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If Eating Was a Crime, Take Me To Court in These 10 Houston Food Courts

food-court-dining-setup

Picture us this: you’re in the middle of Houston, and you’re starving. You don’t want to go to a restaurant since they’re pricey, and fast food isn’t your vibe for the day. What do you do?

Simple – you go to a food court! Food courts tick all the boxes – they serve cheap, tasty, quality meals that get served for you in an instant! 

So load up with whatever fuel your car runs on and get ready – this article will give you all the deets on Houston’s best food courts! Along the way, we’ll also tell you some things you should know about them before your visit so you can prepare!

1. Understory

Address: 800 Capitol St, Houston, TX 77002

Website 

Hours:

  • Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

A bit of a hush-hush Houston food court, Understory is “underrated”, if you get what we mean. After all, they’re located right underneath Downtown’s Bank of America tower and you need to find a ground-level entrance, which makes them hard to find.

But when you do find them, you’re in for a treat! Understory has this elegant vibe you can’t get anywhere else in Houston, let alone a food court. You’re welcomed with a beautiful staircase, which you’ll take to reach their astounding vendors.

Understory’s most famous vendor by far would be Boomtown Coffee thanks to their Macchiato. However, Mona is an underrated gem if you’re craving Italian! We suggest checking them out, especially since you can build your panini or pasta!

Pro Tips: 

  • Though Understory is great, none of the vendors provide free water – not even a water fountain for you to refill your bottle! We strongly recommend bringing a bottle of water with you if you want to save $5 just for a bottle of mineral water.

2. Bravery Chef Hall 

Address: Aris Market Square, 409 Travis St Ste A, Houston, TX 77002

Phone Number: 713-909-0691

Website 

Hours:

  • Sunday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Bravery Chef Hall is most likely the first thing that will spring to a Houstonian’s mind if you even utter the words “food court”, and for a good reason! They’re like the Hilton Hotels of food courts – posh and classy while remaining down-to-earth.

What we like about Bravery Chef Hall is the sheer variety of vendors they have. Kokoro is a good place to get sushi, Drunken Pho has some authentic Vietnamese food, and the Soho Garden offers great drinks – well, if you can find them, that is.

Bravery Chef Hall also has a posh air around them as well, which can be discouraging for the regular Houstonian. But trust us – it’s a food court for everyone. – especially during the lunch hour when you can see everyone and their moms enjoying their meals!

Pro Tips: 

  • We suggest visiting Bravery Chef Hall during dinnertime, ideally somewhere between 7 PM and 8 PM. Not only do they have astounding lighting to match your dinner, but the parking lot nearby has free parking by 8 PM as well.

3. Finn Hall 

Address: The Jones on Main, 

Phone Number: 713-357-5115

Website 

Hours:

  • Monday – Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Thursday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

We’d like to think that Finn Hall is what you’d get when you try to mix aesthetics and delicious food – after all, where else in Houston can you dine in an art deco-style building? That alone gives the food that 1920s flavor – well, without the lead that is.

Finn Hall’s pretty yet left-field aesthetics also match their unique vendors! Craft Burgers on their first floor has some nice burger options (their Vegan Burger is the best!), but if you’re craving for a Houstonian twist on pizzas then Pizza Zquare will be your best bet.

Since Finn Hall opens relatively early, you can catch up with some of their vendors and start your day right! Three Keys Coffee’s Iced Americano is great – plus, you can get some of their beans to make your coffee at home!

Pro Tips: 

  • Most of Finn Hall’s vendors don’t accept cash and only accept payments via card or online banking channels like ApplePay or PayPal! If you’re dining there, we recommend loading up on digital banks or bringing your card!

4. Lyric Market

Address: Lyric Market Bar, 411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002

Phone Number: 713-405-1391

Website 

Hours:

  • Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Despite being relatively new to the Houston scene, Lyric Market has already stood out by providing diverse dining options to the regular Houstonian!

At first glance, it’s easy to mistake Lyric Market for a regular food court. The Starbucks slap-bang in the middle brings the elusive factor down a bit. However, look past the green Siren and you’re in for delectable meals, left and right!

1929 Po-Boy Chicken has Cajun dishes, and Press Waffle Co. has breakfast options that you can order. However, if you want something with a healthier twist on Mexican cuisine, then we suggest going with Mexology!

Pro Tips: 

  • Lyric Market hosts live music on weekend evenings, which is when we recommend that you schedule your visit! It can make dining feel that much more special!

5. Underground Hall

Address: 1010 Prairie St, Houston, TX 77002

Phone Number: 281-888-4323

Website 

Hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
  • Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

If you want a place to chill after watching a game in Minute Maid Park, then we have just the spot for you! Underground Hall is the perfect place to grab a bite after watching an Astros game – or just to dine in in general!

One of (rather unceremoniously named, by the way) Underground Hall’s main charms lies particularly in one of their vendors – Luv’em Leches! Their soft and fluffy Tres Leches cake makes the trip there worth it – we promise you!

But if you don’t have a sweet tooth, then Underground Hall also has plenty for you to choose from. We recommend Bird Haus Hot Chicken’s signature spicy chicken though – that crunch and spice is the perfect late-night snack!

Pro Tips: 

  • Underground Hall isn’t wheelchair accessible, since there aren’t any ramps or elevators present. We strongly suggest bringing mobility aides with you if you plan to visit!

6. Conservatory

Address: The Crossing at Midtown, 606 Dennis St Suite 1, Houston, TX 77006

Website 

Hours:

  • Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Conservatory (2.0, mind you!) is where you should be going if you’re looking for a more stylish food court to dine in. But even if they’re the equivalent of Posh Spice, budget-friendly options are still present as long as you know where to look!

Licha’s street-style tacos are insanely delicious for less than $5, but The Greedy Chicken’s wings are also good – albeit a bit more expensive ($11 for 6 wings). However, if you’re looking for more upscale dining, then Florkai’s sushis are your best bet!

These food vendors are located inside a nicely-lit space with shiny floors and ample lighting, culminating in an enjoyable dining experience. Plus, the live music from Pallet Jax that can be heard throughout the entire food court elevates the overall experience!

Pro Tips: 

  • Although the Conservatory is a nice place to dine, their roof can leak if it rains too hard. We strongly suggest bringing a change of clothing if you’re visiting them on a particularly rainy day.

7. POST Market 

Address: POST Houston, 401 Franklin St Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77002

Phone Number: 713-999-2550

Website 

Hours:

  • Sunday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Thursday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM


We’re willing to bet $10 that the vast majority of Houstonians have been to POST at least once – and you’ll know the sheer amount of choices of dining options there. However, if you want to quicken your search, then their food court, POST Market, is worth a visit!

POST Market’s selling point is the sheer variety they have. Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Tex-Mex, Italian, Tahi – you name it, they (most probably) have it! They even have some… special goodies that we’ll link here for you to check out! 

We also like how the POST Market has evolved with the times since their conception! They use cashless transactions for all of their vendors, which can be a downside for some but it’s a relatively eco-friendly way to dine so it all evens out, somehow.

Pro Tips: 

  • Since POST Market is still a food court, outside food and drinks aren’t allowed inside the establishment and the guards WILL let you know. We strongly suggest keeping them in your purse or bag and finishing your food elsewhere.

8. Wild Oats

Address: 1222 Witte Rd Building B STE 100, Houston, TX 77055,

Phone Number: 346-293-8779

Website 

Hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

If you want to wind down a little after visiting the Houston Farmers’ Market, then Wild Oats will be your best bet! Since they’re literally next door to the farmer’s market, you can expect that their food is as fresh as it gets!

Wild Oats also pays homage to their Texan roots with a modern twist. Underbelly Burger has some nicely flavored burgers, and the smoked chicken wing is perfectly juicy. But if you want something more authentic, then you HAVE to try out the Armadillo Eggs!

Food aside though, we have to commend Wild Oats for their commitment to sticking with their Texas origins. From their retro, 70s diner-style design to the Wild West-looking logo, Wild Oats really makes you feel like you’re in Texas and nowhere else.

Pro Tips: 

  • Wild Oats’ rush is a bit of a weird one – in a sense that their peak hours are usually during their first hours of opening, meaning dinnertime there is slow. We suggest hitting them up between 7 PM and 9 PM for a more peaceful time!

9. Holman Draft Hall 

Address: 820 Holman St, Houston, TX 77002

Phone Number: 832-649-5840

Website 

Hours:

  • Monday – Friday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM
  • Saturday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM

What’s a list without a jugular entry – thus the reason why we recommend trying out Holman Draft Hall! Though they’re not technically a food court, you CAN still get some nice pub eats there – they’re just more focused on beers, that’s all.

Holman Draft Hall fancies themselves in having diverse beer selections – they have 100 beers and wines for you to choose from! They’ve even divided their drinks into three different temperatures ensuring that you can get your drink at the perfect temp!

Now, imagine drinking those in a nicely lit space with some tremendous bar food like their Charcuterie Board with blue cheese and you’re in for a nice treat! You can even mingle with other customers since they’re technically a food court-slash bar!

Pro Tips: 

  • We suggest watching the Super Bowl at Holman Draft Hall! Though their vibe on regular days is fun, they get 10 times livelier, along with having a crowd rooting for the Cowboys!

10. HKCM Food Court

Credit: @mimi_love_purple on Instagram

Address: Hong Kong City Mall, 11205 Bellaire Blvd Houston, TX 77072

Phone Number: 281-575-7886

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

If you’ve ever been to Houston’s Chinatown, you would know that it’s a mecca for good Asian food. Yes, we know we’ve already covered the best places to eat in Chinatown here, but apparently, we’ve missed one – and apparently, it’s a bit of a doozy!

Nestled deep within Hong Kong City Mall lies HKCM Food Court – and yes, we know that it’s the typical mall food court. The vibe isn’t anything special, and you can expect mallgoers to stare at you, which can make the atmosphere feel a bit weird.

Look past those flaws though and you’re in for an all-Asian treat! We strongly recommend trying out Tram’s Teahouse’s boba teas! They’re the perfect amount of sweetness, and even the regular Taro tastes special, which is a genuine surprise!

Pro Tips: 

  • HKCM Food Court is crowded more times than not! We suggest ordering their food to-go and having a bite in your own time rather than struggling to find space with other mall goers.
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