Houston's Best Healthy, Vegetarian and Organic Restaurants

When you think of Houston, Texas and food you probably think of Tex-Mex, Steak, Cajun and BBQ. Houston offers all that and so much more, but with so many restaurants to choose from how do you know where to go, especially when you desire healthy, organic, vegetarian or raw food dining? Find out the best of Texas, which is healthy too.

Ruggles Green

2311 Alabama St.
Hours: 11:00am - 10pm every day
713-533-0777

As Houston's only certified green organic restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association, Ruggles stands alone in Houston's organic dining scene. The parking may be tight and you often may have to park away and walk up, but a visit to Ruggles is definitely worth the effort. With organic, preservative free, hormone free, gluten free and environmentally friendly serving standards Ruggles Green stands above all the other organic restaurants in the area. I admit to a weakness for their Shrimp Tacos, Fresh Fruit Salad, and Smoked Chicken Pizza and the freshly brewed pomegranate-melon tea. There are even organic wines available.

Live entertainment is available some nights and seating is available indoor as well as at the outdoor fenced in patio. This organic restaurant is also very kid friendly, with meals children will love as well as a sweet treat of cotton candy. Orders may be placed for catering or to go.

Ziggy's Bar and Healthy Grill

2202 West Alabama Street
Hours: Mo to Su from 08:00 am to 10:00 PM
713 527 8588

Ziggys Bar and Grill does not sound very "healthy" or organic, but it is. Though not certified organic Ziggy's offers menu items made from organic beef and eggs bought from a local farmer. Their whole wheat and multi grain breads are straight from a 5th generation local baker. Salads are made with fresh organically grown greens. No frozen fries or onion rings at this restaurant, they are hand cut and the sweet potato fries are a treat everyone can share, even the kids will like them. The menu offers vegetarian options; however it is not vegan or gluten free. There are also many low carb; low fat and all meals are Trans fat free.

A few menu items to consider would include the Queso made with spicy garlic turkey, the Stuffed Avocado, and the Angus beef burger. Of course there is also the delicious Grilled Atlantic Salmon, and the Grilled Fish Tacos served with avocado and mango salsa. There are also daily specials as well a catering menu and children's menu.

T'afia

3701 Travis Street
Hours: Tue to Thur in the Lounge from 4:00 PM to 10:030 PM/Fri and Sat until 10:30
Tue to Thur in the Dining Room 5:00pm to 10 pm/Fri Lunch 11:30am-1pm/Fri and Sat. Dinner 5:30-10:30 713 524 6922

Award winning chef and competitor on Top Chef Master's, 2007 James Beard Award Nominee, Best Chef Southwest Monica Pope calls Houston home and organic diners are happy she does. Using seasonal, organically grown products she creates unique menu items that blend Texas comfort foods with her Czech heritage, imagination, creativity and skill.

Reservations are required for dining and much of the menu is a "prix fixe menu" offering all your courses for one set price. The menu changes frequently.

What is recommended at T'afia? Curried Waldorf Salad, Grilled Swordfish with yellow corn grits and tangerine-rosemary sauce, Shrimp Bisque and after all this is Texas, Spicy Ribs with green beans.

Field of Greens

2320 W. Alabama Street
Hours 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-8 p.m. Sundays.
(713) 533-0029

Voted one of "Houston's Best Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants" by the Houston Press, Field of Greens offers a menu designed for vegans and vegetarians, but even carnivores will appreciate the vegetarian burgers and Fajita's. A signature dish as Field of Greens is the Macrobiotic Platter which includes pickled daikon and seaweed, sautéed vegetables, kale with miso sauce, brown rice and beans, tofu quiche, and a cup of soup. There are even a number of raw food menu items, but a personal recommendation is the Boca Burger, you don't even miss the beef! The menu also offers a helpful guide indicating those items that can be made vegan, that are vegan, low carb and low fat.

The Hobbit Café

2243 Richmond Avenue
Hours: Weekdays 11am-9:30pm; Sat 10:30am-10:30pm; Sun 10:30am-9pm
(713) 526-5460

Based on the popular "Lord of the Rings" theme the Hobbit Café is small and "cozy." Also voted among the "Best Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants in Houston (2009) this restaurants offers traditional meals, like burgers, but with a twist. What's so special? Apart from the décor the most favorable things you can say about this restaurant are "Buffalo Burger," "Black Bean Nachos," "Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich," "Guacamole Sandwich," "Blackened Tilapia and fresh strawberry lemonade and indoor as well as patio seating. Be careful in the parking lot though, it's unpaved, bumpy and always full.

Patricia Greer's Kitchen & My Fit Foods

412 W. Clay Street
Hours: Tuesday and Friday 10am - 3pm, Wed and Thurs 10am-7pm.
713-807-0101.

Pat Greer's Kitchen is the only 100% Organic all raw food eatery. The "to go menu" offers fresh gluten free, organic, living food for you to take home or out and about. Not sure what to order? Consider the Veggie Lasagna and Sloppy Moe's, especially if you haven't gone "raw" before. Just because you are eating healthy doesn't mean you have to skip dessert when there is a fully raw Coconut Cream and Apple Pie available. Catering and cooking classes are also available.

For more information visit Houston is for Vegans, while not organic restaurants these definitely qualify as healthy! The Best 2009 Restaurants in Houston offers what that reviewer names the "the true-blue cuisine of Houston in 2009.

Sure, Houston has some mouthwatering steak houses, ragin' Cajun cuisine and some of the best seafood and barbeque I have ever had, but there is so much more that Houston has to offer in dining experiences that you can do it all from barbeque and buffalo to raw Asian fusion.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Houston Press

USA Today.com Travel Tips

Houston Restaurant Guide

Outsmart