Houston Specialty
Establishment
neighborhood
Steel City Pops
420 E. 20th St., The Heights
Disguised as a throwback to the ice pops of your youth, Steel City pops are actually a serious upgrade.
Tacos Tierra Caliente
2003 W. Alabama St., Montrose
Also referred to as "the taco Truck outside West Alabama Ice House," Tierra Caliente is another runner-up for best tacos in Houston.
Kolache Shoppe
3945 Richmond Ave., Greenway/Upper Kirby
Czech immigrants left their culinary mark on Texas back in the 1800s with the gift of the kolache—a bite-size pastry filled with something sweet or savory.
Fat Cat Creamery
1901 N. Shepherd Dr., The Heights
This is a beloved local ice cream spot with an ever-evolving menu of handcrafted flavors.
Catalina Coffee
2201 Washington Ave., Sixth Ward
Some of the best coffee in Houston comes from Amaya Roasting Company, a local coffee brewery specializing in seasonal beans and delivering them straight to the city's best cafés, like Catalina.
Common Bond Cafe & Bakery
1706 Westheimer Rd., Montrose
Common Bond's head chef, Roy Shvartzapel, returned to his hometown with one lofty goal: to build the best bakery in Houston.
Boomtown Coffee
242 W. 19th St., The Heights
Espresso-obsessive Matt Toomey has dedicated himself to roasting and sourcing the best cup of coffee possible.
Blacksmith
1018 Westheimer Rd., Montrose
David Buehrer was one of the first people to offer top-quality artisanal coffee to the local community back in 2008 via his first business, Greenway Coffee. He then built Blacksmith and doubled his dedication to serving the best coffee in town.