Good Eats, Cheap (Well, Cheaper)
You’re not alone if you’ve noticed that the majority of new restaurants opening in Houston last year seemed to be high-end, fine-dining eateries. Which is fine unless you’re one of the many whose New Year’s resolution is to cut back on spending. According to Food & Wine, the economy is having a chilling effect on diners in all demographics. “Half of Datassential’s respondents say that delivery costs are becoming untenable, and 39 percent say that they’ve abandoned orders once they saw how much the fees were adding up. With so many options out there, the company notes that restaurants and delivery platforms will have to go above and beyond to entice customers to spend their dwindling cash there, and that includes more generous portion sizes.” Craft Media reports that eaters are opting to buy more frozen foods, like pizza, fries, and dumplings, that they might otherwise have bought at restaurants.
But there are still bargains out there for those who enjoy dining out … if you know where to look.
Oishii Japanese Restaurant
3764 Richmond Avenue
713.621.8628
oishiihouston.com
Longtime family-owned sushi spot in Upper Kirby, Oishii is known for its fresh fish at jaw-dropping prices. And regulars know because they line up outside the door before the 11:00 a.m. opening. It’s a small space in a small strip center with tight parking, but it is certainly worth it to binge on lunch specials such as the nine-piece sushi for $10.95 or the delicious salmon teriyaki with steamed vegetables and white rice for just $8.95. Happy hour hits from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with $5 appetizers, including some of the freshest edamame in town, select rolls, and fried bananas. There’s jalapeno tempura for $3.50 and a host of sushi and sashimi choices ranging from just a dollar a piece to a mouth-watering wagyu beef sashimi for $8.
Red Lion Pub
2316 Shepherd Drive
281.88.3599
redlionpubhouston.com
Since 2003, this authentic British pub, with its charming ambiance, has been a favorite of ex-pats and Anglophiles. While regulars flock to the bar almost anytime, it’s the weekly specials that really draw them in. Thursday nights are ladies’ night with a filet mignon dinner and two sides at just $34, one of the cheapest steaks in town these days. Pair it with a house champagne for just $5 a glass, and you’ve got an incredible meal. Fridays are a favorite for their fish and chips, $18 for a huge portion, and a hearty half plate at $10. Plenty of late-night specials, the pub is open until 2:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and bonus points for airing soccer and rugby matches, Astros, and Texans games.
Bollo Woodfired Pizza
2202 West Alabama Street
713.677.0391
bollohouston.com
This hot spot for real woodfired pies is well known for its authentic Italian fare cooked in two ovens straight from Napoli. And Bollo has both a happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and a reverse happy hour from 9:00 p.m. to close in the bar area where you can get a pizza and a bottle of wine or a pitcher of beer for $25. Now that’s a bargain and a great date idea. The pizzas are made with Di Napoli Italian tomato products, natural wheat flour, and whole milk cheese. There are all kinds of toppings and specialty pizzas but just a plain old cheese pizza is pretty special when paired with an Italian Ruffino Pinot Grigio.
Tacos Tierra Caliente
2003 West Alabama Street
713.584.9359
tacostierracalientemx.com
Food trucks are almost always a great value and one of the most famous trucks is Tacos Tierra Caliente, conveniently parked across the street from the West Alabama Ice House. Open daily, this truck is known for its tacos on soft corn tortillas, some of the best Mexican street food you’ll find and cheap to boot. Two dollars and fifty cents will get you a fat al pastor or barbacoa taco loaded with cilantro and onions and their spicy green salsa. Breakfast tacos are just $2, and sandwiches, tortas, are $7. Grab a few and head next door to the ice house for an outdoor seat at a picnic table and a cold longneck. Bonus points, you can bring your four-legged friend along, as the ice house is dog-friendly.
Brennan’s Houston
3300 Smith Street
713.522.9711
brennanshouston.com
Lest you think all bargain eats are from pizza joints and food trucks, we present Brennan’s Houston. While bargain food and the old-world New Orleans charm of this first-rate establishment don’t scream cheap eats, they’re known for having one of the best oyster deals in town. Happy hour, Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Courtyard, features one-dollar Gulf Coast oysters on the half shell. You have to order by the half dozen, but still, $6 for a plate of slurp-worthy chilled gulf goodness is a great bargain. Cocktails and wine by the glass are $7. And for martini drinkers, vodka or gin, go for lunch Monday through Friday and order an entrée and get a 25-cent martini! Limit is three, but that should hold you.