While social distancing may be the best thing for society right now, it already has us going a little stir-crazy! Combine that with the disappointment of cancelled trips, and we need a little wanderlust pick-me-up. With that in mind, we’re going to be doing a series of blogs with ways to get your travel fix while staying home. Today’s feature: international restaurants serving to-go meals in Houston!
In our opinion, tasting new cuisines is one of the best parts of traveling. Even if you’re stuck at home social distancing, you can still get a literal taste of international cuisine by ordering from one of the below Houston restaurants. They all currently have to-go or delivery options, so you can “Stay Home Work Safe” while still supporting local small businesses. We think that’s winning all around!
a’Bouzy
This sparkling gem of a restaurant is now serving to-go orders, which is the best news we’ve heard all quarantine! If you’re not familiar, a’Bouzy is a champagne-fueled concept with a French-inspired seasonal menu – we’re in love with the petit filet mignon with a side order of truffled pommes frites! Plus, with 10% off all wine when ordering food, there’s no excuse not to order a few bottles of champagne to celebrate staying in!
Oporto Fooding House & Wine
As the name suggests, Oporto features a rustic Portugese inspired menu and it’s seriously good! Order some paella and fish croquetas, play some fado music on Spotify, and pretend you’re dining in Portugal tonight. Plus, nobody will be around to judge if you order a dozen pasteis de natas…
Istanbul Grill
Istanbul Grill is what we’d call a Turkish Delight! This charming restaurant in Rice Village focuses on authentic and flavorful Turkish food, from doner kebabs to the pizza-like pides baked in their traditional brick oven. One bite of their food has us wishing we were booked on a flight to Istanbul right now…
Niko Nikos
With the current pause on island-hopping through Crete, Santorini, and Mykonos, we’re instead getting our Greek food fix from Niko Nikos. Nothing goes better with quarantine than gyros, a side of dolmades, and a pile of baklava for dessert. Opa!
Kata Robata
If you’re a sushi junkie, then Kata Robata is for you! Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi’s take on both traditional and modern Japanese cuisine features arguably the highest quality fish in Houston. The sushi and sashimi selections are complemented by the kitchen’s hot dishes, including the stellar grilled meats cooked on the restaurant’s namesake robata. For now, it’s the closest thing to being in Tokyo but we’ll take it!
El Tiempo
El Tiempo is a Houston Tex Mex staple and for good reason – they’ve been around for over 65 years and were a big part in making fajitas so popular. During Houston’s stay-at-home order, El Tiempo restaurant is offering to-go fajtias and margaritas. We recommend to have a few and picture yourself on a beach in Riviera Maya or dining out in Mexico City.
Any other ideas on ways to explore vicariously?
Like many people, we’ve had to hit pause on our vacation planning for now, but that doesn’t stop us from having wanderlust! We’d love to hear any ideas you have to explore vicariously in the age of social distancing – who knows, our travel advisors may even feature it in a future travel blog post!
