The bleak Gulf Coast doesn’t conjure up images of the Mediterranean, but as a foodie city, Houston has certainly made its mark on the region’s staples.
Greek charcoal octopus? Houston is. Street food, from lamb and falafel gyros to za’atar-spiced bread? Houston is. Incredibly soft, dreamy hummus? As is Houston. Bayou City has everything you need for the best Mediterranean restaurants.
If you’re ready to satisfy your taste buds, here’s where to sample the best Mediterranean cuisine in Houston.
Don’t be fooled by its clean appearance. The Community Wine Cellar has been a Montrose staple for over 30 years, adding a second outpost in the Highlands last year. Walk all the way in a continuous stream of Mediterranean street food: shawarma and pickles wrapped in warm pita with savory garlic sauce; beef and lamb gyros in bowls, wrapped or layered on top of chips, drizzled with salsa and tzatziki; and silky hummus. which should always be at hand.
You can find him at: 2002 Waugh Dr., Houston, TX 77006, 713-522-5170 or 518 W. 11th St., Suite 300, Houston, TX 77008, 713-393-7066.
It’s not until you enter the expansive Aladdin cafeteria-style restaurant that you really come alive – there are now two locations, one in the lower Westheimer (since circa 2006) and the other in the newer Garden Oaks locations. Lay out and fill your plate with fan favorites, including caramelized onion hummus and baba gannouji, freshly baked pita bread, Lebanese cucumber salad, crispy fried cauliflower, saffron chicken skewers and crumbling bone-in leg of lamb. Sounds like a lot? Yes, and worthy.
You can find him at: 912 Westheimer St., Houston, TX 77006, 713-942-2321 or 1737 W. 34th St., Houston, TX 77018, 713-681-6257.
Do yourself a favor and check out the massive food court at glamorous Post Houston. When you do, don’t forget to include this Mediterranean destination on your epic culinary buffet. Named after the historical nickname of the Jordanian city of Irbid (hometown of the founder and chef), Arabella offers authentic Mediterranean recipes passed down from generation to generation, often with a touch of the Third Coast. Fill plates with tortilla-wrapped chicken shawarma, lamb knuckle, vine leaves and spicy hummus, then prepare the rice and salad bowls.
Born and raised in Houston, a first-generation Lebanese American, Rafael Nasr dreamed of making artisan pitas to combine his passion for his culture and his city. Nasr creates dishes that match this passion, using local produce and proteins from nearby ranchers, as well as olive oil imported directly from olive farms in the area where the Lebanese family lives. Fiery hummus and labneh with Zaatari spicy manaish (Lebanese flatbread), fattoush salad garnished with pomegranate sauce, and grilled birds with aioli garlic sauce and crispy fries are waiting for you.
You can find him at: 1920 Fountain View Drive, Houston, TX 77057; 832-804-9056 or 5172 Buffalo Speedway, Suite C, Houston, TX 77005; 832-767-1725.
This local restaurant has been serving fresh, homemade Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine for over 25 years and has 6 locations in Houston and 3 in Dallas. Born and raised in Syed, Lebanon, Chef Fadi Dimassy is impressed with tried and tested family recipes: a plate of beef and lamb skewers with basmati rice and mohammara, baba ghanoush and chickpea eagle with warm pita, pomegranate eggplant and cilantro potatoes, and its famous falafel, a must-try.
New Israeli cuisine takes center stage at this stunning Rice Village restaurant. That means you can enjoy a colorful mosaic of salads (small side dishes): fiery carrot harissa, tomatoes and peppers, silky baba ganoush and a big bowl of the world’s creamiest lamb hummus. Most importantly, bring your friends so you don’t have to choose between bran fried, lamb chops and beef tenderloin skewers seasoned with za’atar and sumac-spiced butter. For real fun, stay late on Thursdays when the restaurant turns into a party with belly dancing, shooting and a great atmosphere.
Tucked away in a gorgeous and secluded location in Rice Village, this modern Greek bistro might be where you want to go on your next date. Relax by sharing grilled octopus with mashed beans, tender lamb chops in fennel sauce, and plaka-style stuffed boneless whole fish. It is also interesting to explore the world of Greek wine.
Mary and Sameer Fakhuri brought their northern Lebanese roots to Houston some 20+ years ago and opened this Mediterranean retreat in 2005. Now with two spots, locals flock here to dip, scoop and serve hummus shawarma, zaatar flatbread, pomegranate kissed chicken liver, fava bean stew and spiced kafta roast. Dessert ends with bananas, pistachios and Lebanese pudding drizzled with honey.
You can find him at: 5825 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77057; 832-251-1955 or 4500 Washington Ave., Suite 200, Houston, TX 77007; 832) 786-5555.
Get a taste of Istanbul through Houston at this Turkish food and grill right here in Texas, where Mediterranean, Balkan and Middle Eastern flavors seamlessly blend. Specialties include lahmajun and pide stuffed with turkey, sausage and cheese, charcoal lamb chops and grilled mixed dishes, sweets from baklava to katefi pudding.
Everyone loves Nico Nico. It serves quick Greek dinner-style meals in a family atmosphere, and the beautiful dessert box beckons you like a siren, even when you’re full of gyros and kebabs, spanakopita and moussaka, falafel and feta chips. I suggest you listen to the sirens and order some Greek coffee and loukoumades (roasted honey balls) as you leave.
The mighty Atlas restaurant group (Loch Bar, Marmo) kicks it out of the park with this Mediterranean waterfront concept set in a bright and airy location in the gorgeous River Oaks neighborhood. Start with a glass or bottle of wine from Lone Star’s largest Greek wine list, paired with Greek sauce and pita. Try baganush, spicy tirokafteri and colorful tzatziki; add shareable content, from flaming saganaki to wagyu-stuffed vine leaves; and choose from any fresh fish brought in from all over the world, such as wild-caught Aegean arowana or royal dora.
There’s just about everything you need to know about this family-run specialty grocery store (located downtown and close to Westheimer), where a pita conveyor belt delivers fresh, hot Lebanese-style bread throughout the store. Oh, and you’ll also find ready-made meals like beef dumplings, cucumber salad, tabouli, hummus with Moroccan olives, simmered lamb shank, shawarma, and Greek bronzes.
You can find him at: 12141 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77077; (281) 558-8225 or 1001 Austin Street Houston, TX 77010; 832-360-2222.
Brooke Viggiano is a freelance writer based in Houston, Texas. Her work has been published online and in print through Chron.com, Thrillist, Houstonia, Houston Press and 365 Houston. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter for the best cold beer in town.