Until very recently I could only eat okra prepared in a few ways: fried, pickled, and in gumbo. Of those, my favorites were my great grandmother's fried okra and my uncle's canned okra. I now stand corrected. I've finally found a restaurant that doesn't overcook the irascible vegetable and render them into gross and slimy messes. They were perfectly cooked...and it isn't a fluke. I had the seafood gumbo and stuffed tomatoes. Large chunks of okra. They had retained their shape and had absorbed the spicy roux or sauce they were cooked in. Amazing. I was recently asked by a non-Southern/Gulf Coast region person if Treebeard's was typical cajun/southern comfort food. My answer was something along the lines of, "Kind of. It's good, but there's better out there." That's a bit unfair; there are a few nuances that get overlooked in that simple answer. If you want the BEST "down home," high cholesterol, high salt, crab-claw-sticking-out-of-your-seafood-gumbo good, drive approximately 223 miles east on I-10 to a town called Breaux Bridge, LA. Mom and Pop stores galore, full to the brim with perfect everything Cajun and Gulf Coast Southern. If you want that idea of Gulf Coast Southern, but healthier-ish and a bit closer, head to Treebeards. Most things looked great, but some (jambalaya and red beans and rice especially) weren't cooked down enough to look and most likely taste right. They looked to be on the mild side of spicy. Health be damned, but I'd prefer Red Runner red beans and sliced extra spicy sausage over rice, to the bowls I saw here. Half a link sticking out of a bowl of beans? The desserts looked amazing. I tried Danielle's bread pudding and it was better than anything I've found in a restaurant in Houston. It was made correctly. It looked like a proper pudding, not those gross bars of bread pudding that some people swear by. Also, I was assured by the amazingly nice cashier and Morale Booster that a cookie a day will keep the monsters away. (Just wanted to pass the sage advice on.) I hate their hours, but it fits the concept. Hot tables of excellent food served up a la carte, with a changing daily menu. Also, it is completely doable for lunch as far as time goes. I easily found parking around Market Square and was in and out of the busy restaurant with a large group of talky yelpers in just over an hour. Also, remember to bring three dollars in cash for the parking meter; it's the most the blasted thing will take. I was forced to pay five dollars, without getting change. After I dropped some dimes and a penny and flipped the City of Houston off via a parking meter, a very nice gentleman handed my coins back to me. (That cacophony of voices you just heard were ten Yelpers who have watched one too many episodes of Reno:911. Ignore them; they seemed to think I was buying something from the fellow.) read more

I'm pretty sure the Last March of the Ents was fueled not only by Treebeard's rage but also by Treebeards' chicken and sausage gumbo. This life warming stew and fresh french bread has led me to proclaim Tuesday and Wednesday as gumbo days. A small for $3.75 is enough to fill up my small cauldron of a stomach. On the days in which my pit is as vast as the caverns of Moria, a large for $6.95 is worth more than all the Mithril in Middle Earth. read more

Snuck off to Treebeard's today for lunch, because of gloomy weather and rain ( do I really need an excuse?). Ordered the trio plate, which is any three sides of your choice, and duck gumbo (Monday's special) for the boifwen. The inspiration for this update is the chewy blondie bar. Holy cow! Every time I take a bite I want to do cartwheels down the hall. That is all. read more

So the week of April 19-23 is Lab Professionals Week. We convinced the party planning committee to get catering from Treebeards this year. And were we glad! Our group opted for their Cajun Clucker which included: Boneless Breast of Chicken with Fresh Basil Viniagrette, Shrimp Étouffée, White Rice, Green Garden Salad, French Bread and Butter, Buttercake and Brownie Squares for 12.50 a person. First off, the chicken was solid flavor a bit dry but the sauce it came in was money. But what made this the best lab week ever was the shrimp etouffee. I was expecting something that tasted like out of a can....NOPE it was delicious. Jumbo shrimp and full of flavor. Salad and bread were average. But we ended our meal off with the cakes. The buttercake is probably one of the best things I have ever tasted. The catering sized desserts reminded me a petit four. SOOOOO GOOODDDDDD!!!! read more

Brides-to-be: you want to know a best kept secret? Treebeards has an affordable event space on top of the restaurant with a balcony, bar, and room to accommodate 125 guests plus a dance floor! On 5/21/2011 I held my wedding reception at Treebeards and my guests gave it rave reviews! I got many compliments on the food (shrimp etoufee being a crowd favorite) and also staff--servers rotated throughout the night to refill glasses and clear plates. The ambiance was also lovely with dim lighting, white linens, and tea lights provided by Treebeards on each table. The catering manager, April allowed me to customize the space to accommodate my theme (rustic chic + vintage + bicycles) and I was allowed to tape and drape and hang tissue paper pom poms from the rafters to my heart's content. If you've looked at other wedding reception venues, you'll know that this is rare; typically these places won't let you hang anything on the walls or ceilings. Bonus points for Rene the Catering Manager's assistant who came into work on her day off so I could pick up my decorations the next day after the wedding (since my reception ended around midnight). A+++ experience. read more

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Use to know the previous owners ,asked the new owner price of food, he intentionally walked back and forth to a paper on the back wall to get the price of side orders and main bowl of gumbo four seperate times * and he sets the price. this practice is done to show you that if you have to ask the price we dont want your bussiness its also discriminatory in nature ,the final blow is when i asked how much the can cokes were and he said " a dollar and something" i was DONE and left and was laughed at as i walked out .i wont be back and recco the same for you. read more

Treebeards has some mighty DELICIOUS food!!! The shrimp etoufee is my favorite. We had an event there today in their semi-private room and the staff was AMAZING from start to finish. They were extremely accommodating when I needed an extension cord. And, since I was moderating the event and didn't eat with everyone else, they kept checking on me to make sure I ate before leaving. They even made me a to go plate. On my way out with all of my equipment, they even offered me a cart to wheel it out with. If that isn't too notch service, I don't know what is! KUDOS Treebeards! You have a fan and a customer for life. read more

Hmmmm this was different. My hubby and i were on a lunch date and decided to stop in. It was 35 minutes until closing and the place had cleared out. Only a few remained. So it was cool. It's a Cafeteria style situation and that threw me for a few minutes. But again it was cool i didn't mind at all. The guy serving in the line had a Louisiana accent for sure so i trusted his suggestions. I can definitely say this spot is more Creole than Cajun. I enjoyed everything but felt like it was missing something. My greens were extra fresh it wasn't bad just not enough seasoning. I would definitely return to get something else so I can accurately give an account. read more

It's taken me four years to finally get to Treebeards. Now that I've been there, I can say that I understand that buzz around this place. I'm sure that I came off as a tourist. I walked right up and ordered up some gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. The ladies behind counter laughed at me and proceeded to also served me up with some crawfish etoufee. The guy checking us out said that I would need a bed when I was done; but I was not to be denied. All of the dishes are freshly prepared with quality ingredients. None of them were too spicy. I really liked the jambalaya. The gumbo had seafood and was good as well. The red beans and rice were very good and filling. Get the sausage. I also picked up some buttercake. If you've never been here before, you must pick up a serving. Awesome with coffee on a cold day. The only thing I didn't care for was the butter. I am somewhat of a butter connoisseur, and this was not the best to put on my bread, So I dipped my bread into my jambalaya to soak up that goodness. I'm not from the South, but coming here makes me feel like I am exactly where I belong. read more

Treebeards - A little bit of everything. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

A downtown lunch institution rightfully famous for red beans & rice as well as other Gulf coast staples. I have been many times over the years and little has changed (a very good thing) aside from modest increases in prices. Treebeards deserves its outstanding Yelp ratings. Today I will chime in if only to buttress their fine reputation and add to my 2014 H-town reviews. Simple swift cafeteria set up. Excellent food at very reasonable prices. -Gumbo -Red Beans & Rice Both are musts if you've never been to Treebeards before. In the heart of Houston's downtown. If you live/work anywhere nearby you should definitely come by for lunch! Ein bekannter und beliebter Innenstadtbude. Red Beans & Rice und Gumbo muss man probieren! Sehr günstig und empfehlenswert! read more

I love Treebeards, it is SO good! Today I ordered catering and everything went perfectly, food was great, delivery was on time, and April was very helpful. It is some delicious food for a business lunch or whatever. Thanks Treebeards! read more

I work just down the street, so a couple of times a month I drop in for lunch. Everything I've tasted is pretty good. It's a lot of down south good country cooking. The portions are really large. You can actually ask for a half portion and it's still plenty of food. The chicken fried chicken w/ gravy is good, as is the baked catfish. If you don't want one of their warm sides, you can get a side salad instead. My favorite thing they offer is their fried green tomatoes, omg, so yummy. And the buttercake is divine. They serve you cafeteria style, in a line that can get pretty long on my lunch break, but they are very quick to serve. The tall black male with long dreads at checkout is always friendly and goes out of his way to make people smile. Once he even crashed a halloween picture we took of our group in costumes. It's always busy, but you can still find a table. There are a few tables outdoors, but we usually sit inside and the doors are open to see outside. The free french bread and butter is a nice addition. Eat it in or to go, you'll enjoy it either way. Update: I tried the grilled chicken and I really enjoyed it. I updated my review to 5 stars because this place has grown on me so much. I go at least once a week. read more

This was my first visit to Treebeards. The food was delicious and you could feel the Southern Hospitality. It is a good choice for reasonably priced entrees and I will definitely return. read more

Treebeards - Seafood Gumbo My daughter really enjoyed the flavor. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My publicist was in town with his friend staying around the corner at Le Meridien. I figured we try this place given the 4 star rating and location. Had the establishment not been physically inside of a church cafeteria I would have asked for my $86.00 back for the three of us. We may have well gone to Luby's to eat bland food. Catfish filets were large but no flavor. Shrimp ettoufee was more vegetables a very few small undeveined shrimp where you can taste the grit in the shrimp. Gumbo taste like can chicken and sausage gumbo. No true cajun flavor at all. Sweet tea wasn't sweet. Two slices of cake was $12...that was the only thing worth eating as we ended up leaving the majority of the food there. If you're from Louisiana or been to a true southern creole restaurant I'm warning you not to waste your time. Atmosphere reminds me of going to the cafeteria at the hospital where all the staff sits on plastic chairs and eats with dollar store silverware. Totally disappointing for downtown... read more

Easy in and out spot for lunch with a great selection. I had the chicken and sausage gumbo but ate it too fast to snap a pic. I lunched on the patio with a view of market square park. The greens are awesome and so is the in house got sauce. I picked up a big cookie for later. All their desserts are yum. I've ordered the pan of bread pudding at Christmas for a family gathering. Stop by if u get a chance. read more

Treebeards - Mustard greens and a BIG cookie - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

The prices on their website do not match what is charged in the restaurant. Ordered a Lg. Jambalaya and a side green gardern salad. The web site has them listed as $6.95 and $2.50 respectively. However, upon check out the priced charged is $10.00 and $4.00 respectively. Nearly a $5.00 difference. I spoke to the cashier and he said they would update their website. What a disappointement. read more

This is a great venue for a wedding reception and the food is awesome. We had our wedding there on 11/5/16 and it was spectacular. April was wonderful, the whole staff was awesome! The price was amazing and I highly suggest this venue for your wedding reception. It will give you great memories and you will have a wonderful night read more

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I've been going to Treebeards over 30 years and the food and service has always been great. I called to get curbside pick up from the 1117 Texas St. location known as the cloister location and even though they advertise it they said 'they would not do it because they were too busy.' So they do curbside delivery when they feel like it. I called the order in at the 1100 Louisiana location and they were happy to comply. I will never use 1117 St. location again. read more

This place is right on point best place for a business lunch downtown...Also, the best cajun creole food in Houston...Great concept to use the parish hall of a cathedral to provide a very open cafeteria style lunch...I have a good friend that we meet up for lunch a couple times a month and this is our go to spot...The prices are bad and the service and flavors are all on point...During peak lunch hour the line can be very long, but it moves fast and you will be in and out in no time...Best fired Catfish in Houston....Check it out...You will not be disappointed read more

Treebeards - That's what I'm talking about - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

Am I a bad person for not being all that jazzed? Sorry, but I wasn't. I had reason to be downtown during the week and decided to see what the buzz was about. What is nice about it, especially for the business folks, is that it is set up Luby's style, so it is easy to get in, pay separately from whomever you've come in with, and sit down and eat. The set-up and decor was nice and easy enough. Good amount of seating. But the food itself just wasn't an awesome as I would hope. There wasn't nearly the selection I would have hoped for. It would seem if you come on the later side of the lunch hour, you miss out. I didn't see several of the food items mentioned in other reviews and the gentleman mentioned they had squash casserole but were out (cue me hitting my knees yelling "nooooooo!") I doubt I'll try again, I just wasn't impressed enough and there are tons of places around. My mates liked the chicken fried chicken and gravy, but I have no shortage of places to get that either. I'd leave this review saying it wasn't for me, but it's got the reputation it does for a reason - so make sure to go out and decide for yourself. read more

I love Cajun food. I love cafeteria type places. I've been wanting to come here for a long while. Little did I realize that I would be afforded the opportunity not once, but three times, to eat here in one week (courtesy of jury duty). First visit, I had chicken and sausage gumbo, a hunk of jalapeno cornbread and roasted brussel sprouts. The winner of the meal? The brussel sprouts. I loved the crispy little leaves...so delicious. The cornbread was dry and a bit too hard. The gumbo was really subpar. It had an overwhelming "bell pepper" taste. Bell peppers are good in gumbo, but not when they're taking over the whole dish. The roux was a little too thick for my liking, too, verging on more of a bisque than a true Cajun style gumbo. Second visit, had the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a buttercake "bar." The chicken fried chicken, potatoes and creamy gravy were all tasty. Probably my favorite meal of the three. And very recommended. The buttercake though, was disappointing. After a while, it becomes too sugary to finish. The taste was good, but I think it's just a bit much. That is, unless you enjoy eating sugar and butter... Third visit, I had red beans and rice, mustard greens and squash casserole. Mustard greens were okay, nothing to get excited about. The squash casserole was unique in that it used zucchini (I think) and not just yellow squash. It tasted okay too, but got a bit soggy. I'm a texture person, and even if something tastes all right, soggy texture can put me off. The red beans and rice were okay as well. Kinda bland (which, I'm told, is the NOLA way of making them). The strange thing was that they will add cheddar cheese to them. Cheese is awesome, but with red beans and rice? Yuck! The yellow cake with chocolate icing made up for any misses though. The icing was perfectly thick and fudgy. If I go back again, I'll likely get the chicken fried chicken or try the seafood or duck gumbo. (The seafood gumbo had a dark, thin roux that looked much more flavorful.) Overall, I think Treebeards is a good option if you're in the downtown area, but if you don't normally get to come out this way, you're not missing much. read more

I really wanted to like treebeards but it just didn't do it for me. I was in downtown at lunch time which is rare. I was craving the chicken and sides that I would always get from zydeco but they were about to close so my uncle suggested treebeards. I got dark chicken red beans and a side a fruit. The chicken was just really salty with not much flavor at all. Red beans and rice were just as salty and lacking flavor! The fruit cup was really good. I would try them again if zydeco was closed but if you want really good Cajun food go to zydeco. So much better in my opinion. read more

Treebeards - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

II haven't been here since I retired. It was well worth the drive. Everything tastes the same & hasn't changed, Great food wonderful taste! . read more

As Newman once said, "Jambalayyaa!" Food: 5/5. I can't stress enough how great the entree's are here (make sure to check the schedule because certain items change each day): meatloaf, chicken fried chicken, chicken and sausage gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice w/ the sausage link..or two..depends on how hungry you are. Then the sides..enough to make your head basically combust. I love the mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, jalapeno cornbread, corn pudding, veggies, etc. All of the food I've mentioned is cooked fresh in house and has so much excellent flavor. The Jambalaya comes packed with cheese and chives to make it truly a hearty meal. The creamy gravy on the chicken fried chicken is mmm mmm mmm good. If you're picky, just double check the menu online before you head there. Otherwise, enjoy! Ambiance: 5/5. Very cool scene/theme at Market Square that fits the name. Casual dining, and laid back Service: 5/5. All are very nice and helpful, owners are working with the rest of the crew to make sure the goodies get delivered. Has that homey feel you want with good comfort food. read more

Treebeards - Sausage and Chicken Gumbo + Red Beans & Rice w/ sausage link - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

Treebeards is a must stop when downtown. Unlimited French bread, great red beans and rice, great etouffee for catfish....just excellent!

Classic case devilish cajun creole concoction. ! This food was sick. I hoarded it in huge globs to smear my face with from a company ordered function. O_O . No shame No scruples :D I KNOW a couple of us did. Shameless lot we are. Someone piled it on a plate and heard my footsteps while stuffing their face and ran to the bathroom. THAT good I guess. I even ate the pork in the beans. prok does bad things to me. I had to stop. Had soo much of this I refused to touch any other food ordered on the next round. Flat out snubbery. the inner piggy had gorged to death. someday not so soon in the horizon i shall seek and find them for a lunch perusal. I hear shimmery things of a certain chicFriedchicken meal :D read more

Treebeards - simply sinnery...etoufee rice beans - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

This restaurant is like home cooking. I love their red beans and rice and the cornbread is very good. Their fruit is very fresh. Ordering out or eat in is fast They are always very friendly read more

Cafeteria style dining, meaning you grab a tray and go through the line to get what you want. They offer a variety of lunch options w/ desert, and they food is a bit pricey,but that's expected bc it's Downtown. I went w/ the chicken fried chicken and it was the blandest dish I've ever eaten. If it weren't for the hot sauce and salt packets I wouldn't have been able to stomach it, and even still I only ate half. If you prefer food that has minimal seasoning you'll love it, but for those who prefer their food to be well seasoned (Louisiana raised) this is not the place for you. read more

This spot is wonder, staff is genuine, food is ok 7/10 great price for what you get! More than anything I love their delicious desserts!!

I was working right outside of Treebeards so i decided to see what they had. Most everything on the menu was comfort food. Once again I had no one with me but everyone looked like they were enjoying their lunch. I had a beautiful salad which I recommend. Also a great assortment of deserts from pie to cake to pudding. This place reminds me of the wyatts cafeteria that closed down in the 90s. The only drawback was they are located in a church and there's a huge portrait of a clergyman staring at you, kind of like making sure you finish everything on your plate. read more

Treebeards - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

A legend. When I lived in Houston before this was a top place. It still is! I was so excited to go here I could barely decide what to have. I decided to go with my past classic favorite: Chicken Fried Chicken with sides of mashed potatoes and red beans & rice. Of course, the basket of bread and butter is necessary. The iced tea with crushed ice only makes it better. I would be here every week but I don't work close so they aren't open when I can visit. However, I can't deduct any stars for that. read more

Treebeards - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is a great place to come and get some comfort food with coworkers or friends. Whenever our director comes out we always seem to come here. They have a lot of seating (upstairs and balcony too) and a buffet style ordering area which is nice so you can see and choose what you want. I ordered the fish and it was delicious. They have good daily specials and service is friendly. read more

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Always friendly fast service. They hire great folks, please keep Them. Creature of habit- fried chicken and the pear walnut salad are my favorites oh and butter cake. read more

I loved getting lunch takeouts from here as the office is only a block away, and service is super quick. Shrimp etoufee is what I always order, and the large size plate is spotless clean when I'm through. :b Need to check out their new location at Memorial... read more

This place is by far my favorite restaurant in Houston. The only problem with it is....IT'S CLOSED ALL THE TIME!!! I usually get the Rookie. Two main soup things served over a bowl of rice. I usually get Shrimp Étouffée and Seafood Gumbo. Please for the love of god open this place in the evenings and w....There's even a Facebook group demanding that they open at more reasonable times. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=631614803621687 read more

Treebeards - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Houston, Texas

Wow! I was amazed that they only have 14 Reviews. They are indeed a downtown Houston Gem. I love coming here whenever I can which is not often since I don't work downtown anymore. They are only open til 2 pm and despite being in a church food hall there are mostly nearby workers in work attire and Jurors from the nearby court attending. They bus Jurors in all the time for lunch but don't be discouraged about waiting. I'll bet you would wait a lot longer on a Waiter at lunchtime downtown eatery anytime else. Don't let the line dissuade you. The line moves fast. It is cafeteria style which lends to faster feeding. Sometimes you may have to share seating as you can see from the pics. No Prob. Attire is semi casual. There are no Hoochi Momas here. Parking is mostly metered all around the church. Again, don't let the church restaurant dissuade you from going there. Restrooms are very clean and service is expeditious. If you know me, I tend to give an extra star depending on not just food quality but the type of food available "for that area." read more

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Fantastic place to host events. April Williams took such great care of us and was a tremendous asset in planning our company Christmas party. We will be sure to use this venue again! read more

I have been a dedicated customer of the best Cajun food ever for 35 years at Treebeards. Sadly Treebeards delivery was slop that had to thrown out today upon delivery. No rice with Shrimp. No cheese or onions with red beans and rice. If there was rice with beans it could not be located. No hot sauce. New inadequate and cheapened menu Please find out if delivery service or new incompetent employees. If you don't destroy your own reputation I will give you another chance but not delivery. read more

I went in September when I was in town due to my Dad's funeral and got stuck after Hurricane Harvey. Downtown Houston was pretty much closed as all the buildings were flooded and being cleaned and repaired. This place is usually packed so it was nice to see it almost empty for once and have it to ourselves. It felt like a casual lunch in New Orleans. The red beans and rice is a craving that haunts me when I live 1,600 miles away. I wish they had locations all over town rather than just downtown but I'll take what I can get. Perhaps I could open one in Vegas. It would make a killing. I got a large red beans and rice with grated cheddar cheese and a sausage link on top and one to go for the kids. It was excellent as always. For this meal alone I'm tempted to move back to Houston and endure hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods and mosquitoes. read more

That chocolate cake...no lie DA BOMB! I mean Edie the sales manager said it was really good, "homemade", she said and I just looked at her like and she was so sure I'd be convinced she gave me a slice that didn't cut well for free...seriously, it was so good. Very moist and chocolates, so so good, no lie! read more