A memorable Wednesday evening at Houston's - Irvine. It was a one of those days that I felt extremely social and I popped in for a bite. It turned out to be hours of fun talking to new friends. A couple leaving back to Phoenix, a person having a quick cocktail, a gentleman ruminating retirement, and finally a friend to celebrate his birthday. I felt so welcome and taken care of by the bartenders Robyn, Sophie, and Michelle. They were very nice and helped me select Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon. I was told the BBQ Pork Ribs were Fork Tender and they weren't joking, served with coleslaw and fries. My friend celebrated his birthday with the Hawaiian prime Ribeye steak and baked potatoes with all the trimmings (which was amazing). For birthday dessert Izzy served us a warm Apple Cobbler with Vanilla ice cream. She was a gracious and personable server who made sure our glasses were not empty and our bellies were full. Thank you! A big Thank You to Charlie Skinner for fitting us at a table on a very busy night! We appreciate the hospitality and will definitely come for our next celebration! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaiian prime Ribeye steak with Baked Potato. Birthday boy said it was delicious! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]i can't begin to describe how incredible this restaurant is. the ambiance , the professionalism, to the outstanding food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] the staff was great, the host, the server, the kitchen. management is doing an excellent job here. now to the food. the prime rib dip. mouthwatering, tender, juiciness. exceeded my expectations . seriously one of the best things i've ever had... the spinach dip. WOW. have never tasted a spinach dip like this one. the crispy chicken sandwich. was so good, my daughter loved the slaw on it. the yellowtail sashimi salad was the best kale i have ever had and the way the yellowtail melts in your mouth. i will go back for this dish 100 times over to be honest i don't even remember what cocktail i ordered because the food was so good i couldn't even focus on anything else. my new favorite restaurant and will definitely be coming back to try more food . thank you everyone at houstons for your amazing food and service ! read more

See all

Houston's was absolutely amazing! Exceeded my expectations, the flavor and the service was on point. I wish I got my servers name because she deserves a shoutout. My bf and I had our date night here and ordered the spinach and artichoke dip which he loved, I thought it was just ok. I ended up ordering the sashimi and the Hawaiian ribeye. Highly recommend the ribeye, super delicious. I will be back. read more

See all

Always fantastic service and food. My first time at this location and I loved the outdoor area for waiting and you will also be offered drinks while there waiting for a table. Spinach artichoke dip and French dip are the best items on the menu. Will forever be returning! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Famous French Dip Au Jus - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Yay artichokes are back in season so I had to return to Houstons since their artichokes are sooo delicious! Also, the service here is outstanding! What sets this restaurant apart form others in the Hillstone Restaurant Group is really 2 things for me: 1. The service is always amazing! Top notch! 2. They have a great variety of sushi where their other locations/sister restaurants do not The Tuna mango roll is my favorite. Osaka Style Pressed Sushi which everyone raves about was good but not my favorite. My favorite entrees are the French Dip (but I like soft large fries abd it comes with thin crispy fries) and I also love the Thai Noodle Salad (with pork) it is DELICIOUS! read more

See all

It's been over a decade since I visited. We arrived for an early dinner for my son's birthday. He wanted to try the famous pineapple marinated steak. Even at 5 in the afternoon, the restaurant was pretty full. Nevertheless, we were seated rather quickly and our waitress Michelle came out to greet us. The menu is one page and she guided us to the favorites. Overall, the steak was tender, the ribs were falling off the bone the slaw was not too watery. I would recommend visiting for the easy going atmosphere and friendly service. Please note that the baked potato is an option only after 5:00PM. read more

See all

Me and my hubby were craving for some HAWAIIAN RIB EYE at HOUSTON'S so we searched on Yelp and found another location in IRVINE. That's great if you're coming from Inland Empire because it's closer than the one located in PASADENA... RESERVATIONS: I highly recommend making a reservation because it can get impacted throughout the day. There was a couple ahead of us and they were seated at the BAR AREA because they didn't have reservations... HAWAIIAN RIBEYE: 9/10 The steak was cooked perfectly with a nice medium pink center. However, the seasoning and marination was not as memorable and flavorful as the Hawaiian Ribeye in Pasadena!... COCONUT SHRIMP ROLL: 8/10 I was expecting an actual fried coconut shrimp inside of the roll but, it was cooked shrimp with some shredded coconut flakes with avocado inside the roll. It was edible but, not too exciting for the taste buds... SERVICE: 10/10 All the ladies were super nice and friendly. I also noticed they were all very beautiful as well. As if they should all be in the beauty industry or entering pageants!!! ROCK ON HOUSTON'S RESTAURANT!!!!! read more

See all

Houston's Irvine is one of those places that just always delivers. Classic Hillstone Group restaurant with all the favorites. The ambiance is a big part of it, dark, moody, and really well done. It feels polished and upscale without being over the top. Service is next level. Small details stand out, like them swapping out my martini glass midway through the drink to keep it ice cold. That kind of attention is rare and makes a difference. One thing to note, they do enforce a dress code. I was asked to remove my hat when I walked in, so just be aware of that going in. The food is where it really shines. The Osaka-style pressed sushi is a must, super clean, balanced, and just melts. I could eat 4 of those and call it a night if everything else wasn't so good! The Thai Tuna Roll brings a little more punch but is still really refined. The yellowtail salad is one of my favorites, light, fresh, and perfectly dressed. And you absolutely cannot skip the artichoke, it's a staple for a reason, rich, shareable, and consistently great. On the heavier side, the French dip is incredible. Tender, flavorful, and paired with that au jus, it's one of the best versions around. And my vote for the best horseradish cream anywhere. It's not cheap, but you know what you're getting, and it's worth it. Definitely a go-to spot when you want a reliable, high-quality meal in Irvine. Note that reservations are recommended, it books quickly and there are lots of business lunches and dinners here due to the location. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is always busy for a reason.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] In case you're wondering, it's a Hillstone Group restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The bar area is small but if you can grab a seat it's seriously the best.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself isn't huge but has nice tables meant mostly for smaller groups. Probably no more than 6 max.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The smoked salmon appetizer is amazing. The kale rotisserie chicken salad is perfection. And the Crush is the most refreshing cocktail ever!! Love living down the street from this delicious restaurant. read more

See all

my boyfriend took me here last year for the first time and I think we went 4 times in 2 weeks after that because of how delicious it is. I am going to be a repeat customer for a long while!! the service is fantastic! they literally will come and bring you a chilled martini glass every so often so your drink stays chilled ... now that's great service. I always get a dirty martini ( theirs is my favorite of all time) and me and my man split the filet and the white fish it's to die for read more

The ONLY highlight of our evening was the very fast and attentive service, I could clearly tell that they try their best to make your dining experience very pleasant while paying close attention to detail and being catering to guests. Even with a reservation do expect a little bit of a wait we ended up waiting 15- 25 minutes past our reservation time. Without a reservation the wait can be 75 minutes minimum to longer. I do enjoy the stiff drinks here's especially their house Negroni made with vodka and their martinis. Love that they switch it out with a nice cold glass for you every so often. The food though was nothing to rave about, the spinach and artichoke dip was pleasant, so was the kale Cesar salad with corn but it still wasn't that justifiable We also ordered the tuna mango roll and the baby back ribs. The tuna mango roll was mediocre with the tuna pieces being smaller than the actual pieces of mango. So it seems like I was paying $20 for mango and not tuna.. The ribs itself was soft enough, needed a bit more sauce , the sides were very mediocre with the broccoli being way too salty and the fries were stale. Would come back for drinks if in the area again read more

I swear I love coming here just took forever for our food to come out for my mom's birthday lunch . 2 of us + my baby. The Hawaiian is always so fire but this time mine came out medium when I wanted medium rare , when it was remade it actually then came out so rare instead of but I felt bad and just said it was okay lol still enjoyed it I'm against a kale salad , I don't know why kale frightens me when it is dressed , however I absolutely loved all the salads( all their salads are with kale) Especially the yellowtail sashimi salad. The it was the best and I wouldn't have ever thought to try to until the server recommended it for me I think for 3 apps and 2 mains we dined a little over two hours , waiting for the surprise dessert to come took a while too , and of course the remake of the steak took some time . [[HIGHLIGHT]]Genuinely a five star place , just had a four star experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The servers aren't responsible for what the chefs put out , but they are the first impression, and they are delightful :) read more

Houston's Restaurant - Yellowtail sashimi The salad part was actually fire yall - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

First timers! The food was decent for mid to nicer dining experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ambiance and friendly and very attentive waitress we had.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Appreciated the time we could take there as well. The spinach dip was gooey and yummy but a little bland so we added pepper. The pressed sushi was surprisingly fresh and smooth. I wouldn't think to come here for sushi but happy we tried it! The Hawaiian steak was delicious a bit chewy and well done but tasty nonetheless. And the chicken was moist, standout item was the baked potatoes side I got with it and the frie sauce. Overall good. Compared to other steak houses not the best but for a nice night out, we def had! read more

See all

It's been years, like 10+ years, since I ate at a Houston's restaurant. I remembered the food being good, but the restaurant on the darker side. I recently visited this Houston's location on the recommendation of a friend and the experience was very good. We made a day of reservation for a late lunch around 1:30pm. Once we both arrived, we were seated within minutes. Our server was nice and greeted us right away. She took our drink orders and provided a bit of menu insight. We ordered several items to share and enjoyed them all. There was a slight mix-up to our order, but our server and management were wonderful and took care of it immediately, making it right. The restaurant was packed!!! I mean every table was taken, even in the mid-afternoon time frame when we left. Prices were more affordable than I anticipated. It is still a dark restaurant as I remembered, but each table had a light above. Based on this experience, I would definitely return. read more

See all

You can never go wrong with Houston's. From their service, the ambiance of the restaurant and their foods, they are all always consistent! We ordered their spinach artichoke dip, ribs and French dip. They were all so good!! Foods came out in perfect timing and never had to wait long for anything! Definitely enjoyed our time there and left with happy tummies read more

Houston's Restaurant - Famous French Dip Au Jus and Barbecue Pork Ribs - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Houston's continues to impress. The Hawaiian ribeye is unmatched -- perfectly prepared every visit. Service is consistently strong, and the menu is full of reliable favorites like the French dip. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant can be a bit dark, but the food and experience more than make up for it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I always look for a Houston's or Hillstone when I travel. read more

This is my dad's favorite restaurant, so we went here for a late Father's Day celebration, and it was incredible! We ordered the Smoked Salmon and the Rotisserie Chicken Kale Salad for the appetizers and they were both so delicious. The Chef's Dressing that is served with the salmon pairs so perfectly with the fish and the toast. For entrees, we ordered the French Dip and Hawaiian Ribeye. The meat inside the French Dip was perfectly rare and very flavorful. The au jus paired wonderfully and was good enough to drink on its own. The Hawaiian Ribeye was incredibly cooked and had amazing flavor. We ordered it medium rare and it looked a bit more rare than we anticipated but it was still so tender and was not chewy at all. For dessert, we ordered the Key Lime Pie. It was very balanced, with the whipped cream and graham cracker pecan crust. Our server was Natalie and she was so kind and thoughtful. The food was wonderful, but she really made the experience! read more

See all

One of my all time faves and go to lunch and dinner spots. Their appetizers: grilled artichokes, smoked salmon and deviled eggs are all a must! I love their Thai noodle salad but I'm bummed they got rid of the steak option. Chicken is good but the steak was better with this dish. Service is always amazing. Everyone is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. The ambiance is great for date nights, a work lunch meeting or a girls night out. read more

See all

Service was decent, drinks are offered while waiting so you can order before you sit down if you'd like. The menu has lots of dishes with peanuts, so the salads were mostly off limits for me. I enjoyed the Hawaiian Ribeye, and portions are pretty big. Interior is nice, dark with lots of big booth seating. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaiian ribeye - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

My frequent stop whenever I go to the OC area. Good food choices that caters to most people. Parking can be limited during peak hours and you Ight have too park in the other side of the parking lot. read more

Cane back again for a business lunch. Got the classics like the rainbow roll and french dip sandwich which always hit the spot. This time ordered the creamy tomato soup and loved it. I think it was a special. Taste was on point. Keep it on the menu? Absolutely. Service and ambiance always 10/10. Thanks guys! read more

See all

Houston's 8/10 Came here on a whim of a work happy hour around 6pm in Irvine, I can see why this place was so busy. I'd say get a reservation if you can. Aesthetic & ambiance: 8/10 pretty nice and modern steakhouse with full wood vibe. The ambiance was after work dinner meetings, catch ups, and quick dates. Service: 10/10!! We had a large party of 12 out on the patio, and were taken care of by Aracely! She was not only so patient and attentive but remembered every persons order and name almost immediately! She checked on us throughout the time, and even recommended some food to my coworkers. I had a martinis, so not much to write about, but will be coming back to diner with aracely. read more

See all

Always on point! Fillet medium Cooked to perfection, hands down better than r.c.'s, flem's, mort 's, [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is a vibe, food always delicious, coka de botella...it's just sexy, from the architecture, to the interior design, the food, etc.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]leave the kids at home, this place is for grown folks!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great place for a first date, an intimate bday celebration, it's the kind of meal, where memories are made![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Tell 'em Greg sent you...they might give you an odd look, they don't know who I am! Cheers!! read more

Due to its location in a more hoity-toity area of Southern California, this Houston's location attracts a lot of "see and be seen" types as well as the "ladies who lunch." Never in my life have I seen more designer handbags, clothes, and shoes than I have at this restaurant (not to mention plastic surgeries, LOL). That being said, I've never felt out of place in my Chucks and Kohl's jeans. This Houston's offers plenty of free parking, which is one of the major pluses of dining here! They also accept reservations, which I highly recommend. Otherwise, you could be facing upwards of a 90 minute (or longer!) wait at busy times. I usually eat here during lunch, and it's just as crowded as it is at dinnertime. As with other locations, the service here is top notch. Professional, efficient, and welcoming, I've always been pleased with our servers. My go-to menu items are the cheese toast appetizer and the house made veggie burger. Both are excellent (and pricey), but worth it. The cheese toast isn't really big enough to share (I could eat the entire plate myself), but it's high quality. Nice, melty cheese on crunchy bites of toast...you can't go wrong. The veggie burger is one of the best in the world. It's made with beets, so it "bleeds" when you cut it. This gives it the appearance of a big, juicy burger although its made from vegetables. I'm not sure the exact ingredients, but it looks like it has oats, rice, sweet potatoes, and other good stuff. I love to get broccoli as my side, and I feel like I have a very healthy meal. I usually take half to go because it's a large portion and, considering the high quality of the ingredients, it's more than satisfying! The menu is filled with so many yummy sounding things, and I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order. Budget around $80 for a nice lunch for two without booze. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Yummy veggie burger! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

The staff, food, ambiance, all top tier here. I've had at least 10 dishes off the menu here and everyone I'd order again. Great price for the service you receive! read more

I have never had a bad meal at Houston's. The service is impeccable the food is delicious we started with the soup of the day and the traditional salad for lunch. Then we shared the French Dip. I've been going to Houston's and the other Hillstone group restaurants for decades in California and other states. Again never a bad meal. read more

This is my wife's favorite restaurant and anytime we come we are more than satisfied. [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the ambience to the staff ending with a high-quality meal prepared, just right.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Consistent great food, great service and ambiance...[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]But they have a real issue with fair dress code enforcement. I understand they want to maintain a standard and dress code is for that reason. Ok but it is only enforced against men. Men cannot wear ball caps. Women can, even ugly trucker's hats. I have even seen women allowed to place small dogs on the bar top but I can't wear my non sports related ball cap. Sex discrimination at its finest and welcome to Irvine. Food is good though. read more

We planned a special night for our 37th anniversary and visited Houston's Irvine for the first time. Reservation mix-up and reception:** We checked in at the lobby and waited while people walked by without help. After about 10 minutes, a host emerged and told us we didn't have a reservation, despite having booked one. We even checked our phone and dialed the number we used to make the reservation, but it apparently wasn't kept. Not very welcoming Restroom cleanliness:** After seating, I went to the restroom to find a tall trashcan overflowing with paper towels and a noticeable odor. Not a great first impression of cleanliness. Food quality and flavor:** My wife ordered the Hawaiian ribeye and enjoyed it with a 1/2" thickness. I found my prime filet mignon underseasoned to the point of flavorlessness. It had a good crust and was cooked properly, but there was no noticeable seasoning--no salt, no pepper, nothing distinctive. I even asked the server about seasoning she had no clue. Usually in an upscale restaurant the servers are better trained on the menu. On a positive note, the deviled eggs were outstanding apart from a single rogue eggshell bite. The mashed potatoes and broccoli were good, but they couldn't save the meal. Value:** The bill came to about $170 for two plates, appetizer, one Diet Coke and a small water that was needing refills. If you're looking for a celebratory dinner with strong service and flavorful, well-seasoned steaks, Houston's Irvine didn't deliver on this visit. The experience started with a reservation mishap and lingered through cleanliness and seasoning concerns, making it hard to justify the price. My friend tried to tell me to go to Ruth Chris in the same parking lot and I wish we had. This is not worth putting in the rotation. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaii. Ribeye - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Reservation highly recommended. I believe bar seating is first come, first serve, though, for what it's worth. Full service, sitdown restaurant. Very upscale casual dress minimum. Dressing more formal is probably best to fit in. Dimly lit, but warm feel. Friendly service, and there was a hiccup with our order (and they were out of some items), but they remedied by comping a couple items. That was appreciated and kept this at five stars! This place is pricey, so know what you're getting into. It's fine dining! I tried the deviled eggs, spinach artichoke dip (ask for more chips to finish off the dips), and Hawaiian prime rib. Comes with fries, but my friend subbed for broccoli if you want to be a bit healthier. Everything was delicious, which was expected! Large serving - I didn't even need dinner, as this was lunch! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaiian Rib-eye - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

First time here. I've heard good things and we were excited to try it. I got the ribs with the baked potato and it tasted somewhat stale. The food was lukewarm and didn't taste fresh at all. Very disappointing. I'm bummed because the menu looks solid. Service was good and [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambiance was calming and relaxing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I always look forward to a great experience at Houston's steakhouse. I had only been to their location in El Segundo. I was visiting with my girlfriend in Irvine and she told me to pick a restaurant to celebrate my birthday. The service was outstanding as usual. She had the trout which was spectacular and I enjoyed their infamous Hawaiian ribeye... Outstanding! She enjoyed a bottle of champagne and I zipped on whistle pig rye. The grilled artichoke is an appetizer is a must try. Heirloom artichokes from California. For dessert, I had their walnut, apple, crisp and a wonderful fresh cup of coffee. She had the chocolate brownie with ice cream. The entire experience was very satisfying and enjoyable. I recommend this place to all who love great food, ambiance and service! read more

My wife and I have visited all the Houston's locations for decades. We have never had a bad meal or poor service. Visited the Irvine location this week and had a great experience. Special shoutout to our waiter Diego who was fantastic. He was extremely attentive, personable and courteous. You can never go wrong with ordering a sushi appetizer, the Houston's standard salad, BBQ ribs or the French dip sandwich. All are excellent. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Cosmo martini in a really frosted glass. - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Now that I'm in my mid 40's and very very serious about what I put in my body I am always looking for restaurants that serve quality. With that said I worked at Houston's in 1999/2000 and since then the menu has only 50% changed. People go here because it's the most consistent chain restaurant in America hands down. Here's the issue, the quality. This isn't the year 2000, Houston's needs to step up their game! Today i had lunch with my father and I asked what the sauce was made of with the smoked salmon and she went and asked and its main base is Helmans store bought mayonnaise made of soybean GARBAGE oil. Then i ordered the chicken salad and let's be honest, anywhere decent is going to use olive oil. Houston's uses Canola oil. Disgusting cheap oil cutting corners on a $28 salad that cost $8 to make. Is Houston's service excellent? Yes. Although there is not one male server at the Irvine location it's 100% women which seems very very odd. Is the food very solid? Yes, everyone loves Houston's. But how you do one thing is how you do everything so it makes me wonder. PS the server was VERY accommodating and wonderful read more

See all

I was underwhelmed. My sister expressed that she wanted to visit Houston's in California because they had took away the Houstons that she had in Memphis, Tennessee. However, why the service was top-notch; the food was underwhelming. I had the rib plate for $50 wasn't nothing special had better ribs at Chili's. I had better ribs and chili. read more

Wow, this Houston's location is such a pleasure to visit. I usually go to the Pasadena one, but it's impossible to get a table even for one person even waiting for the bar. What a hassle. Irvine is superior to Los Angeles in terms of food options. Orange County is superior to Los Angeles in terms of food options Houston's in Irvine is superior to Houston's in Pasadena. I think I've been to every Hillstone restaurant in Southern California. I love Hillstone restaurant Group. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaiian Rib-eye - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

I am always pleased with my visit to this restaurant. When you get out of your car in the parking lot and you smell the home smoked salmon, you start drooling. It feels cozy in there. The service is excellent. It has become a tradition in our family that when anyone arrives at Orange County Airport, we go to Houston's for lunch or dinner depending on what time they arrive. read more

Came here with some coworkers for dinner and we all had a great experience! The service here is truly fantastic and the food was very good. I tried the pressed sushi which was excellent. I also had the French dip and it was good but if I'm being honest, I was expecting it to be better with how much it is hyped up online. The meat was very chewy and possibly undercooked for my liking. Overall we all had a great experience and enjoyed our meals! Would definitely recommend. read more

See all

I don't know how I've NEVER written a review for Houston's before. It is an Irvine staple for my wife and I. We've been to Houston's more than any other restaurant in Orange County. The service and food is always 10 out of 10. The drinks are incredible. Our favorite is the sushi. Better sushi than some of the Japanese restaurants around. My favorite is the BBQ ribs. They literally fall right off the bone. The atmosphere is always nice too. They have sound barriers hanging from the ceiling so it never gets too loud. I don't have enough great things to say about Houston's. Our favorite. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Barbecue Pork Ribs - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Another restaurant in the Hillstone universe that's worth trying, and one of the more solid options. Here's what you should know: 1. Make a reservation if you can. The seating available is mostly for two so if you have larger parties, it's good to prepare. 2. French dip is easily the stand out. 3. Pork chip was a huge portion. 4. Sushi is pretty good, but not the same level as you would get from a more traditional place. 5. Service is great. read more