Cleburne Cafeteria is hands down one of the BEST restaurants in Houston. If you live in Houston or…read moreare just visiting, you absolutely need to eat here at least once. This is true, old-school Houston comfort food done right, and it never disappoints. The blacken chicken and grilled chicken are incredible--perfectly seasoned, juicy, and some of the best chicken you'll find anywhere. The chicken fried steak is phenomenal and exactly what a great Texas chicken fried steak should be. And the sides are just as good. Their macaroni and cheese is unbelievable--rich, creamy, cheesy, and the kind of mac and cheese you keep thinking about after you leave. And DO NOT leave without getting a blueberry muffin. They are absolutely amazing. Honestly, you could come here just for the blueberry muffins and be happy. What makes Cleburne Cafeteria so special is that everything tastes like real, homemade Southern cooking. There are so many choices, the portions are generous, and you can put together a completely different meal every time you come. Houston has an incredible food scene, but Cleburne Cafeteria is one of those places that truly feels like HOUSTON. It's been a Houston institution for a reason. Whether you've lived here your whole life or you're visiting the city for the first time, put Cleburne Cafeteria on your list. Blackened chicken, grilled chicken, chicken fried steak, mac and cheese, blueberry muffins--you seriously can't go wrong. Five stars without question. One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Houston! The valet on Sundays is a great touch because the parking lot can get over full! The valet guys, especially, Brett are so amazing, hospitable, loving. They make you feel welcomed arriving and leaving.

Historically significant. Excellent food as you can see from the reviews…read more So I'll just post photos. My default ? Lemon cod, tabouli, coconut pie. The fried chicken is not good enough to recommend. As you will see, George M., the manager did respond to my comment. And I thank him for his response. (Though I was amused by how he phrased his response). Keep in mind. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Cleburne. I grew up in a Houston with Picadilly, Weldon's, Brittain's, Luby's, Wyatt's and more. Cafeterias in the 50's and 60's were an important way for families to dine out economically, and go to for the Sunday after church dinner. I visit Cleburne as often as possible, and my wife and I still reminisce about the matriarch at the register who could calculate everyone's bill in her head as they showed up to pay. Such wonderful memories. But as a person who has done fried chicken for decades, creating The Fried Chicken Blog (www.thefriedchickenblog.com) to document the fried chicken picnics in the German Czech communities of central Texas, and having fun with many different fried chicken recipes, I read his response about his chicken being one of the "best in the country," with amusement; so I will leave it up to you. Look at the photo of the dry, fried chicken on JUne 15, 2026, and then compare it to the photo I have just added for what I think fried chicken would look like at the best places (One example would be Barbecue Inn on Crosstimbers). There are some tricks to fried chicken. That is, once you decide on which traditional method you choose to go with. Example of one such: The batter of course, where you add a little moisture into the flour before the dipping and frying so that pieces of the wetted flour clump and will be picked up. Getting back to the Cleburne recipe. My guess is that this is one of the classic Southern, dredge in flour and pan fry, but not a buttermilk soak, dip, dredge, redip, dredge, fry method. This one is more akin to the classic skillet fry method and a simpler flour coating (I'm guessing). Which can be really good. But for me, I'd say, pass on the fried chicken and go for one of their other entrees.

No, you guys...no! You guys be lying to yourself if you say this food is good. Come on now child…read more I bought 3 plates (#1- meatloaf, mash potatoes, arancini #2-roast beef, mash potatoes, Mac and cheese #3- beef enchiladas, Mexican rice, and beans) and 2 pies (lemon meringue and raspberry cheesecake). Total was $51.47. All I can say is..where is the salt?! Seasonings?! Love?! I regretted going in the moment I walked in, but I ordered anyways. The meatloaf was probably the best out of the 3 plates, and even that wasn't good. The roast beef was not good. Let me tell you, you can get a cheap cut of meat and still make it taste good. But this cut was cheap and not prepared correctly. It was a sad sad lunch. I got side eyes the whole time at lunch because I chose the lunch spot. The pies were good. Out of the lemon meringue and cheesecake, I preferred the lemon meringue. I would be surprised if they made the pies in house, because if they do, great for them. They should just be a bakery. Regardless, I will never..NEVER return. I'm sorry to whoever's mamas or grandmamas in the kitchen, but they need to retire. I said what I said.

I walked in a was greeted by a friendly lady who welcomed me. This place is a cafeteria style…read morerestaurant, like Piccadilly, Wyatt's and Lubys. As I was ordering and asking questions, I found it to be a little hard . It was a language barrier. The steam table consisted of spaghetti, meatloaf, baked chicken, dressing, chicken fried chicken and steak, green beans and corn. They had deviled eggs that looked good. I like my deviled eggs sweet so I asked her were they sweet and she keep repeating no no deviled eggs So I passed on them. I also got a wheat roll which was so old and hard when I pieced off of it , it crumbled The food was actually ok but not hot at all. The meatloaf plate was$11.50 and the spaghetti was $8.50. The decor was super old and brought back memories of my family going to eat after church on Sunday in the 80s. Would i go back here again I probably would. I'd just try something different.

The food was good and just as I expected. I ordered the…read moretilapia and shrimp with Cuban rice - it was great paired with the cabbage I got from my aunt's plate. I also had the Mac n cheese and cauliflower. My aunt had the chicken fried steak and half of a chicken sirloin steak. She enjoyed all her food. The carrot cake was delicious. Two women working behind the counter on the line were so sweet and friendly. Interacting with them made my day - they were so sweet and enthusiastic. The traditional cornbread was delicious. I ate it with the Mac n cheese. I wasn't too sure about the Mac n cheese because I normally like it baked with the edges crispy, but I liked it! It's creamy.

Luby's still has that old-school cafeteria charm that's getting harder and harder to find. Walking…read morein feels familiar in the best way. Lots of good comfort food choices without being overwhelming. I got the baked chicken with green beans, carrots, and greens. My wife got the chopped beef steak with mashed potatoes and gravy plus a roll. We both did the LuAnn combo and tweaked it a little to fit what we wanted. The unsweet tea was spot-on! Everything tasted fresh, hot, and satisfying after a long day in the Medical Center area. What really stood out was the dining room staff. Friendly, attentive, smiling, and genuinely welcoming without hovering over you every five minutes. They made us feel at home, and tipping felt easy because the service was that good. The dining room was clean, peaceful, and honestly kind of relaxing compared to the hectic pace outside. The servers knew the menu well and were happy to answer questions. We always enjoy stopping here when we're in this part of Houston.

Mia's is great. But if you are more sensitive to high salt content, you may have issues. I know…read morethat I do. I have to request that they not salt the food. If the onion rings were less salty, they would be the best in Houston. Southern cooking. Comfort foods. Good recipes. Ambiance top notch. Fun place. But they kindly make a less salty batch for me when I request it. Much appreciated. Wondering how many people don't dine there because they don't know you can request less salty food?

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5, you order and pay…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 This is typical American good, however, my grandson loves this place. You order and pay and have a seat. You get a buzzer when your food is ready. However, people will come by and check on the tables. My first time here, the place was clean. I will return.

If you're craving real Southern comfort food, Mikki's is definitely worth a visit. We stopped in on…read morea busy day, and the line was almost out the door, which is always a good sign. Even with the crowd, the line kept moving, and there was no shortage of delicious-looking options on the steam table. From fried chicken and turkey wings to baked fish, spaghetti, cabbage, green beans, mac and cheese, dressing, black-eyed peas, collard greens, candied yams, mashed potatoes, and more, it was hard to decide what to order because everything looked homemade. I ordered the turkey wing with collard greens, black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes with gravy, rice, a corn muffin, and sweet potatoes. I also grabbed a Suicide Punch, which is a mix of all their Kool-Aid flavors. First, let's talk about those sweet potatoes... BABY!! They absolutely stole the show. They were piping hot, buttery, perfectly sweet, and hands down the best thing on my plate. I could've easily eaten another serving. The collard greens were seasoned beautifully with a rich, smoky flavor and plenty of pot liquor. They were tender without being mushy and tasted like they had been cooking all day. The black-eyed peas were creamy, well-seasoned, and comforting, while the mashed potatoes were smooth and paired perfectly with the savory gravy. The rice soaked up every bit of that gravy, and the corn muffin was soft with just the right touch of sweetness. The turkey wing itself was tender, juicy, and covered in flavorful gravy. My only surprise was that I was expecting just the wing portion, but instead I received the whole wing with the drum attached. It wasn't a big deal because it was still delicious--I just personally prefer getting only the wing. The Suicide Punch was another winner. If you grew up drinking Kool-Aid, you'll appreciate it. It's sweet, refreshing, and a fun mix of all the flavors. My family ordered several other dishes, so we got to try quite a variety. We had baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, and black-eyed peas, and everything was generously portioned. The baked chicken was moist and well-seasoned, and the mac and cheese had that creamy, homemade taste you hope for from a soul food restaurant. My only real complaint was that some of the food was served lukewarm instead of hot, which took away from the experience a little. Soul food just hits differently when it's fresh and piping hot. Ironically, the sweet potatoes were the one item that came out nice and hot, and they were absolutely perfect. Overall, Mikki's serves authentic soul food with generous portions and flavors that remind you of Sunday dinner at a family member's house. The food is comforting, the selection is impressive, and it's easy to see why the place stays busy. If everything had been served hot, this would've easily been a five-star experience. Pro tip: Don't leave without getting the sweet potatoes and a Suicide Punch. Trust me--you'll thank me later. sweet potatoes and a Suicide Punch free refills. Trust me--you'll thank me later.

Pretty good experience as always, but I'm taking off a star because my sweet potatoes were left out…read moreof my order. I think the employee handling the sides may have been having an off day. She seemed a little disengaged, was speaking very softly, and I believe that's where the mix up occurred. The correct sides were prepared, but they ended up on the wrong plate. I was definitely looking forward to my sweet potatoes, so it put me in a bit of a funk. Next time I'll check my order before leaving to make sure everything is there.

One of the best meals we've had in a long time! Southern hospitality at its finest. Came here on a…read morewhim while waiting for a late flight, and they treated us like family. $15 for big plate of food! I'll go out of my way to come here for a meal next time I'm in Houston.

I tryed out a new breakfast spot today! They were so…read morefriendly and the food was lightly seasoned. Here is the kicker, you will want to come back they also do lunch and dinner. I had Scrambled Eggs Veggies and Cheese and the Belgian Waffle they were preparing roles and cornbread for lunch. The place was nice and clean and the food was pleasant. I love the decor, they mom will be proud!

amazing food and service !! the staff is so kind and…read morehelpful and attentive this place rocks the setting and decor is cool check em out !!! foodies would love!! thank you

I love a good food hall, especially when you're with a group of people. Can't decide on one…read morespecific type of cuisine, split up amongst the different stalls, and bring all the random selections back to the table so everyone can try something different. Underground Hall, like its name suggests, is a subterranean food hall in downton Houston. They have a burger stall, a taco stall, a chicken stall, an Asian BBQ fusion stall, an icea cream stall, dessert stall upstairs, and a full bar. I ordered Birria Tacos, while also sampling hot chicken mac n cheese fries, and brisket eggrolls thanks to what everyone else ordered. Everything was delicious. The bar offers $1 champagne shots and has a solid happy hour outside of their already pretty good regular prices. My only negative was the bathrooms. Tons of graffiti, smell, and in general needed some serious clean up love, but it didn't ruin the overall visit. Just a heads up. If you or your group can't decide on where to go, go everywhere at the Underground Hall!

A recommendation from a friend who travel to the area last year. I was the first to arrive, and I…read moretold the hostess how many people were in our party. They were currently parking, so she just asked us to wait for them to come in. And once they did, we got seated at a nice and spacious round table. Pancake omelette?! I had a tough time deciding what I wanted to have for breakfast, but this ended up being the winner. The pancake was made in the style of an omelette, and the inside literally had all of the fixings I asked for, including the egg itself. It was filling too! Like really filling! While it was delicious overall, my only criticism is that the pancake itself was quite dry... And that might have been intentional because of it simulating an egg omelette, but my taste buds didn't love it. As I said, all of the flavors inside the pancake more than made up for it. I cannot wait to return and have something else awesome on the menu. Everyone's food looked so good.

The ambiance was lively & great for a Sunday. However, it toon FORTY FIVE minutes to receive a…read morecontinental breakfast & a chicken biscuit. Our drinks came out within 10mins of ordering them. The first waitress to help us (because our actual server hadn't greeted us in over 10mins & she saw us still waiting) did apologize for the delay in greeting us, because we received it for about 10 minutes before anyone came over. She said that the back room was pretty busy, but acknowledged it was not an excuse. The door staff was very friendly & welcoming! However I wish at some point SOMEONE would've informed us that the kitchen was behind on orders. Our service not once checked on us or updated us about our order. We had to ask the manager (or owner) twice for an update. Once the food came, we took it to go. I left my eggs, because they were cold when they arrived. As we paid, we did express our frustrations to Melina (our actual waitress. Who flat out said "well... we're busy" & shrugged. I had no words by that point. I've been Harry's a few times, since I live in the area. This one experience has ruined this gem for me. I really can't believe the complete disregard for their inability to manage a Sunday brunch rush.

One of the best meals I've had all year, hand to GOD. If this place is even remotely on your radar,…read moreget there before they shut down in mid-July. It's worth making the trip now, not later. The menu is exceptionally well-curated, hitting that sweet spot of what Houston does best. comfort, creativity, and just enough flair to keep things interesting. The space matches the vibe: modern and minimalist with a subtle Chip-and-Joanna-Gaines touch. The drink menu is just as thoughtful. Even the well spirits are solid. We kicked things off with the deviled eggs topped with maple pork belly, easily some of the creamiest I've ever had. Do not split an order. Everyone at the table should get their own. For the entrée, I went with the Sunday enchiladas made with Killen's famous brisket. Smoke, salt, pepper and exactly what you want from a dish like this. It typically comes with Mexican rice and refried beans, but the rice was running behind during my visit, so I swapped in scrambled eggs (it was brunch) no complaints. They were simple buttery, creamy and just damn delicious. peach bread pudding that was downright decadent. Easily one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. Make you wanna slap yo momma.

Delicious - this is southern cooking at its finest! Came here for lunch and left so full you almost…read morehad to roll me out the door. Their specialty here is chicken fried steak/chicken, and boy do they do it right. Delicious breading on amazingly seasoned meat that isn't pounded so flat to a pulp that it feels like leather. Staff was excellent as well. I keep trying to find excuses to go back! Parking - private lot

April 7, 2023 Closed…read morealready but not much to it. Probably more for neighborhood/locals

A smaller but festive spot filled with food and souvenir vendors! I'm glad I visited this place…read moresince the vendors currently only open on the weekends! I took a few pictures here and enjoyed my time exploring; they do have a few instagrammable spots! Do make sure to check on google if they're open! It only took me 15-20 minutes to go around the vendors and explore the area (was expecting it to be bigger) but they also have food stalls you can try if you want to spend more time here! There's also a parking lot!