Each country and region is beautiful because, in addition to architectural, territorial, national and other features, there are also culinary ones. Traveling to different places, we first of all want to taste the local cuisine, expand our culinary experience and thus better feel the atmosphere. Find out more at i-houston.
American cuisine is associated for many people only with fast food or, in general, with fatty and harmful food. However, this is far from the case: different parts of the United States have their own unique dishes, secret recipes and interesting offers. Houston cuisine also has some differences and peculiarities.
Features of Houston cuisine
Houston cuisine has been formed over many years. As Houston has been an important city for the economy, industry and trade since ancient times, it has already become obvious that merchants, traders, sailors and the elite of society have always come here. In addition to that, Houston is located near Latin America and Louisiana. This also contributed to the fact that people of different nationalities moved here.
Ethnic diversity in Houston influenced the formation of Houston cuisine, as everyone made their own adjustments, introduced secret dishes from their homeland and enriched the consciousness of Houston residents with unusual novelties.
In the late 1990s, Houston was even called the restaurant capital of the United States. That is because it housed the largest number of restaurants and establishments with relatively reasonable and average prices.
The number of restaurants in the city grew every year. That is why there is a very high competition in the modern world. The slightest drawback in running a restaurant or unforeseen circumstances (for instance, the coronavirus epidemic) can force entrepreneurs, businessmen or connoisseurs of gastronomy to withdraw from the race and close the establishment.
The most popular dishes
One of the most common cuisines in Houston is Texan Mexican. This is due to the fact that early immigrants from Mexico brought their national products to Houston, introducing them into the local cuisine of those restaurants where they got jobs. Dishes of such cuisine necessarily consist of meat (most often beef), cheese (cheddar), wheat, hot pepper and a large number of spices. This set of products often serves as a filling for dishes such as tortilla or burrito. You can try the Texas Mexican cuisine in Houston at places like Saint Arnold’s and The Original Ninfa’s.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Louisiana Creole people (Creoles from Louisiana) settled in Houston. These are people originating from the once colonial Louisiana. During World War II, Louisiana cuisine became very popular in Houston and remains so until now. Features of this cuisine consist in the fact that the dishes are most often cooked on the grill, which is why there is a light aroma and a taste of smoke. This cuisine is impossible without black rice, special Creole shrimps and crayfish, soup (called gumbo) and special sausages. You can taste the dishes of this cuisine at Houston establishments such as Frenchy’s Chicken, Popeyes and Pappadeaux.
As strange as it may sound, but Houston cuisine is impossible to imagine without elements of Middle Eastern and Vietnamese cuisines. Middle Eastern cuisine became popular because of the combination of Texas flavors with Mediterranean dishes. Thanks to this, dates, olives, honey, chickpeas, some greens (mint, parsley), rice and the like began to be used in Houston. Arriving in the city, you can taste dishes with elements of Middle Eastern cuisine such as cheese shawarma, lamb kebab or Lebanese sandwich.
Vietnamese cuisine presented Houston with an opportunity such as delicacies that are cooked in front of restaurant guests. Dishes of this cuisine, as a rule, are very saturated with various spices, seasonings and greens: ginger, coriander, lemongrass, lime, basil and so on. Old Saigon, Lúa Viet and Huynh are Houston establishments using Vietnamese cuisine.
Pancakes are also very popular in Houston. Despite the fact that this is a fairly common dish that can be found literally in every city or country, Houstonians consider it to be one of their favorite delicacies. Pancakes are served in different variations. Sweet ones are most often combined with maple syrup, nut or peanut butter, fruit jams or cream. Salty ones are combined with mushrooms, cheese and artichokes. You can try pancakes in Houston in Coco Crepes, Sweet Paris and Melange Creperie.