Food critic Keith Lee set social media ablaze last year with his cross-country tour, checking out Black-owned restaurants and bakeries galore, then giving them his thumb’s up or thumb’s down grade.
At the end of it all, Lee jumped back on them “inner-nets” to share his assessment of the top food towns in all of these (not so) United States. Lee, who absolutely loved Houston, placed Space City number two on his list, just barely missing out on the top spot.
But Lee, though respected, and coming with a gazillion social media followers, doesn’t speak for the entire planet. And according to many Houston-area food influencers and Defender staff calculations (and appetites), there’s no better “foodie” town than H-Town.
Houston’s food scene is so serious it prompted New York City-based food critic Bao Ong to relocate to Houston. Ong, who is now a columnist for the Houston Chronicle, casts his vote for Houston over NYC, the city many believe is tops.
Here’s what Ong told Texas Standard:
I truly believe Houston has a more exciting restaurant scene than New York City. It might be hard to believe for some people, but, you know, it was enough for me to uproot myself after 14 years writing about restaurants and chefs, paying my rent that way. And that’s not to say New York City does not have a very vibrant dining scene and that there are amazing restaurants in New York. That’s all true.
But I think Houston especially has stepped up into the national spotlight as a major metropolitan area. That’s very exciting. And just the sheer number of restaurants that are opening, the diversity of the restaurants, and, you know, there’s a lot of excitement from Houstonians to dine out.
Need more proof?
Houston’s Black Restaurant Week (HBRW) started a national movement.
So, certainly, HBRW participants, Ong, local food influencers and Defender employees, none of whom are alone in singing Houston’s food scene praises, can’t all be wrong.
When we asked our readers about the nation’s top “foodie” town, they replied in unison, “Whatchoothank? Houston, of course.”
And then they wouldn’t stop talking. They insisted on breaking down exactly why Houston is the nation’s far and away best city for those who love getting their serious grub on.
Here is what our very talkative and opinionated (and loveable) readers from here in Houston and around the country said when asked “How did Houston become the nation’s top foodie town?”
Immigrants from various countries bringing their culture/cuisine is primarily to account for Houston’s food scene. Whether they choose to keep it authentic or cater to western palates, the possibility of building a community beyond their home shore is great. (Sen Olushola )
10,000 reasons…oops, I meant, restaurants (Reginald Charles Adams )
My waistline is quite outspoken. (Nina Wilson Jones )
Being the most diverse and eclectic city in the nation has a lot to do with it. Cuisine from multiple cultures plus innovative chefs who get creative with new food ideas all the time. Houston wasn’t voted the fattest city for nothing. We like to eat! (PW Way )
A combination of having a solid traditional base from a regional standpoint with BBQ, Tex Mex, Mexican, Seafood, and Soul Food. You then combine that with a strong diverse international scene with African, Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, European, Caribbean, South American, Latin American, etc. Then top it off with a strong national domestic scene from out-of-towners bringing their local traditional dishes/restaurants here like Louisiana, New York, Chicago, Philly, Detroit, DMV, Florida, California, etc. That’s what makes Houston’s scene the most unique, imo: regional traditional food scene, international, other US regions bringing their regional traditional food, and being a major port city. (Jahari Alex )
All I know is that theeee Best Barbecue I’ve ever, ever, ever had was in Houston! (Ronald Galvin )
Become……..WE BEEN (Marcus Davis )
So many cultures are represented here, I think it is the natural by-product of our cultural diversity. (Kimberly Tennile )
What separates Houston from other big cities known for food, like New York and San Francisco, is that we also have our rich regional cuisine. If you took away immigrants from New York, what would you have? Practically nothing. San Francisco – same. Houston has Tex-Mex, Texas-style BBQ, and Gulf Coast cuisine. Add the fact that Houston is the most diverse city with one of the largest Vietnamese, Nigerian, Indian, Arab, and Central American populations in the country some of the country’s best restaurants that feature those cuisines are in Houston and many other cuisines as well. The only thing we’re lacking is Caribbean food. (Traveon Dinell Rogers )
By becoming one of the most beautifully multicultural cities in the world. (PN Kells )
Because I told some ppl- lol!!! Naw – it is the best food evahhhh! (Onitara Nelson )
After Katrina especially, a lot of diverse cultures moved into Houston and brought their various cuisines to life here in Houston. (Michelle “Wonder Twin” Meade )
We are a large melting pot. So many cultures with all types of food. (Celestia Pugh Washington )
Seasoning! (Karla Brown )
All of the above. And we are 2 lazy 2 cook now. (SisterMama Sonya )
