These 10 Houston Theater District Restaurants Serve Food Worthy of a Standing Ovation
Houston’s Theater District isn’t just famous for its amazing shows—it’s also home to some seriously great restaurants!
As someone who fancies myself a theater fan (and definitely not just someone who enjoys the snacks at intermission), I try to catch a show at Hobby Theater whenever I get the chance.
Whenever I’m in the area, I make it my mission to try a new restaurant before a show, or I reward myself with a nice dinner afterward (as if simply sitting in a seat for two hours qualifies as hard work).
In this guide, I’ll take you through some of the best Houston Theater District restaurants for your next night out, perfect if you’re looking for a quick bite, an after-show dinner, or a place with a view to make your evening feel extra fancy.
1. Birraporetti’s
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Website: http://birraporettis.com/
Address: 500 Louisiana St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-224-9494
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 11 PM; Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 12 AM
Price Range: $-$$
Birraporetti’s has been serving tasty Italian food in Houston for 50 years, and it’s easy to see why people keep coming back. Right in the middle of the Theater District, it’s a great spot to grab a meal before a show—or just because you’re hungry!
We loved how the smell of fresh pizza fills the air. “The Special” pizza is a must-try, and it’s loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, and fresh veggies, all on a crispy, chewy crust.
The Lobster Ravioli is rich and creamy—so good it almost made us wish we could eat it every day! The Grilled Salmon, Crab Cakes with linguine, and the Hand-Carved Beef Filet are great dishes too.
And don’t forget the drinks! The Frozen Bellini is sweet and refreshing, and the Irish Coffee will make you feel warm and cozy. And whatever you do, save room for dessert. The Tiramisu is light and creamy, and the Chocolate Chip Cheesecake is the perfect sweet ending to a great meal.
| Pro Tip: Watch out for their happy hour! Their happy hour deals are so good, even your wallet will order another round! |
2. Diana
Website: https://dianaamericangrill.com/
Address: 800 Bagby St, Houston, TX (in The Hobby Center for Performing Arts)
Contact Details: +1 713-315-2562
Operating Hours: Friday – 4:45 to 8 PM; Saturday to Sunday – 11 AM to 1:30 PM; 4:45 to 7:45 PM
Price Range: $$-$$$
Diana American Grill is the perfect place to eat before a show in Houston’s Theater District—because nobody wants to sit through a performance with a growling stomach!
The restaurant feels warm and elegant, with big windows showing off the Houston skyline. And since it’s right inside The Hobby Center for Performing Arts, we didn’t have to rush across downtown in fancy shoes to make it to our seats on time!
The food? So good. We started with the Baked Lobster Mac & Cheese—it’s rich, cheesy, and totally worth it. For the main course, seafood lovers will enjoy the Seared Salmon with citrus butter sauce. The Grilled C.A.B. Strip Loin is great for those who prefer meat!
And of course, no fancy meal is complete without a glass of wine or a cocktail. If we’re going to dress up for the night, we might as well go all in!
| Pro Tip: Make a reservation ahead of time—unless you enjoy choosing between fine dining or a hot dog from the nearest street cart before your show at the Hobby Center. |
3. Hearsay Market Square
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Website: https://hearsaygastrolounge.com/
Address: 218 Travis St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-225-8079
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 11 PM; Friday – 11 AM to 12 AM; Saturday – 10 AM to 12 AM; Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
Price Range: $$
Hearsay Market Square in Theater District is not your average restaurant—it’s got tall ceilings, stylish lighting, and even greenery on the walls, which basically means it’s the kind of place where your food looks extra good in photos.
We started with the Texas Charcuterie Board—perfect for sharing (or just looking fancy). For the main course, the Filet Mignon and Texas Cut Ribeye with mashed potatoes are hard to beat (steak and mashed potatoes always hit the spot).
The drinks were just as impressive. The Hearsay Old Fashioned and Blueberries in Havana are solid picks, but for those skipping alcohol, the Blackberry No-Jito and Pineapple Express tasted just as good—without the risk of singing along to the show too soon!
| Pro Tip: Make sure to snap some pics! Hearsay’s interiors are so Instagrammable, you might spend more time staging your food than actually eating it. |
4. Guard and Grace
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Website: http://guardandgrace.com/
Address: 500 Dallas St Suite 100, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 346-326-0789
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 10:30 AM to 9 PM; Friday – 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM; Saturday – 4:30 to 9:30 PM; Sunday – Closed
Price Range: $$$
Guard and Grace is not just a steakhouse—it’s a modern steakhouse, which means everything feels sleek, stylish, and just fancy enough to make you question whether you should’ve dressed up a little more.
With high ceilings and big windows it’s the perfect place for a special night out—or just an excuse to eat a really, really good steak.
The Wagyu Filet Mignon or New York Strip made us forget every average steak we’ve ever had. The TX Roasted Redfish, topped with crab and shrimp, was packed with so much flavor that we don’t think we’d even miss the beef!
For those who struggle with decisions, we get you–sometimes choosing just one is way too hard, so the Filet Flight came to the rescue and allowed us to sample different steaks in one meal.
| Pro Tip: Guard and Grace hosts private events, so if you’re planning something special, like a romantic proposal or a “we need to talk” dinner, give them a call! |
5. Taste Kitchen + Bar
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Website: https://www.tastedowntownhtx.com/
Address: 420 Main St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-485-5803
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday – 8 AM to 10 PM; Friday to Saturday – 8 AM to 12 AM
Price Range: $$
Taste Kitchen + Bar is where comfort food meets bold flavors, thanks to Chef Don Bowie. It’s the kind of place where you can dress up or keep it casual—either way, you’re here for the food.
The Chicken & Waffles are a must-try (kick it up a notch with Jerk Chicken or Cajun Chicken for extra flavor). The Cajun Fried Lobster & Waffles might sound unexpected, but one bite, and you’ll know lobster and waffles were meant to be together.
The Cajun Fried Lobster Bites and Chicken Fried Cauliflower are crispy, flavorful, and just right. And then there’s the Smothered Fries—covered in gravy and bacon, they’re rich, messy, and downright delicious.
The drinks here keep things fun! The Michelada was refreshing. And we’re glad we saved some room for the Whiskey Butter Cake. It’s warm, sweet, and so good that it might just have been the best part of the meal.
| Pro Tip: Make sure to try the grits or smoked gouda mac and cheese as sides—they’re like the sidekicks your main dish never knew it needed. |
6. Bungalow
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Website: https://bungalowdining.com/
Address: 407 Main St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-393-7868
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 3 to 11 PM; Friday – 3 PM to 12 AM; Saturday to Sunday – 11 AM to 12 AM; Sunday – 11 AM to 11 PM
Price Range: $$$
Bungalow Downtown Dining is where style meets comfort—kind of like wearing a designer jacket over your favorite sweatpants (but, you know, in food form).
Located in Houston’s Theater District, it’s a great spot for a pre-show meal, a fancy night out, or just an excuse to eat something delicious.
We started with the Wagyu Meatballs—because why have regular meat when you can have the best? They were tender, flavorful, and a great way to begin our meal.
For something lighter, the Tuna Tataki Salad and Strawberry Spinach Salad was fresh, delicious, and it’ll make you feel a little healthy before the indulgent dessert.
Speaking of dessert, there’s the Chocolate Dome–rich, sweet, and completely irresistible. We told ourselves we’d just have one bite, but somehow, the whole thing disappeared. No regrets!
| Pro Tip: Make a reservation ahead of time, especially if you want a spot on the rooftop. Unless you’re a fan of rooftop view…and standing. |
7. Perbacco
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Website: https://www.perbaccohouston.com/
Address: 700 Milam St, Houston, TX (in Pennzoil Place)
Contact Details: +1 713-224-2422
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 2:30 PM; Friday – 11 AM to 2:30 PM, 5 to 9 PM; Saturday – 5 to 9 PM; Sunday – Closed
Price Range: $$
Perbacco is a charming Italian restaurant in Houston’s Theater District that feels like a little slice of Italy—minus the passport, jet lag, and awkward attempts at speaking Italian.
The cozy space is perfect for an intimate meal, a pre-show dinner, or just pretending you’re on vacation. The tables are close together, which means you can bond with your dining partner—or accidentally become part of the conversation at the next table.
The lasagna was a favorite, packed with layers of meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and melty mozzarella. The Ravioli alla Caprese was so tasty, we almost forgot to save room for dessert!
Their wine list has lots of choices from Southern Italy–we weren’t sure what to pick, so we were glad the staff was happy to help. And dessert? Don’t skip it! The Tiramisu was light and creamy, and the Italian Cream Cake was so good, we wished we had room for seconds.
| Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to approach the staff if you need help choosing a dish or have any special requests! They’ll make it happen, as long as it doesn’t involve turning your pasta into a dessert. |
8. Lyric Market
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Website: https://www.lyricmarket.com/
Address: Lyric Market, 411 Smith St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-405-1391
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday – 9 AM to 9 PM; Friday to Saturday – 9 AM to 11 PM
Price Range: $-$$
Lyric Market in Houston’s Theater District is a food lover’s dream—or a nightmare if you’re bad at making decisions. With nine different dining spots, you can go from sushi to gumbo to tacos to ramen in one meal. Why settle for just one cuisine when you can have them all?
The space is sleek and stylish, great for a pre-show meal, a casual hangout, or just wandering around pretending you’ve made up your mind.
We craved some Southern comfort, so we sampled 1929 Po-Boy Kitchen’s po’boys–they were so good they should have come with a warning label! Mexology has some bold Mexican flavors, and Press Waffle Co. offered crispy, caramelized Liege waffles that made us rethink everything we knew about breakfast.
For drinks, we had two choices: grab a coffee at Starbucks to stay awake or hit the Lyric Bar for a cocktail to make choosing what to eat next even more fun and exciting.
| Pro Tip: You can get a complimentary 2-hour parking if you eat or drink here! Perfect for when you need just enough time to enjoy your meal… and maybe take a nap in your car afterward. |
9. La Fisheria
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Website: https://lafisheriahtx.com/
Address: 213 Milam St, Houston, TX (in Henry Henke Building Ltd)
Contact Details: +1 713-802-1712
Operating Hours: Sunday to Wednesday – 11 AM to 9 PM; Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM; Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 11 PM
Price Range: $$-$$$
La Fishería is where Mexican seafood gets a flavorful glow-up—life’s too short for dull fish tacos!
This spot is a favorite among locals and visitors for its fresh dishes, fun vibe, and the massive octopus mural that silently observes your meal. No pressure, though—it’s just there to make sure you order wisely.
We started with the Aguachile De Camaron Y Callo De Hacha, a fresh mix of shrimp and scallops in a tangy lime-and-pepper sauce–it was zesty and full of flavor! The Ceviche Verde was just as tasty, with mahi-mahi in a light, refreshing tomatillo sauce.
For the main course, we couldn’t resist the Langosta Estilo Rosarito—deep-fried lobster that was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The Sonora Rib-Eye is tender, smoky, and full of flavor and a great choice for meat-enjoyers.
Of course, we had to try the drinks! The Margarita La Casa was a perfect mix of sweet and sour, and the frozen Piña Colada tasted like a tropical getaway.
Just when we thought we were done, the churros arrived—warm, crispy, and served with rich chocolate and caramel sauce. One bite, and we knew this meal was something special.
| Pro Tip: The portions are so generous, you might want to bring a friend… or a second stomach. |
10. La Calle
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Website: http://www.lacalletacos.com/
Address: 909 Franklin St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 832-735-8226
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 2 AM
Price Range: $
La Calle brings the flavors of Mexico City’s street food right to Houston’s Theater District—so you can enjoy authentic tacos without needing to travel. The cozy, modern space makes it perfect for casual meals, Taco Tuesdays, or just pretending you’re on a Mexican holiday.
Of course, we came here for the street tacos—small, flavorful, and packed with options like carnitas, al pastor, or carne asada. They come topped with cilantro, onions, and lime– just the way tacos were meant to be!
The Torta Tecolota and the Torta Guacamaya are perfect for those with big appetites. They’re stuffed with so much flavor, we felt that we needed a nap afterward.
To drink, we washed it all down with a Horchata and a Coca Mexicana (just to see if it was better from the original–our verdict: it is). And don’t skip dessert—the homemade flan is so smooth and creamy, we ordered a second one “for a friend”.
| Pro Tip: If you’re undecided, try the Super Sampler–it’s perfect for people who can’t choose between “too many tacos” and ”not enough tacos.” |
