We came here for Mother's Day and had to sit at two separate tables across from each other. We're here to celebrate as a family, why can't you give us a big table so we can all eat together? Anyway, the food wasn't bad but wasn't as good as I remembered as we used to go to the Pasadena location occasionally. The atmosphere is always nice and chill with a lounge-like vibe and feels intimate. The Hawaiian steak was ok, but the pork ribs were drowned in BBQ sauce and were unappetizing. My favorite item of the night was the salmon appetizer with toast and tartar sauce. I suggest doubling up on the food you like and don't get the overhyped stuff, but give Houston's a try because they have great staff and excellent customer service. I'm not sure what went wrong with the seating arrangement this time. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Salmon + toast - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

We had a late lunch/early dinner here before our flight back to LV. It's been years since I was last at a Houston's, and gotta say, they didn't disappoint. The service was amazing and delightful and the food was better than I remembered. The sushi app was fresh and delicious, the au jus sandwich was great. The dessert was decadent but not too sweet since they make their own whipped cream Can't wait to go back when I'm in CA. Hope they expand and open a couple of locations in LV! read more

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I really enjoy Houston's and this was my second visit, so this isn't coming from a place of dislike at all. That said, I was genuinely disappointed this time around Their clam chowder is amazing !! easily one of my favorite items they offer. Unfortunately, once again they were completely out of it. I understand that it's only sold on Fridays, but that actually makes it more frustrating when it runs out so early. I've only had the pleasure of enjoying it twice this entire year If I could offer some friendly feedback: it wouldn't hurt to make a larger batch on Fridays, or even consider extending availability into Saturdays. Making a big batch on Friday and letting it sell through the following day seems like it would make a lot of loyal customers very happy I'll definitely still be back , I just hope next time I don't miss out on the soup again read more

Houston's Restaurant - Friday - Newport Clam Chowder - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here since I had heard they had amazing burgers and was unfortunately very disappointed. Me and my boyfriend both ordered our burgers medium rare and while his patty was nice and pink in the middle, mine was barely pink. The patty also was very bland and lacked any substantial flavor. I also found that my patty kept falling apart. The bun is also way too thick while also at the same time being too fragile to hold together while eating the burger. I would not come back for this burger. On a more positive note, the service was great. Our server was very nice and the vibes inside the restaurant are nice as well. Definitely nice enough where you can dress up and come here for a date if you choose. read more

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Houston's never disappoints and stopped by for their iconic Hawaiian Ribeye w/ colcannon Irish potatoes. Simply one of the best steaks by far in the Irvine area!! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaiian Ribeye with Colcannon Irish potatoes - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

I had never heard of Hillstone restaurants before until my friend suggested them. So I found Houston's on a recent Yelp search. OMG you guys, it's soooo good. I'm super impressed by the ambiance, the dress code, the decorum, and of course the food. They treat every guest with the utmost respect and the food gets as equal a treatment. I started with the Thai sushi roll, then the delicious soy and miso glazed ribeye prepared to the chef's preferment, and for the lady, the fork tender ribs! Dessert was the key lime pie with fresh lime zest and the pillowy cream on top. Each bite of the graham cracker pecan crust made me want more until finally it was gone. Perfectly satiated and the bill was fairly priced. Thank you Houston's! We will be back. P.S. it was nice seeing them keep the riff raff out that was wearing sports attire. It's so ungentlemanly to disobey the dress code and argue about it. Go eat at McDonalds if you want to wear a dodger's jersey, bud. read more

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The food was amazing and our server Sophie was the best. Super attentive and extremely professional. I came here with one other person and I think we over ordered as usual. The food was so good and my new favorite is the French dip with a side of horseradish. You can now make a reservation which makes it so convenient for business lunches. read more

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I grew up eating at Houston's in Texas so I was excited when I saw one was in Irvine. My husband had never eaten at one so he was looking forward to checking it out. The place was packed so we waited for an opening at the bar. The hostess was outstanding in putting us down on the list and updating us while we waited. We sat at the bar and ordered. My husband had the French Dip, I ordered the Thai Noodle Salad. Both were outstanding. Growing up, I always ordered the Grilled Chicken Salad but I'm into Thai noodles lately. It used to have an option of steak, but now they only had BBQ pork or chicken. I ordered the pork, it was ok, a bit salty but I did enjoy the rest of the salad. My husband liked his French Dip. The bartender that waited on us was outstanding with service. The atmosphere is great too. The consistency of everything was perfect. Great overall place! read more

Seemed like the hostess didn't wanted to sit a black family this afternoon. The Restaurant was half empty. She asks why we are there (to eat obviously), I tell her we would like to be seated for a party of 3. She says there is an hour and a half wait almost like it would have deterred me from wanting to sit and eat. I say no problem so she takes my number and puts us on the waiting list. We walk outside due there not being any where to sit and wait as an older couple were already waiting, they walked in 30'seconds before us. We chose to go to north italia instead after waiting 30 seconds. As I get to the car I get a text saying our table is almost ready, when we get to the north Italia which is in the same parking lot I get another text that the table is ready. So it went from a 11/2 hour wait to 3 mins once we left. Interesting series of events. I work in the complex here i will be telling my entire company to avoid this place for lunch from now on. Thanks read more

MY VERY FAVORITE PLACE in CA. (Irvine area) The artichokes are amazing, the French dip is amazing, the ribs are the best in the country (slow cooked, fall off the bone amazing). read more

From start to finish it just wasn't a good experience unfortunately we were excited to try this place, but we're quickly disappointed from Service to food just seemed very mediocre. I would suggest not coming on a Friday evening as service is very delayed and food was lukewarm.. read more

Another Great dinner at Houston's! Service is always 10/10 our waitress was so hospitable and welcoming she was super helpful when choosing sides and my main course. I went with the PAN-SEARED SALMON filleted in-house daily, served with lentil vinaigrette and broccoli so delicious and perfectly cooked when well with my Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc. For Dessert our table had a hot fudge sundae which was insanely decadent and delicious they give you a giant bowl of homemade hot fudge. Ambiance is dimly lit and pleasant read more

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

I used to go to the Pasadena location when I lived in LA, and this was my first time trying the Irvine one. I had a reservation and still waited a bit, which honestly felt pretty normal compared to Pasadena. What I didn't expect was the server and manager apologizing for the wait and taking care of the starter. That's never happened to me at the other locations, and it definitely made the wait feel less annoying. Food was good as always, but the service really made the difference. Even on the way out, every staff member I passed smiled and said hi. Overall, the Irvine location gave me a better experience, and I'd definitely come back. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Club Salad - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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After shopping at South Coast Plaza for fathers day we decided to eat at this Houston location. The food and service was outstanding as usual. Beautiful decor and nice size bar. read more

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Before I begin, if you're going to eat at Houston's you should check out the website and set your expectations based upon the guidelines regarding dress code, noise and children. It's specific and clear, and should help you enjoy your experience, knowing what you're getting into. It was our first time to Houston's and so we didn't know what to expect. I had read some mixed reviews on the food and service so we actually kept expectations slightly lower. Our server Aljhana was outstanding, super attentive with a smile. The food was delicious, it's not cheap, but it's definitely not among the more expensive in Irvine either. Entrees come with vegetables and/or additional sides. We went with the Trout and Salmon and the Kale salad as an appetizer, both fish were cooked near perfect, very soft, moist and full of flavor. The kale salad was actually our favorite, a mix of soft, crunchy and light dressing. We didn't wait long, the food came out quick and everything seemed efficient. I noticed there's been a lot of opinion about the policy towards kids. When we came during lunch, it did have a slightly more 'fancy' restaurant feel (which we love by the way), background piano music, spacious booths with candles at every table, so that kind of ambience is a little less suited to kids and families, but we didn't notice any issues getting those customers served. Parking was easy, they have a good size parking lot dedicated to the restaurant, along with the larger shopping center parking in case that gets full. It makes it far easier than getting validated parking at other restaurants with a time limit. Aside from our server, the rest of the staff were also great. I had read reviews that described servers/staff as not nice, but I experienced the complete opposite, everyone was pleasant and smiling, and helpful. One tip is to arrive before the lunch or dinner rush, it can get crowded. Around 12pm, the restaurant was nearly full and it did get a little louder because of number of customers and conversations, but it didn't bother us at all. Definitely would consider to return to celebrate special occasions and/or to enjoy good food again. read more

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Uptight management for no reason. Maybe because I just ran a 5k me and my party got turned away read more

I came here for a team dinner and had a great time. The service was great and everyone was truly so kind. It a little dark inside depending on where you sit but great for group dinners. We started off with the spinach artichoke dip which also came with sour cream and salsa. The spinach dip was yummy, chips were warm and I love that they include the salsa and sour cream to give it more flavor. For my entree I ordered the rotisserie chicken. Didn't realize it was about 1/4 a chicken but definitely plenty to eat. It was juicy and moist! The salad that came with it was also good. For dessert we got the chocolate Sunday and cheesecake. Both were good, not too sweet and just the perfect ending to the night. I have also had the salmon which is good and the key lime pie. Corkage is $25 if you bring your own wine. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Rotisserie Chicken - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Made a reservation for 2 on Friday at 7:45pm. I had another place I had to get to at 9pm and came around 7 pm to do an early check in and ask if I could get seated early. The host said she will try to but not guarantee I was a bit worried but we waiting for around 15 mins the host decided to seat us which we really appreciate it since we had somewhere to go to right after! I've been here before so I know food is amazing here and the ambience is so nice and romantic ! Took here for my bf bday and he enjoyed it we ordered the prime steak with loaded baked potato and the ribs with coleslaw and Brussels sprouts. (You can switch your sides) We didn't order any appetizers because I knew servings portions are huge! Food came out not too long and everything was so delicious! The brussel sprouts really wowed me ! We also ordered the key lime pie for his bday and he love it! It wasn't too sweet it was more on the tart side so well balance since I'm not a fan of very sweet dessert. Overall we enjoyed this place and definitely will be back the service was very good and was very grateful that they accommodate us to get seated earlier. read more

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

Five Stars We had an amazing experience at Houston's in Irvine, and a big reason why was our server, Grayson. From the moment we sat down, she was so joyful, welcoming, and full of great energy. She truly made us feel comfortable and taken care of. She honestly brought my friend out of her shell and made the whole night fun and memorable. Her personality lit up our table, and she made our night. Grayson also gave us excellent food recommendations -- everything she suggested was on point and absolutely delicious. You can tell she really knows the menu and cares about the guest experience. Because of Grayson, we didn't just have dinner... we had a great time. We'll definitely be back and hope to have her again! read more

There's a reason why I prefer Houston's and Bandera, their sister restaurant, over any other restaurant in South OC. The consistency with quality in food, the service is Michelin star and I always feel welcome, even when I'm late for a reservation. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Rare steak Center-cut Filet and dungs spicy Dings Crispy Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Food is what it is, service is good, Cosmos are fire but took way too long to be seated.

I probably haven't been to Houston's in 10 years when they used to be in El Segundo. Was in Newport Beach for an event so had to come to Houston's! Their spinach & artichoke dip is still delicious! The Hawaiian ribeye was good but not as good as I remembered. Service was amazing as always. Ambiance is nice and cozy/warm. read more

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I wasn't informed about the dress code. When I arrived at the appointed time, I was turned away. It's really confusing and frustrating.

Always a good experience dining in here. They are always busy and there is a reason for that. Great food and service. My experience with Leslie has been nothing but great each time I have interacted with her. She's very accommodating and willing to help :) read more

We waited over 2.5 hours due to a check-in error, were told '15 minutes' multiple times, and the food didn't meet expectations (tough steak, underwhelming beef dip). Disappointing experience. read more

My favorite Restaurant by far, service and food are always on point...! my usual is typically two sushi rolls and the chicken sando. What I love so much about this place are the employees they just make you feel like you're somewhere special ! read more

Tried to make a reservation for 5 for a business lunch, but was told we weren't welcome; they only want parties of 2. I would never consider this place for a party of any size. How arrogant. read more

Took a break from this place for a few years but good to see that quality has not diminished! Had a reservation at 7:30 on a Saturday and parking was a breeze. Waited about 5-10 minutes to be seated but hosts offered us beverages while we waited. Ryan was our server and he was very friendly and attentive! We ordered the chips with spinach and artichoke dip which also came with a side of salsa and sour cream. Fresh chips and hot dip, can't go wrong with that! The Hawaiian rib-eye was just as delicious as I remember, with the price point at $57- totally worth! The cut was thick and it was very juicy and tender. We ordered it medium rare but it came out more on the rare side. Wish the baked potato had more butter in it but it could've been a simple ask on my end. Fries were comparable to In n Out. Overall very delicious. If I were to be super nitpicky about one detail that would elevate them to the same level as Ruth's Chris which exists in the same plaza space, I'd hope for Houston's to start paying attention to special events like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. with a sweet treat on the house. I know it's silly, but with the dining at this level of excellence, it's honestly the only touch that's missing in my eyes and what kept me from coming back consistently. read more

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December 2024 update: After like 8 or 9 years of coming to this place regularly, consistently and perhaps even a bit feverishly I can confirm still a very chill establishment. it's always a go to and old reliable when we can't decide what we're in the mood for. Easily One of the best local eateries. --Shout out to Diego for always being spot on with service and attention to detail. Top notch at what he does! read more

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We had a hard week. We live near Houston's Irvine and went there this last Friday to start our weekend. First of all, any time we've been to Houstons- never had a bad experience. You can just tell the staff take a lot of pride in their work, and you really can't go wrong ordering literally anything on the menu (though if you start with an appetizer I'd strongly recommend the seasonal artichoke, and if on a Friday, the clam chowder is out of control). Shout out to the GM Charlie- really made it a special evening for us and completely erased the difficult week we had. Appreciate you and your amazing staff. read more

Celebrated my birthday here tonight, and had a blast! The atmosphere was a dark romantic feel, but also comfortable. The food all came out cooked properly, and at the right temp. Knife and fork ribs were amazing, and the sundae finisher was just the right amount sweets to finish off the experience. Our server Jill was attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. All around great vibes, I'll be back!!! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Captain and Diet!! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Five stars for the best French-dip sandwich in town. The ambiance is cool. The crowd is cool. Service excellent. The staff is professional, friendly and well trained. Dress code not always enforced. Good manners expected. Cash not accepted. . read more

Houston's Restaurant - Mike's on the road again! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Great ribs and a beautifully designed space -- the restaurant itself really makes an impression. The experience, though, can feel a bit hit-or-miss. The atmosphere leans a little snobby at times, especially if you're not a regular, and the staff can come across as rude and rigid while enforcing some quite stodgy house rules. I stopped in for a business lunch with my boss and ran into an odd moment when they tried to take away my water bottle I carry with me everywhere and told me I would have to drink theirs. Then tried to take my water. Invasive and rude overreach. Just wish the hospitality matched the quality of the ribs. read more

I love Houston's! It's my go-to when I know I want a good, healthy meal and a comforting place to regroup. It's my work restaurant and personal place! My personal favorite is Irvine! Jill has been my server for the last 2 times I've been here and she has been great! I've been dining at Houston's for over 40 years!!! Wow! It was my date place in College in Atlanta and my family and work spot while living in California! Thank you for staying consistently great!!! I'm a loyal customer!! read more

We really enjoyed our evening at Houstons. Upscale American food with some light Asian options. The service was outstanding as the waitress was constantly checking in on our party. They served up some large portions and even came by to refresh our cocktail glasses with cold ones, which was a pleasant surprise. The sushi rolls were a great way to start off the night, garnished with fun toppings such as red caviar that tasted delightful. The French dip sandwich was my favorite as it paired well with the aju and what tasted like house made horse radish sauce. I also had the savory chicken sandwich which was lightly breaded, stacked with greens and veggies. The bread roll they used was on point. Cocktails were made well and had a nice presentation as they came out. read more

This place is amazing!!! Great food great ambiance great staff and oval great experience. I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection and also had the spicy tuna roll and the rainbow roll. Bother were amazing. Funny thing happed tho, Lindsay (one of the managers) came to our table with one of the sushi rolls telling us she was sorry for the wait we had at the door and comped the spicy tuna roll. Weird thing is, we only waited like 15-20 min from the time of our reservation. Obviously I brushing this off because 15-20 min wait from the reservation time is no big deal to me Especially on a Saturday I kinda expected to wait. Guess these rich people who come here complain about that kinda stuff and the restaurant has to give them what they want since they're "powerful" lol. Great experience!!! read more

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

Making reservations would have you think this is an upscale, carefully curated restaurant especially with the dress code mentioned, table limit enforcement and no to-go orders I've read in other reviews. We dressed up for a nice 730p date night and majority of the crowd was in jeans, tshirts and sneakers so we felt overdressed. They had party/club music playing and I also was confused by the popcorn on the wall... like they got their art work from a movie theater closing sale. Of all the food we ordered (it seemed like everything missed the mark), the only thing that was loved was the hawaiian ribeye. It also was really slow unattentive service from our server but other servers at least made sure we had water. I might consider a different hillstone restaurant and location because of how good the Ribeye was but I can't come up with a good enough reason to come back to this one. read more

It was our first time to Houston's. My wife had the Ahi Tun Tartare and I had the Rotisserie Chicken. Both were excellent as was our service. We will be back! read more

We have been coming to Houston's for over 20 years. Food and service are always excellent. Unfortunately, they separated us from our children last night as we had a party of 6. Not just separate tables, but had our daughters at a table across the restaurant from each other. Despite asking the manager- he said that it was policy. I would only recommend for parties under 6, and don't go here unless you want your family separated like ICE. read more

Review for drinks and snacks only! Always a good place to stop in for a drink or two! This restaurant in Irvine features a long bar to curl up to. If you seek a professional cocktail done right then this is the place for you! The cocktails, in particular martinis are done right! And they keep it cool for you as you sip through your cocktail: if warm they will replace your glass with a cool martini glass. You don't a warm drink! We appreciate the great service! To accompany our drinks, we ordered some light snacks. We ordered a side of fries and deviled eggs eggs. The fries are ok, McDonald style with less grease and salt . The mayo sauce with the fries make the dish. As for the devil eggs, I never understand why serve three halves. What happened to the other half. The eggs were ok: I don't like celery in my eggs. Other things to note: make sure you uphold the dress code. Dress code online: no baseball hats. The restaurant gets quite busy on weekends. If seeking a table, make reservations. The parking lot is large but shared with other restaurants so gets busy as well. There is a cover parking lot across the street if you don't mind the short walk. Due to the great drinks and service we provide the bar five stars! read more

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