It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Houston.
After all, we’re based here! But we also love our city because it’s got a ton of things going for it—one of which is Samir Becic. It’s been almost 4 years since HFR founder Samir Becic was named “Fitness Czar” for the City of Houston! What better way to celebrate the anniversary than with a series of healthy living recommendations for Houstonians?
Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed Samir with the official title on November 1st, 2018 following 16 years of Samir’s dedicated service (starting with Mayor Lee Brown in 2002) to make the city a healthier and fitter place to live. In continuation of our founder and his tireless work to make the city a healthier place to live for the past 20 years (as a volunteer and 4 years as “Fitness Czar”), we are sharing some of our favorite healthy Houston recommendations- to see all of our top picks, click here.
Houston’s Healthiest Restaurants
Eating healthy can be a challenge in today’s fast-paced world. The abundance of fast food restaurants in Houston can make it hard to resist the temptation of unhealthy foods.
But there is hope! Health-based and plant-based restaurants are popping up all over our city, offering delicious meals that will keep you on track with your diet goals and better your quality of life.
Not only are these restaurants delicious and healthy, but they also care about their customers’ health—and the environment. They provide an environmentally friendly alternative to other fast food restaurants, by taking extra care during the farming process and avoiding harmful preservatives and chemicals used to treat fruits and vegetables.
Here are our Top 10 picks for healthiest Houston restaurants:
Pat Greer’s Kitchen
- Pat Greer’s Kitchen
- 412 W Clay St, Houston, TX 77019
- Open from 10am-2pm Tuesday – Friday
- Pat Greer’s Kitchen is a local business that is plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free!
- This restaurant offers juices and meals that will satisfy your hunger. Pat Greer has been creating plant-based/vegan food in the Houston area for 20+ years now. Specialties of the house include Pesto Party Geez, Mocha Sutra, Go Phish Tacos, Tamales, Geez-its, and Strawberry Geezcake.
True Foods Kitchen
- True Food Kitchen
- 1700 Post Oak Blvd #180, Houston, TX 77056
- Opens 11am – 9pm Mon-Fri, 10am – 10pm Sat, and 10am – 9pm Sun
- True food love to promote healthy eating. Their motto is to bring people together to eat better, feel better, & celebrate a passion for better living.
- They have a variety of healthy meals to enjoy, some of holiday favorites are Lasagna Bolognese, Grilled Chicken, Sweet Potato Hash, & Tuscan Kale Salad.
Ruggles Black
- Ruggles Black
- 2245 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
- Opens 11am-10pm Mon-Thurs, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat
- They have many type of keto and paleo diet food such as crab tower and even a keto margarita to enjoy after a long day after work!
- If you want to keep it simple a great choice is the keto salad which arugula, pistachio, cashews, fontina cheese, aged parmesan, key lime juice, basil oil, zucchini , broccoli, green onion, red onion, mushrooms
Leaf & Grain
- Leaf & Grain
- 1200 McKinney St Suite 479, Houston, TX 77010
- Opens 11am-3pm Mon-Thurs and 11am-2pm Fridays
- Bustling, quick-serve outpost for health-conscious fare with build-your-own & vegetarian options.
- With delicious option to chose from they include grain bowls, salads, warm bowls, and soups
- One of their popular dishes is the Alamo Grain Bowl which includes brown rice, kale, roasted cage-free chicken, avocado, house TX Cheese blend, cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, black beans, tortilla chips.
Brasa’s Brazilian Steakhouse
- 705 Main st, houston tx, 77002
- Open for lunch 11:30 am-3:00 pm Mon-Sat
- Open for dinner 5:00 pm-10:00 pm Mon-Fri and 3:00 pm- 10:00 pm Sat
- When you’re looking for a great meal, you want something that will leave you feeling satisfied and full of life. You want to indulge in a delicious and healthy meal that makes you want to come back for more. One of our top picks for a great and healthy place to dine with friends or family is Brasa’s Brazilian Steakhouse, a must-try in Downtown Houston. All of their meat is cooked on an open-fire grill and carved tableside, so you can enjoy the true spirit of the gauchos while you eat. They also offer an exclusive salad bar with organic greens, fruits, and veggies that are picked at their peak ripeness to ensure maximum flavor.
- At Brasa’s Brazilian Steakhouse, they work with top suppliers to guarantee that they only serve their guests the highest quality meat and produce. They use only organic ingredients for their salads and cheeses, which makes for an incredibly fresh dining experience! They offer unlimited “all-you-can-eat” style dining with an exclusive salad bar and the best selection of over 15 cuts of meat, including chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and seafood. The cuts are then continuously presented to guests tableside in authentic rodizio fashion.
- If you’ve never tried churrasco before, this is the perfect place to give it a try! Brasa’s Brazilian Steakhouse introduces the churrascaria style of traditional Brazilian barbecue, originated in Rio Grande do Sul of Southern Brazil, to Downtown Houston. You’ll find yourself amazed by how delicious everything tastes—it’s hard to believe your taste buds are being treated with such tender meat from an open-fire grill! You’ll soon see why people rave about this incredible experience.
- Don’t wait any longer—make your way over to Brasa’s Brazilian Steakhouse today!
Green Seed Vegan
- Green Seed Vegan
- 4320 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77004
- Opens 11am-8pm Mon-Sun
- It is in a casual spot for raw & vegan gourmet sandwiches, juices, and smoothies in an airy, open space.
- The best part their menu items are 100% vegan, soy free, with gluten-free options. Which includes options such as Bombay (curry garbanzo tempeh chicken salad topped with micro greens & tomatoes).
Original Chopshop
- Original Chopshop
- 3027 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098
- 7am-9pm Mon-Sun
- Like all the other restaurants on this list Original Chopshop cares for their customers wellbeing.
- Some of their holiday favorites are the green juice, avocado toast, and fruity desserts that include blueberries, bananas, yogurt, and oats.
Sweetgreen
- Sweetgreen
- 2551 Amherst St, Houston, TX 77005
- Opens 10:30am-9pm Mon-Sun
- Their motto is to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food.
- Sweet Green is a huge supporter for local farmers and local businesses. They enjoy to show their customers their recommended fruits and vegtables that are in season. Some of their best foods include curry cauliflower bowl with blackened chicken, curry roasted cauliflower, shredded cabbage, cilantro, raisins, warm quinoa, arugula, and topped off with a mix of sweet green hot sauce and peppercorn tahina dressing.
Dish Society
- Dish Society
- 4191 Bellaire Blvd Suite #180, Houston, TX 77025
- Opens 8am-9pm Sun-Thur and 8am-10pm Fri-Sat
- Dish Society is dedicated to using the highest quality and freshest ingredients possible, Dish Society sources a majority of its items locally from suppliers and ranchers. The all-day diner turns out a seasonally changing menu with healthful modern twists on traditional favorites.
- They support the local agriculture community by using locally grown produce and other products made in, or around, Houston as much as possible.
CAVA
- CAVA
- 250 W 20th St Unit 400, Houston, TX 77008
- Opens 10:45am-10pm Mon-Sun
- They love to get their fruits and vegetables from organic farms such as Desert Valley Date, an organic farm in the Coachella Valley.
- One of the most popular dishes is the sweet and spicy chicken pita. But the customization for their variety of bowls, salands, and grains will leave you satisfied to come back for more.
