Houston’s restaurant scene offers nearly anything you’re looking for–and plenty of surprises. Here we share restaurants that have made a splash in recent “top” or “best of” lists from the highbrow to the lowbrow.

Key: $ = under $11          $$ = $11-30          $$$ = $31-60          $$$$ = above $61

FROM ALISON COOK’S TOP 100 RESTAURANTS: 2015

(restaurants are in Houston unless otherwise indicated)

1. The Pass & Provisions, 807 Taft St., 713-628-9020 $$$$
2. Oxheart, 1302 Nance St., 821-830-8592 $$$$
3. Pax Americana, 4319 Montrose Blvd., 713-239-0228 $$$
4. Killen’s Barbecue, 3613 E. Broadway St., Pearland, TX, 281-485-2272 $$
5. Tony’s, 3755 Richmond Ave., 713-622-6778 $$$$

MENTIONED BY TOM SIETSEMA IN “THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA’S BEST FOOD CITIES: HOUSTON,” WASHINGTON POST, 2015

• Helen Greek Food and Wine, 2429 Rice Blvd., 832-831-7133 $$
• Kitchen 713, 4515 Canal St., 713-239-2498 $$
• Cuchara, 214 Fairview St., 713-942-0000 $$
• Tony’s, 3755 Richmond Ave., 713-622-6778 $$$$
• Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer Rd., 713-528-9800 $$$
• et al.

FROM PHAEDRA COOK’S “10 BEST BUDGET RESTAURANTS IN MONTROSE,” HOUSTON PRESS, 2015

1. Paulie’s Restaurant, 1834 Westheimer Rd., 713-807-7271 $$
2. Mala Sichuan Bistro, 1201 Westheimer Rd., Suite B, 832-767-0911 $$
3. Dolce Vita Pizzeria & Enoteca, 500 Westheimer Rd., 713-520-8222 $$
4. Osaka Japanese Restaurant, 515 Westheimer Rd., 713-533-9098 $$
5. El Real Tex-Mex, 1201 Westheimer Rd., 713-524-1201 $$

FROM “HOUSTON’S TOP ASIAN RESTAURANTS OF 2015,” BY ANDREA WAGUESPACK, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2015

• Pondicheri, 2800 Kirby Dr., Suite B132, 713-522-2022 $$
• Uchi, 904 Westheimer Rd., 713-522-4808 $$$$
• Kata Robata, 3600 Kirby Dr., Suite H, 713-526-8858 $$$
• Himalaya, 6652 U.S. 59 S., 713-532-2837 $$
• Kuu Restaurant, 947 N. Gessner Rd., 713-461-1688 $$$

FROM “BEST NEW RESTAURANTS 2015,” BY KATHARINE SHILCUTT, HOUSTONIA, 2015

1. Helen Greek Food and Wine, 2429 Rice Blvd., 832-831-7133 $$
2. Bramble, 2231 S. Voss Rd., 832-819-0322 $$$
3. Weights & Measures, 2808 Caroline St., 713-654-1970 $$
4. Peska Seafood Culture, 1700 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 190, 713-961-9229 $$$
5. BCN Taste & Tradition, 4210 Roseland St., 832-834-3411 $$$

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR, “EATER AWARDS 2015”

• State of Grace, 3258 Westheimer Rd., 832-942-5080 (winner) $$$
• Bramble, 2231 S. Voss Rd., 832-819-0322 (nominee) $$$
• Izakaya, 318 Gray St., 713-527-8988 (nominee) $$
• La Table on Post Oak, 1800 Post Oak Blvd., 713-439-1000 (nominee) $$$
• B&B Butchers, 1814 Washington Ave., 713-862-1814 (nominee) $$$

FROM “TOP 10 INDIAN RESTAURANTS IN HOUSTON, TX,” TABELOG, 2015

1. Cuisine India, 1212 Nasa Pkwy., Nassau Bay, TX, 281-333-4343 $$
2. Bundu Khan Kabab House, 11887 Bissonnet St., 281-879-5787 $
3. Restaurant Indika, 516 Westheimer Rd., 713-524-2170 $$$
4. Bismillah Cafe, 5702 Hillcroft Ave., 713-781-5000 $
5. Pondicheri, 2800 Kirby Dr., Suite B132, 713-522-2022 $$

FROM “10 ESSENTIAL HOUSTON FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANTS,” LOCAL LOCAL, 2015

1. Season’s Harvest Cafe, 17303 Shaw Rd., Cypress, TX, 832-534-8686 $$
2. Food Music Life (food truck), 281-814-7990
3. Prohibition Supperclub & Bar, 1008 Prairie St., 281-940-4636 $$
4. Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, 3701 Travis St., 713-524-6922 $$$
5. Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer Rd., 713-528-9800 $$$

FROM “THE HANGRY GAMES: 10 BEST QUICK MEALS IN HOUSTON,” BY ROBIN SUSSMAN, ZAGAT, 2015

1. Local Foods, 2555 Kirby Dr., 713-255-4440, and 2424 Dunstan Rd., 713-521-7800 $$
2. Dish Society, 5740 San Felipe St., 832-538-1060 $$
3. Vallones, 947 N. Gessner Rd., 713-395-6100 $$$
4. Velvet Taco, 4819 Washington Ave., 832-834-5908 $
5. Treebeard’s, Market Square, 315 Travis St., 713-228-2622 $

FROM “10 HOUSTON DISHES TO EAT BEFORE YOU DIE,” BY ERIC SANDLER, CULTURE MAP HOUSTON, 2015

1. Pho Binh by Night, 12148 Bellaire Blvd. #101, 832-351-2464 $
2. Himalaya, 6652 Southwest Fwy., 713-532-2837 $$
3. The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, 2704 Navigation Blvd., 713-228-1175 $$
4. Oxheart, 1302 Nance St., 832-830-8592 $$$$
5. Coltivare, 3320 White Oak Dr., 713-637-4095 $$

FROM “BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTIONS ON ALISON COOK’S TOP 100 RESTAURANTS OF 2015 LIST,” BY ANDREA WAGUESPACK, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2015

1. Bernie’s Burger Bus, 5407 Bellaire Blvd., 713-349-9400 $$
2. Corkscrew BBQ, 24930 Budde Rd., Spring, TX, 832-592-1184 $$
3. Hubcap Grill, 1111 Prairie St., 713-223-5885 $
4. Pollo Bravo, 6015 Hillcroft Ave., 713-541-0069 $$
5. Pho Binh Trailer, 10928 Beamer Rd., 281-484-3963 $

FROM”EAT WELL, PAY LESS AT HIGH-END HAPPY HOURS,” BY SYD KEARNEY, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2016

1. Killen’s Steakhouse, 6425 W. Broadway St., Pearland, TX, 281-485-0844: happy hours 3:30-6:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
2. Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer Rd., 713-524-7744: happy hours 2:00-6:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
3. The Pass & Provisions, 807 Taft St., 713-628-9020: happy hours 2:30-6:00 p.m.
4. Arnaldo Richards’ Picos, 3601 Kirby Dr., 832-831-9940: happy hours 3:00-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
5. Caracol, 2200 Post Oak Blvd., 713-622-9996: happy hours 3:00-7:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

OTHER RESTAURANT LISTS

For more lists of top Houston restaurants, we recommend Houston Eater, Zagat, Travel + Leisure, and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.