Gruber is a Houston legend 23. La Chingada Tacos & Tequila Tex-Mex 1402 Northwood (Brookesmith Heights) www.lachingadahtx.com The Nechplate: Chilaquiles con Arrachera y Huebos Estrellados, Taco of Picadillo & , Frozen Margarita Good to Know: Great interior Mexican dishes, such as , hauraches, and tlacoyos

24. La Guadalupana Mexican 2109 Dunlavy (Montrose) No Website The Nechplate: Chilaquiles with 2 Fried Eggs, Side Guacamole, Vampiro , Guadlupana Coffee, and Pan Dulces Good to Know: Chef/Owner Trancito Diaz makes some of the best Mexican baked products in town 25. Lankford Grocery Texan 88 Dennis (Montrose) No Website The Nechplate: The Grim Burger with and a Lemonade Good to Know: Chef/Owner Eydie Prior’s family has owned this incredibly homey spot since 1939. Her enchiladas are as good as any in town (go early on Wednesday) 26. Local Houston 2424 Dunstan (Rice Village) www.houstonlocalfoods.com The Nechplate: Gulf Seafood Sandwich, Any Veggies (esp. Banana Squash Slaw), Watermelon Agave Lemonade Good to Know: Fierce dedication to local ingredients; some of the best vegetarian food in town 27. Mama’s Soul 9295 S. Main St. (Astrodome) No Website The Nechplate: 1 Meat & 3 Sides—Pork Chops, Yams, Mustard Greens, Cornbread Dressing, Peach Cobbler, Unsweetened Tea Good to Know: Always save space for Hank’s Ice Cream next door (watch for sweet corn or pecan) 28. M&M Grill Arabic-Mexican Fusion 6921 Almeda (Third Ward) No Website The Nechplate: (To Share) Ghost Pepper Melt, Enchiladas, 5 Piece Falafel Good to Know: It shares the space with a mosque—the parking situation is terrible, so best to go at non-usual hours 29. Mandola’s Deli Italian 4105 Leeland (East End) www.mandolasdeli.com The Nechplate: Facchia di Vecchia, Italian Sausage & White Bean Soup, Italian Sausage & Cheese PoBoy, Italian Cream Cake Good to Know: Since 1975; Mandola name is legendary in Houston 30. Niko Niko’s Greek 2520 Montrose (Montrose); also on Old Market Square www.nikonikos.com The Nechplate: Sandwich with Fries and Extra Tzatziki, Horiatiki, Galaktoboureko Good to Know: Since 1977, opened by Elena Fotokakis and later her son Dmitri. 31. Original Ninfa’s Tex Mex 2704 Navigation Blvd. (East End) www.ninfas.com The Nechplate: (For Sharing) Queso Flameado, Parrilla Mixta (Beef , Carnitas, Tampico Shrimp, Baby Back Ribs, Chile Relleno), Pitcher of Ninfaritas Good to Know: Since 1973, the birthplace of fajitas. Server Kady Lopez has worked there since shortly after they opened 32. Paulie’s Italian 1834 Westheimer (Montrose) www.pauliesrestaurant.com The Nechplate: Small Salad, Principe (with Italian Sausage), Panini with Amaretto Syrup Good to Know: They also own the fabulous Camerata Wine Bar next door 33. Pinkerton’s BBQ 1504 Airline (Brookesmith-Heights) www.pinkertonsbarbecue.com The Nechplate: (To Share) 1 Pound ; 1 Pound Dry Rub Pork Ribs; 1 Ring Jalapeño Sausage; Pint Jambalaya; Pint Mac/Cheese, Aunt Ruby’s Blueberry Cobbler Good to Know: Chef/Owner Grant Pinkerton is a native Houstonian who makes everything based on family recipes. Inside the restaurant is a cozy bar with one of the best Bourbon/Whiskey selections in the city 34. Pondicheri Indian 2800 Kirby (Upper Kirby) www.pondicheri.com The Nechplate: Morning Thali, Pani Poori, Chai Pie, Golden Lemonade Good to Know: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all amazing. Chef Anita Jaisinghani changed the way Houstonians and America viewed Indian food

35. Ray’s BBQ BBQ 3929 Old Spanish Trail (Third Ward) www.raysbbqshack.com The Nechplate: Smoked (Thursdays only), Boudin Link, Lott’s Link, Grilled Squash/Peppers, Unsweetened Ice Tea Good to Know: Pitmaster Rayford S. Busch learned how to smoke from Third Ward BBQ legend Mr. River Falls 36. Street Food Thai Market Thai 1010 W. Cavalcade (Brookesmith Heights) www.streetfoodthaimarket.com The Nechplate: Khao Soi Gai, Pork Larb, Mango Sticky Rice, Thai Green Tea Good to Know: This is one of 3 in the area with similar names. Half of the restaurant is a market. I often find vegetables I’m curious to try, and the will them for me. 37. Teothuacan Mexican 4624 Irvington (Original) (North End) www.teomexicancafe.com The Nechplate: Pescado al Cilantro, Small Guacamole, Frozen Mango Margarita Good to Know: all day Monday to Wednesday (2 to 6 on other days) 38. Treebeard’s Cajun 4 Downtown Locations (including 1117 Texas Ave.—The Cloister) www.treebeards.com The Nechplate: Baked Catfish with Etoufee Topping (Fridays Only), Squash Casserole, Red Beans/Rice, Unsweetened Ice Tea Good to Know: Since 1978, Lunch Only, Original location on Old Market Square just closed 39. Turkey Leg Hut Soul 4830 Almeda Rd. (Third Ward) www.theturkeyleghut.com The Nechplate: Hennessy Glazed Turkey Leg, Small Red Beans/Rice, Small Creole Corn, Mega Mimosa Good to Know: Easily the longest lines in town—go early, or prepare to wait 40. Villa Arcos Tex Mex 3009 Navigation Blvd. (East End) www.originalvillaarcos.com The Nechplate: Taco of Chicharrones and Egg with Frijoles, Velia’s Burrito, Carne Picada Taco with Frijoles, and a Topo Chico Good to Know: Since 1977. All tacos are made at the time you order them.