John Nechman's Best Cheap Eats Inside the Loop Houston Style And
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John Nechman’s Best Cheap Eats Inside the Loop Houston Style and Substance Series South Texas College of Law Houston July 2020 1. Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine Middle Eastern 912 Westheimer (Montrose) www.aladdinhouston.com The Nechplate: Entrée and 3 Sides (Chicken Shawarma, Beets and Jicama, Falafel 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 Bakery Bread with Chow Chow Sauce, Often Does Local Celebrity Sandwiches 3. Barnaby’s Cafe American Several Locations, Including Downtown (Original is 604 Fairview in Montrose) www.barnabyscafe.com The Nechplate: Egg Salad with Bacon Sandwich, 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 breakfast 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, biscuit, black coffee Good to know: Breakfast and lunch only; lines on weekends can be HUNDREDS of people long 6. burger-chan Burgers 5 Greenway Plaza, Concourse Level Food Hub www.burgerchantx.com The Nechplate: Falafel Burger or Single Burger, Salvadorian Cheese, Sweet Sourdough Bun, Fried Egg, Seared Spam, All Veggies, Scallion Aioli, and an Order of Taro Root Chips Good to know: Chef/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 dinner nights. Celadon Café operates in the restaurant and serves breakfast sandwiches and coffee 8. Cali Sandwich & Pho Vietnamese 2900 Travis St. (Midtown) No Website The Nechplate: Cha Gio, Marinated Pork 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: Steak 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 Cafeteria 3606 Bissonnet St. (West U) www.cleburnecafeteria.com The Nechplate: Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy, 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 Tea 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 Porchetta 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 food truck; 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 Cooking 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 & Scrambled Eggs, Frozen Margarita Good to Know: Great interior Mexican dishes, such as pambazos, hauraches, and tlacoyos 24. La Guadalupana Mexican 2109 Dunlavy (Montrose) No Website The Nechplate: Chilaquiles with 2 Fried Eggs, Side Guacamole, Vampiro Drink, 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 Tater Tots 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 Foods 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 Oven 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 butter pecan) 28. M&M Grill Arabic-Mexican Fusion 6921 Almeda (Third Ward) No Website The Nechplate: (To Share) Ghost Pepper Melt, Beef 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: Gyro 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 Fajitas, 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 Panzanella Salad, Principe Panini (with Italian Sausage), Panini Bread Pudding 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 Brisket; 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.