The days are getting shorter, and the nights are becoming colder. It’s time to put on a sweater and snuggle into a calming bowl of your preferred soup. There’s a soup for every appetite in Houston, whether it’s a nourishing bowl of matzo balls in chicken broth or a sumptuous red lentil soup. So, there’s nothing like a warm cup of soup to soothe your bones and spirit.
Take advantage of the unusually cold days in H-Town by getting a bowl of French onion soup, peanut butter soup, or smoked duck gumbo from one of these 10 Houston eateries.
Most Popular Soups in Houston
Soups are usually served warm or hot, and they are prepared by blending meat or vegetable components with stock, milk, or water. Here are some of Houston’s most popular soups.
Red Lentil Soup
Unless you prepare it in butter, the red lentil soup dish is inherently vegan. Because the lentils provide smoothness in the soup, no extra milk, cheese, or cream is required. With lentils and veggies, it’s a balanced meal that’s low in carbohydrates but rich in protein and minerals.
Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls
Chicken soup is prepared from chicken that has been cooked in water with a variety of additional ingredients. Matzah balls, also known as matzo balls, are Ashkenazi Jewish soup dumplings prepared with matzah flour, beaten eggs, water, and fat (oil, margarine, or chicken fat).
Sopa de Fideo
Sopa de Fideo, also known as sopita de fideo, is a noodle soup made with stock. Fideo is a noodle, and in the plural, fideos, it refers to vermicelli. The thin noodles used in the soup are usually broken or sliced and then browned separately before being simmered with the rest of the soup components.
Peanut Butter Soup
Peanut butter soup is a delicacy made from groundnuts that have been crushed into a paste, also known as groundnut paste. Fufu, banku, kenkey, and other foods are served with groundnut soup.
Smoked Duck Gumbo
Duck and sausage, as well as other vegetables and spices, are used to make smoked duck gumbo. It’s simmered until the sausage is fully cooked and the gumbo has thickened, then served with scallions.
Best Places To Get Soups in Houston
1. Kata Robata: Nagasaki Chanpon Ramen
Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi’s approach to both traditional and contemporary Japanese cuisine incorporates some of Houston’s freshest, highest-quality seafood, brought in multiple times a week from Japan. The hot foods complement the sushi and sashimi, particularly the excellent grilled meats prepared on the restaurant’s famous robata. The Nagasaki Chanpon Ramen at Kata Robata is cooked with clam, shrimp, cabbage, pork, onion, and ginger, and is always enjoyable. Make sure to try it when you’re here.
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Mon -Fri: 11:30 am – 3 pm, Sat: 12-3pm | Dinner: Mon – Thurs: 5 – 10:30 pm, Fri – Sat: 5 pm – 11 pm | All Day Dining: Sun: 12 – 10:30 pm | Curbside: 12 pm – 3 pm, 4 pm – 9: 30 pm daily
Location: 3600 Kirby Dr suite h, Houston, TX 77098, United States
2. Istanbul Grill & Deli: Red Lentil Soup
Istanbul Grill & Deli is just one of those hidden gems that distinguish Houston as a truly global city where you may go to other cultures without leaving your house. In the rice village, there’s a tiny bit of Turkey. Allow the flavor of the red lentil soup, from Istanbul Grill, a longstanding Rice Village favorite, to fill your sensibilities with a lemony taste. Your tastebuds will be delighted.
Timings: Tues – Thurs: 11 am – 10 pm | Fri – Sat: 11 am – 10:30 pm | Sun: 11 am – 10 pm | Closed on Monday
Where: 5613 Morningside Dr, Houston, TX 77005, United States
3. Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen: Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls
Kenny and Ziggy’s make it their mission to provide the greatest Geshmak experience to their clients by blending classic New York deli food with trendy cuisine. Let Houston’s leading New York-inspired deli take care of you if all you want is a comfy and piping-hot bowl of matzo ball soup. K&Z begins with a savory chicken broth, then adds celery and carrots, thin noodles, and shredded chicken. The next approach is to create big, fluffy matzo balls. It has the most exquisite taste one would ever encounter.
Open From: 8 am – 9 pm
Located At: 2327 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056, United States
4. Rainbow Lodge: Smoked Duck Gumbo
In the center of Houston, on the banks of White Oak Bayou, a log cabin serves wild game and seafood. The presentation of their cuisine includes a lot of seafood and steaks. During the winter months, a good gumbo is essential, and Rainbow Lodge has you set with their smoked duck gumbo.
Timings: Tues – Fri: 11 am – 10 pm | Sat: 5 pm – 10 pm | Sun: 10:30 am – 9 pm | Closed on Monday
Where: 2011 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77008, United States
5. Niko Niko’s: Avgolemono
There are so many delicious items on the menu, and the dessert selections are incredible. If you’re accustomed to Greek food, you’re aware that the quantities are usually generous, and you often take leftovers home, making the following day even better. Niko Niko’s serves avgolemono soup without the egg, in a thin yet flavorful broth with minced chicken breast, rice, carrots, and celery.
Hours of Operation: 10 am – 9 pm
Location: 3 locations across Houston in Market Square, Montrose, and Memorial/ Spring Branch
6. B.B. Lemon: French Onion Soup
B.B. Lemon is an upgraded eatery and bar that serves simple, traditional meals and beverages. B.B. Lemon offers Houstonians a quiet, neighborhood venue with the most exquisite cuisine. The combination of beef stock, butter, red cooking wine, and chopped yellow onions in French onion soup is absolute perfection, particularly when served in a piping-hot crock like at B.B. Lemon, a New York-style cafe.
Open From: Sun – Thurs: 11 am – 9 pm | Fri – Sat : 11 am – 10 pm
Located At: 1809 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007, United States
7. Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen: Sopa de Fideo
Sylvia Casares is known for her flavorful cuisine, which includes 19 different enchiladas as well as delectable Mexican desserts. When you visit one of her two restaurants or use her catering service, you will be able to taste the love and attention she has poured into her dishes. Sopa de Fideo is a vermicelli-based chicken noodle soup from South Texas that is served here. It tastes so delicious, as though you’ve never had anything like it before.
Timings: Mon – Wed: 11 am – 9:30 pm | Thurs – Fri: 11 am – 10:30 pm | Sat: 10:30 am – 10:30 pm | Sun: 10 am – 9:30 pm
Where: 2 locations in Houston i.e. Eldridge and Woodway
8. Afrikiko: Peanut Butter Soup
Discover the many flavors of African food, ranging from spicy and delectable to mind-blowing. At Afrikiko, you’ll find everything you need. Groundnut soup often termed peanut butter soup, has its roots in West Africa and is a hallmark of Ghanaian cuisine. Peanut butter, sliced bell peppers, diced onions, minced garlic, tomato sauce, and pepper are used in Afrikiko’s rendition, which has been serving Ghanaian specialties for more than 15 years.
Hours of Operation: Tues – Sun: 12:30 pm – 10:00 pm | Closed on Monday
Location: 9625 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77036, United States
9. Backstreet Café: Tortilla Soup
The food of Backstreet Cafe is a fantastic expression of Houston’s diversity, with Southern, Cajun, Creole, Hispanic, and Asian influences, to name a few. Seasonally, the menu varies to reflect the best tastes, with a focus on local and sustainable foods. Their Tortilla Soup is packed with soft roasted tomatoes, luscious avocado slices, and chopped smoked chicken cooked with fresh chicken broth. The main attraction is a slew of fried tortilla strips that bring a lot of crunch to the dish.
Open From: Tues: 3 pm – 9 pm | Wed & Thurs: 11:30 am – 9 pm | Fri: 11:30 am – 10 pm | Sat: 10 am – 10 pm | Sun: 10 am – 3 pm | Closed on Monday
Located At: 1103 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019, United States
10. The Annie Café & Bar: Wild Mushroom Soup
In a bright, elegant ambiance, the remodeled famous restaurant offers Houstonians well-rounded, welcoming food. The sumptuous wild mushroom soup is cooked with cream, and one taste verifies that the flavor is 100% mushroom (meaty Portobello and a combination of buttons and probably nuttier species like chanterelle and shiitake). The soup is garnished with toasted brioche, huitlacoche, a Mexican delicacy, and a piece of duck prosciutto the size of a cent.
Timings: Sun – Thurs: 11 am – 9 pm | Fri – Sat: 11 am – 10 pm
Where: 1800 Post Oak Blvd Suite 6170, Houston, TX 77056, United States
So, in this chilly, freezing weather, which hot soup do you prefer? Let us know in the comments section below.
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If you happen to be traveling in other parts of Texas, check out Best Soups in Dallas, Best Soups in Austin and Best Soups in San Antonio!
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