Mai Pham

Last meal of 2025, and honestly… no better way to close the year. 🥂

For New Year’s Eve, we went back to my favorite new Vietnamese restaurant in Houston, Annam. We ordered à la carte and somehow turned it into a 10–12 course tasting-style feast. The kind of meal where every dish reminds you why you love dining out.

Annam is a modern Vietnamese restaurant focused on refined small plates, bold flavors, and high-quality ingredients. I love that they don’t water anything down—this is confident cooking that respects tradition while feeling fresh and current. They earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand this year, and it’s absolutely deserved.

Ending 2025 on a high note - cheers to 2026!!!

📍 Annam
811 Buffalo Pk Dr Suite 120, Houston, TX 77019

👉 Save this spot for your next night out & follow me for honest food recs

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One of my best meals in Houston this year, hands down. 🦪✨

I’m always chasing those wow moments when I dine, and when the wows keep coming, it stays with you. That’s exactly what happened at Little’s Oyster Bar. From the little gem and burrata salad to a daily hamachi aguachile with passionfruit, every course hit. The scallop chowder was silky, rich, and so good I chased every last spoonful, while the crab croquettes were pure perfection (better than most crab cakes in town, and I’m not overselling).

Service was impeccable, and the wine pairings by Advanced Sommelier Omar Velasquez elevated the entire experience. For mains, the cioppino was rich & flavorful, but the house grouper in brown butter caper sauce may actually be my favorite fish dish in Houston. Desserts finished on a high note, from fresh homemade fruit sorbet to carrot cake and the elegant new toasted buttermilk custard.

Consistently ranked among the best restaurants in Houston, Little’s—helmed by Chef Jason Ryczek—does everything right, no shortcuts. Easily one of my top meals of 2025.

They’re open for New Year’s Eve, so if you’re looking for one last hurrah, snag a reservation and thank me later. 🍾

📍 Little’s Oyster Bar
3001 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77098

👉 Book a table and experience it for yourself.

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✨New location: Ramen Tatsuya ✨ 🍜

Ramen Tatsuya just opened its second Houston location at Town & Country Village, bringing their Austin-born tonkotsu broth to the west side. Known for rich, properly simmered pork broth (the old-school way—no shortcuts), this mini chain gets the fundamentals right.

What we ordered: crisp house salad, spicy chili gyoza, spicy miso ramen, and tsukemen dipping noodles. The broth is solid, the gyoza delivers, and while longtime fans may notice the updated tsukemen broth (I did), it’s still a solid bowl. Bonus points for the bold, graphic interiors and oversized rope lanterns—fun, energetic, and very on brand for Tatsuya.

If you’re craving ramen and don’t want to trek into the city, this one hits!

📍 Ramen Tatsuya – Town & Country
600 W Sam Houston Pkwy N, unit 605, Houston, TX 77024

👉 Save this spot for your next ramen run!

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✨Houston’s No. 1 Restaurant✨

Aga’s just took the Houston Chronicle’s No. 1 spot in Houston for 2025 — so of course we had to check it out. This Indo-Pak icon in Southwest Houston always hits the spot. I get the daal + chicken lollipops to start, then the famous grilled goat chops and goat peshwari karahi. If you want something milder, try the fish tikka masala with garlic naan. Huge menu, great prices, and everything is made for sharing — bring friends and feast!

📍 @agasrestaurant
11842 Wilcrest Dr, Houston, TX 77031

*The cost of this meal was covered by Aga’s. Opinions are my own.

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Here’s how to score 50% off pizza and booze at a Michelin-rated restaurant in Houston. 🍕✨

Rosie Cannonball, a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the last two years, runs a reverse happy hour from 9–10pm, Tuesday through Sunday where pizza and booze gets slashed in half.

That means pizzas for $10–12 and cocktails for $7–8 instead of the usual full-price hit. A little late-night magic, a lot of savings.

Now you know. You’re welcome. 😉
Got a great deal I should check out? Drop it in the comments!

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✨Viral Japanese Sando Pop-Up in Houston✨

The viral Japanese Sando pop-up Sandoitchi is officially in Houston now through Sunday, Nov 23 — and it’s a MUST. If you’ve been craving Japanese sandwiches, this is your moment. 🍞✨

Sandos are $10–$15 and beautifully made. My must-orders:
🔥 Spicy Truffle Chicken Katsu Sando -$12
🥚 Egg Salad Sando - $10
🍓 Strawberry Cream Sando - $10

Don’t forget the drinks:
🍵 The Matcha Float with matcha ice cream is unreal
☕️ The Hazelnut Hojicha Latte is perfect if you want something coffee-forward

📍 Norigami
2715 Bissonnet St Ste 160, Houston, TX 77005
⏰ 10am–2pm daily

If you’re hunting for the best Japanese sandos in Houston, this is THE pop-up to hit before it’s gone. Tell me what you try!

#HoustonFoodie #HoustonEats #HTXFood #HoustonRestaurants #JapaneseFood #Sandoitchi #HoustonPopUp #HoustonFoodGuide #FoodiesOfInstagram #HoustonLunch Spots Less

✨ I think I found my new favorite martini✨

The Gilded Goose—a Grey Goose martini shaken, stirred, and served with golden French fries + aioli. 🍸
Pure genius.

I discovered it at media night at Café Annie, where they unveiled their new menu. We sampled it all —and more— crab tostaditas, quail two ways, mushroom + goat cheese strudel, whole branzino, the iconic coffee-roasted tenderloin, and the dreamy pistachio Paris Brest.

Classic Houston dining, reimagined. 🥂 If you’re looking for your next food adventure, Café Annie should be at the top of your list.

Don’t miss Emilia’s Havana speakeasy from Thursday through Saturday—the door is inside the kitchen!

📍 The Annie
1800 Post Oak Blvd Suite 6170
Houston, TX 77056

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🔥 My favorite Chinese BBQ in Houston! 🔥

If you’re craving crispy roast duck, juicy char siu, or Cantonese-style pork belly, head to Chung Wang Cantonese BBQ in Katy Asian Town. This hidden gem serves up authentic flavors just like in Hong Kong, with that perfect smoky-sweet glaze and crackling skin. Super affordable and woman-owned—come out to support and feast like a queen!

📍 23119 Colonial Pkwy, Katy, TX 77449
✨ Open daily – perfect for lunch or dinner

Where’s your favorite Chinese bbq spot? 🥢🍖

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🇲🇽 Celebrated Mexican Independence Day at Verde Garden by ordering the entire popup menu from Chef Javier Becerra 🌮✨ From Chiles en Nogada to tacos al pastor, pambazos, huaraches, tamales oaxaqueños, pozole rojo and even chocoflan—this feast is only available today until sold out!

🎶 Live mariachis, DJ tonight + drink specials to keep the party going 🍹🎺

📍 Verde Garden
2817 W Dallas St Building C, Houston, TX 77019

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Today I was craving pan-fried dumplings 🥟 so I went straight to my favorite spot — San Dong Noodle House in Chinatown Houston. This OG spot never disappoints. For just $10.50 you get 10 dumplings — crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and honestly one of the best food deals in the city. Fast casual, family-friendly, and perfect for a quick fix when the craving hits.

📍 9938 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036

If you love dumplings, you have to add this place to your Houston food list. Save it for your next Chinatown run!

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