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Vegetarian Havens: Houston’s 5 Best Meatless Restaurants 

Houston’s 5 Best Meatless Restaurants

Our Criteria

Variety: We looked for options beyond standard vegetables and tofu that included creative, innovative dishes that were tasty and visually appealing.
Taste: We considered restaurants that used fresh, high-quality ingredients and prepared them with a light touch so their natural flavors could shine through.
Creative Presentation: We paid attention to the restaurant’s atmosphere, service, and overall presentation, including the plate arrangement and presentation of the dishes.
Value for Money: While we understand that high-quality, innovative vegetarian dishes may come at a premium price, we looked for restaurants that offered good value for money and provided an experience worth the investment.

1. Govinda’s Vegetarian Cuisine 

Website: Govinda’s Vegetarian Cuisine 

Address: 1320 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018, United States

Contact Info:  +1 832-831-9951

Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 AM – 2:30 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM 

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score4.5/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.3/5
Total Reviews4.4/5
Score Consistency4.4/5
Variety 4.5/5
Taste4.6/5
Creative Presentation4.4/5
Value for Money 4.5/5

Pros

  • Flavorful channa masala 
  • Delectable crispy samosas 
  • Traditional Indian spices 

Cons

  • Hard saag paneer 
  • Watery chutney 

One of the things we liked about Govinda’s Vegetarian Cuisine was that their meals contained an authentic blend of traditional Indian spices. So naturally, we had to sample a little bit of their best selling dishes. 

To kick off our dinner, we indulged in an appetizer of samosas. We thought they were perfectly crispy and golden, and bursting with a mouthwatering combination of potatoes, peas, and spices. 

It was a true explosion of flavors in every bite! Next, we had the chana masala, which was undoubtedly delicious. 

We liked that the chickpeas were flavorful, soft and easy to eat, and paired perfectly with the fluffy basmati rice. 

We also tried their saag paneer, but we didn’t like how the paneer was hard and overall the dish tasted bland. Moreover, their coconut chutney was a little too watery in our opinion. 

Despite this, what we thought was the most delightful part of our meal was undoubtedly the Thali—a platter that boasted an array of different dishes, each more tempting than the last. 

The vegetable curry was bursting with flavor and aroma, and we thought the papadum was perfectly crispy and added a lovely crunch to the meal. 

2. Cascabel

Website: Cascabel

Address: 1415 Murray Bay St, Houston, TX 77080, United States

Contact Info:  +1 713-999-9551

Hours:

  • Monday to Saturday: 11 AM to 10 PM 
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 3 PM 
Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score4.5/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.6/5
Total Reviews4.5/5
Score Consistency4.5/5
Variety 4.7/5
Taste4.8/5
Creative Presentation4.7/5
Value for Money 4.7/5

Pros

  • Vegetarian Mexican cuisine 
  • Delicious crispy flautas 
  • Melty quesadilla poblana

Cons

  • Slow sevice
  • Dry tamales

We are always on the hunt for new and exciting plant-based dining options, especially those that can satiate our cravings for classic Mexican cuisine. Many we’ve spoken to claim Cascabel does just that! 

So, we went recently for a team lunch to check out the scope of their menu. 

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with friendly and attentive service, and the lively ambiance of the restaurant made for a fun and upbeat atmosphere. The menu offered a great variety of options, ranging from tacos to Mexican fusion ramen. 

The first thing we ate was the quesadilla poblana, which we thought was packed with flavor. The mozzarella was melty and delicious, and the slivers of jalapeno added just the right amount of heat. 

We also liked how the corn and sour cream filling was creamy and satisfying.

Furthermore, we loved their crispy flautas. Their vegan barbacoa was juicy and flavorful, and we thought the diced tomato and green avocado salsa added a fresh kick. 

Plus, the refried pinto beans and cilantro corn rice were the perfect accompaniments, creating a well-rounded and satisfying meal. The portions were also generous, leaving us feeling full and satisfied without being overly stuffed. 

However, the service was quite slow. We understand that the service might have been slow due to all the customers, but it did impact our enjoyment of the meal. 

Additionally, the tamales we ordered were a bit dry and didn’t quite hit the mark. 

3. Bellagreen 

Website: Bellagreen 

Address: 2305 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098, United States

Contact Info: +1 713-533-0777

Hours:

  • Monday to Friday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Saturday to Sunday: 10:30 AM to 10 PM
Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score4/5
Facebook Reviews Score3.8/5
Total Reviews4.4/5
Score Consistency4.4/5
Variety 4.7/5
Taste4.4/5
Creative Presentation4.5/5
Value for Money 4.4/5

Pros

  • Vast variety on menu
  • Efficient service 
  • Tasty avocado toast 

Cons

  • Bland quinoa bowl 
  • Salty artichoke dip 

Bellagreen boasts a colorful and lively atmosphere, and their menu is a feast for the eyes and taste buds alike. At least, that’s what we’ve heard. 

One of the things we liked the most about Bellagreen was the wide variety of plant-based options on the menu, even the most selective vegetarian diners should find something to love.

We also noted that the menu offers a variety of options that cater to different dietary needs, including those who steer clear of dairy, gluten, or processed sugars. 

Furthermore, we thought the waitstaff who assisted us were attentive and delivered speedy and effortless service. They wasted no time in bringing our orders to us! 

We started with the avocado toast, which was topped with fresh tomatoes and feta cheese. While it was tasty, we thought they should have used a more ripe avocado.

The toast itself, though, was nicely toasted and not too crisp. We also had the red pepper pasta, which we must say was delicious!

Our tastebuds were in heaven with every bite of the creamy, spicy red pepper sauce. We thought the sauteed vegetables mixed into the pasta added a little saltiness to balance out the sweetness.

We also tried the quinoa bowl and the spinach and artichoke dip. However, the quinoa bowl was bland and lacked seasoning, and the spinach and artichoke dip was overly salty and didn’t have the zesty kick we were hoping for.

4. Shri Balaji Bhavan

Website: Shri Balaji Bhavan

Address: 5655 Hillcroft St, Houston, TX 77036, United States

Contact Info: +1 713-783-1126

Hours:

  • Monday: 11 AM to 9 PM
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday to Sunday: 11 AM to 9 PM
Google Reviews Score4/5
Yelp Reviews Score4/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.3/5
Total Reviews4.3/5
Score Consistency4.3/5
Variety 4.5/5
Taste4.6/5
Creative Presentation4.4/5
Value for Money 4.5/5

Pros

  • Crispy buttery dosas
  • Fragrant aloo gobi 
  • Rich and spicy paneer tikka masala 

Cons

  • Watery chana masala 

As we walked into Shri Balaji Bhavan, the aroma of fresh Indian food filled our senses and made our stomachs growl in anticipation. We liked that we were greeted by friendly staff who quickly showed us to an empty table and gave us menus to browse through. 

From just glimpsing at the menu, there were so many dishes we were excited to try. It was a little overwhelming to choose just a few dishes to share for our team lunch. 

In the end, we settled on trying an appetizer along with a few main entrees. Among everything we tried, though, only a few dishes stood out to us. 

For one, we savored every bite of the butter dosas. They were crispy and had a satisfying crunch. 

Some of our other favorites included the spicy sambar, which had a rich and complex flavor that we couldn’t get enough of. Furthermore, the paneer tikka masala, was incredibly creamy and satisfying.

We also tried the aloo gobi, which was a delicious combination of potatoes and cauliflower in a fragrant curry sauce. 

The one dish we didn’t like was the chana masala. In our opinion, it was watery, and the traditional Indian spices were overpowered by the tomato flavors. 

5. San San Tofu

Website: San San Tofu

Address: 6445 Wilcrest Dr, Houston, TX 77072, United States

Contact Info:  +1 281-988-5666

Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8 AM to 6 PM 

Google Reviews Score4.5/5
Yelp Reviews Score4.5/5
Total Reviews4.5/5
Score Consistency4.5/5
Variety 4.5/5
Taste4.6/5
Creative Presentation4.4/5
Value for Money 4.8/5

Pros

  • Savory wonton soup 
  • Flavorful stir-fried vegetables 
  • Pillowy steamed buns 

Cons

  • Small restaurant
  • Gets crowded quick 

We recently went to San San Tofu and thought the service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. 

For starters, we thought it was great that our server was very attentive and made great recommendations throughout our meal.  

One of our favorite dishes was the steamed veggie buns. It was almost as if we were biting into a pillow of cotton candy because of how soft and pillowy the dough was. 

The filling inside was savory and jam packed with, you guessed it—vegetables! We thought the soy sauce on the side added an extra layer of flavor to the dish. 

We also liked the wonton soup.  The wontons were stuffed with a savory mixture of vegetables and tofu, while the broth was rich and fragrant with a hint of soy and green onions.

One of the best things about San San Tofu is the diverse selection on the menu, from sandwiches to vegan Hainan chicken and rice. We kept things simple and opted for their stir-fried vegetables. 

It was a delicious and colorful combination of various vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and more, stir-fried in a light sauce and served with a side of steamed rice. We thought it was packed with nutrition and flavor. 

While we didn’t encounter any major issues or dislikes during our dining experience at San San Tofu, it’s worth noting that the restaurant is quite small and can get crowded quickly.

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