Inside My Table #60 | Restaurant listings
Open Late
It’s 10:30 pm, and you’ve just exited Jones Hall and a Houston Symphony performance. Or, more likely, you just walked out of the Edwards’ screening of Russell Crowe’s latest flick. In either scenario, you’re hungry! Where to dine in this restaurant-rich town? If you’re like us, you can never think of a single place and end up at some drive-thru or fluorescent-lit chain restaurant. To help, we offer a few places that serve food late. Hint: Tear it out and put it in your glove compartment.
Avalon Diner, 2417 Westheimer bet. Kirby & Shepherd, 713-527-8900 and other locations. The cooks at Avalon dedicate themselves to expertise with traditional diner fare. In other words, you don’t need to be shy when specifying exactly how crunchy you want your hash browns. The waitstaff befriends regulars, and return visits are encouraged. With a couple of locations in town (even one in Stafford), inner- and outer-Loopers both have access. $
Cafe Japon, 3915 Kirby bet. Richmond & the Southwest Frwy., 713-529-1668. Most post-midnight dining options are places that shouldn’t be frequented during daylight. Luckily, Cafe Japon is open until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights, making it the place for middle-of-the-night sushi that is worth visiting for dinner as well. The sushi is varied, affordable and in a central location. The non-sushi dishes, like the salmon, bring depth to Cafe Japon’s menu. $-$$
Cheesecake Factory, 5015 Westheimer in The Galleria, 713-840-0600. Serving food until 11 pm during the week and midnight on the weekends (until 10 pm on Sunday), this huge, noisy, rococo spot takes the (cheese-)cake for burgers, huge salads, pasta fantasies and typical American fare. Given the throngs usually found here, late-night may be the best time to drop in. $$
House of Pies, 3112 Kirby bet. Richmond & W. Alabama, 713-528-3816. With more than 40 sweets on the menu, the legendary House of Pies bakes a dessert for every craving in addition to its menu of short-order offerings. Don’t be deceived by the Upper Kirby address: This place makes no pretense about its food, decor or service. As well known for its colorful waitstaff as for its food, House of Pies is visited by the most varied assortment of locals. $
Katz’s Deli, 616 Westheimer east of Montrose, 713-521-3838. This late-night Austin import blends traditional kosher-style fare with more innovative takes on New York items, such as the Cheesecake Shake, a beverage that begins with an entire slice of cheesecake. If you’re not in an adventurous mood, the Rueben sandwich is superb. Since the doors don’t even have locks, customers can get anything they want—even fried pickles—at all hours. $
La Tapatia Taqueria, 1749 Richmond bet. Dunlavy and Shepherd, 713-521-3144. Fast and friendly service delivers authentic Mexican food all hours of the night. The combo platters offer a taste of everything when the menu seems too good to choose just one item. The interior is now more sleek, clean and spacious due to a recent renovation. Arrival anytime before 2 am allows a shot at margaritas that don’t skimp on tequila. $
Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance bet. Rothwell & McKee, 713-226-8563. Enjoy the company of fellow bohemian concertgoers while snacking on enchiladas, migas, etc., at this eclectic music scene. The Last Concert is hidden away on the Northeast side of downtown and is right next to the Atomic Cafe, making it a great stopping point after an arts showing at this independent venue. Open since the 1940s, this is one of Houston’s nutty bits. $
Late Night Pie, 502 Elgin bet. Bagby and Smith, 713-529-5522. This is the place for the most authentic New York-style pizza—by the slice and by the pie—in Houston. In addition to pizzas like the Bossman (a combination of artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and spinach), Late Night Pie dishes up salad and pasta dishes. On the east side of the Montrose area, the restaurant also delivers its chow and buckets of beer to a large delivery area until 11 pm. $
Mai’s Restaurant, 3403 Milam at Francis, 713-520-7684. Mai’s claim on Houston’s Vietnamese restaurant heritage is long standing. In 1975, not long before Houston transformed itself into the ethnic melting pot it is today, owner Mai Thi Nguyen’s parents opened Houston’s first Vietnamese restaurant. Authentic Vietnamese is on hand at Mai’s until 4 am on the weekends, 3 am on weekdays. $
Mama’s Cafe, 6019 Westheimer bet. Fountainview & Greenridge, 713-266-8514. It seems like all of Houston shows up late night at Mama’s: post-prom kids in their fancy duds, shop-worn clerks, way-happy clubbers, extended families, honest-to-goodness truckers. The menu ranges about from basic Tex-Mex to all the burger variations, meatloaf, King Ranch casserole and such. Warning: Eat that bean burger, and you sleep alone. $
Red Lion, 2316 S. Shepherd near Fairview, 713-PUB-3030. Besides offering 17 beers on tap, the Red Lion serves English pub food until about midnight. Stop by for a game of darts, then fuel up with shepherd’s pie, smoked salmon pizza, a Scotch egg or fish and chips. Comfy atmosphere inside.$
Spanish Flowers, 4701 N Main at Airline, 713-869-1706. Some people go to Spanish Flowers for the breakfast, served 24 hours, and some only eat the dinners. Both are worthy at this hacienda in The Heights. The menu is solid (we recommend the chicken mole enchiladas) and includes chiles rellenos, fajitas, various tortas as well as classic Mexican egg dishes. The restaurant closes between 10 pm Tuesday and 9 am Wednesday for cleaning. $
West Gray Cafe, 415 W. Gray bet. Montrose and Taft, 713-528-2887. Not quite a diner, not quite a restaurant, West Gray Cafe occupies a place happily in between, with knick-knacks cluttering every flat surface and Southern comforts dominating the menu. Eggs, pancakes, sausage and grits are served for breakfast around the clock. Be sure to try the onion rings and homemade desserts, too, though not necessarily at the same time. $
