If, like me, you like to experience something different every time you go out for something to eat, then this guide to the most unique themed restaurants in Houston will be right up your alley.
Whether you’re a Houston local or just visiting, what better way to do it than by enjoying some food in a memorable setting that stands out from everywhere else?
5 Most Unique Themed Restaurants in Houston, My Top Picks
Throughout this guide, I will be looking at some of the most unique, some of the most exciting, and some hilarious themed restaurants, diners, and cafes across Houston. So when you’re out on the town wondering where to get the best experience, you’ll know exactly where to go.
I will be looking at multiple different themes so that you have a good variety to choose from, and I will also be looking at what they offer in terms of cuisine, seating, live music, and anything else that makes them unique.
So without holding off any further, let’s have a look at some of the most exciting themed restaurants in Houston to create a memorable night.
1. Unicorn Magical Dessert Bar Houston
| Address | 907 Westheimer Rd Ste B, Houston, TX 77006 |
| Website | https://www.instagram.com/magicaldessertbar/ |
| Theme | Unicorn, Magic, Desserts |
| Cuisine | Desserts, shakes, cakes, ice cream |
As we all know at the minute, photogenic food is the thing that does. It is what gets customers flooding into their stores to get a snap for their insta pages and to show off to their friends where they’ve been. Well, if that’s what you’re looking for, then this is the place to be.
As the name suggests, this isn’t where you’re coming for a three-course meal, this is strictly all about the cream and sugar, and boy does it deliver.
The menu features a sugary selection of cakes, crepes, lemonade, and ice creams, which are all brightly colored, decorated, and garnished.
They have three dishes on the menu that are probably the most popular for people wanting to get a snap of their treats. The first one is the berry unicorn milkshake, which is a raspberry-flavored shake topped with whipped cream, and decorated with a candy cane and biscuit ears.
The second is their chocolate shake, gemmed with Hershey’s kisses and M&Ms, tops with a huge slab of red velvet cakes, and the third is the magnum unicorn shake, which is dipped in icing, topped with a kitten-shaped macaroon, and finished with a large slice of brightly colored rainbow cake and a uni-cone.
The diner itself is decorated in bright pink and iridescent white, with multicolored and mirrored decor. It’s brightly lit and makes you feel instantly happy when you walk in, though that could just be the smell of sugar hitting you.
This is a great place to take the little ones or head on a date with your girlfriends. But, one thing I will warn you of is that peak times, like dinner time and weekends, can get horrendously busy, so if you’re not prepared for a wait, give this one a miss and come back at a quieter time.
2. Christie’s Seafood and Steak
| Address | 6029 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057 |
| Website | www.christies-restaurant.com |
| Theme | Seafood |
| Cuisine | Fish, Shellfish, Steak |
This restaurant has been entertaining Houstoners and tourists for over one hundred years with its delicious home-cooked seafood, steak, and more.
The recipes they use here are still the same ones that they were using over a century ago when they first opened, which immediately caught my attention as I’m a sucker for tradition when it comes to food.
When they first started in 1917, an immigrant from Greece called Theodore Christie started selling fried fish sandwiches on the seafront to try and make himself some money. I presume the locals must have very well received it because today, Christie’s has expanded into a large restaurant with three dining rooms and a fantastic menu.
On the menu, you will find all kinds of traditional dishes such as oyster Thermador, oysters Rockefeller, fried crab fingers, gulf shrimp, gumbo, chowder, and the list goes on. Personally, I would recommend the blackened or stuffed shrimp, but that’s just me.
The prices are reasonable; I would say pretty much what I expected when I looked at the menu. Being seafood, it’s never going to be cheap, but for the portions you got, I was happy, you can look to spend on average, around between $16.00 and $24.00 on your main course, but there is plenty of cheaper and more expensive options, just depends what you fancy on the day.
Also Read:- 7 Best Restaurants For A Delightful Dining Experience With Family In Houston, TX
3. Aquarium Restaurant
| Address | 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website | www.aquariumrestaurants.com |
| Theme | Underwater/Aquarium |
| Cuisine | Seafood, chicken, wraps, fettuccine, burger |
As soon as I started doing my research for this guide, I got immediately excited because the Aquarium Restaurant was one of the first that sprung to mind, and before now, I had never gotten round to going. Let’s just say it lived up to all my expectations!
As soon as you enter the restaurant, you’re inside the aquarium, surrounded by a 150,000-gallon tank, teaming with over 100 species of sea life from all over the world. They have stingrays, shovel-nosed guitarfish, moray eels, giant groupers (some of which weigh up to 250 pounds), and they even have a rare napoleon wrasse from Australia.
No matter where you’re seated, you will have a fantastic view of the fish while you eat, so don’t worry about missing out on anything. They literally swim right by the tables while you’re dining. It’s fabulous!
Now for me, the restaurant setting was so entertaining that I had forgotten all about the fact that I was also there for the food, but when it came, I was pleasantly surprised that the food was also of a very good standard.
The menu is quite varied, and there seemed to be something for everyone on there. There were all kinds of seafood dishes, but then there was also pasta, burgers, platters, soups, salads, sandwiches, and tacos.
I recommend the shrimp kisses, which were on the starters menu, baby shrimp wrapped in bacon with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and roasted corn salsa. The price for these was $16.99, but it was a good-sized portion. I also went for the gator and shrimp tacos, which came with coleslaw, creole honey mustard dressing, red beans, and rice, priced at 20.99.
4. Under The Volcano
| Address | 2349 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX, 77005 |
| Website | www.underthevolcanohouston.com |
| Theme | Under the Volcano, The Day of the Dead |
| Cuisine | Mexican, Latin American, cocktails, brunch |
Under the Volcano is named after the book written by an English writer called Malcolm Lowry. It is described as one of the greatest books of the 20th century and talks about the final days of British Consul and alcoholic Geoffrey Firmin during the Day of the Dead.
Having always found the tradition of the Day of the Dead itself fascinating, this was another place I just had to visit when researching themed restaurants in Houston, and once again, my expectations were met from the minute I walked in the door.
You are immediately met with the vibe and atmosphere of the day of the dead. With the dark, heavy interior, low ceilings, and skulls and masks everywhere you look, I felt immediately immersed in the story.
They are more focused on the drinks than the food, but there is a small brunch menu that does suffice. I recommend the brunch plate if you want something substantial. Eggs, bacon, Poblano cheese grits, Brioche toast, preserves, and fresh fruit will set you up for the day.
There is plenty of choice when it comes to drinks, and they’re pretty reasonable prices, too; as I was there for a late brunch, I decided to check out the Bloody Mary, which was only $6.00. It was a good size and seasoned just how I like it, with a nice hint of tabasco.
5. Hobbit Cafe
| Address | 2243 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77098 |
| Website | www.hobbitcafehtx.com |
| Theme | The Hobbit |
| Cuisine | Vegetarian, burgers, brunch, breakfast, nachos, quesadillas |
So once again, I was jumping for joy when I realized I could talk about this place in one of my guides. Being an avid lover of the Lord of The Rings and the Hobbit stories, this is one of my favorite places to eat in Houston. Period.
When these guys first opened in 1972, they were a solely vegetarian restaurant for almost 10 years. As they’ve grown and become more popular, they have now branched out their menu to include meat dishes, as well as some seafood, but veggies don’t worry, there is still plenty of choice for you guys too.
They have a great selection for breakfast, such as smoked salmon benedict, spinach and mushroom omelet, and beef fajitas and eggs. The buffalo wrap is probably the one I would recommend if you’re visiting for the first time, but in all honesty, you have to try it all. The buffalo wrap consists of scrambled eggs, buffalo ground beef, fire-roasted peppers, pico de gallo salsa, and cheese, all wrapped in a spinach flour tortilla and served with crispy breakfast potatoes.
All the sandwiches are named after Lord of the Rings characters, which I just love to tell you the truth (it’s the nerd in me), and I think over time, I have probably tried them all, but if I had to recommend one to a newbie, I would probably say go for the Dwalin, which is a curry spiced chicken with salad, mixed grapes, almonds, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. It’s a delight to eat, super fresh, and packed with flavor.
They have a super quaint patio/decking area outside, where you can sit amongst the oak trees and pretend you’re in the chair, and they also offer a great selection of ales and wine.
They’re that popular. They are even known to have celebrity guests dine with them, such as Jack Nicholson, Depeche Mode, Woody Harrelson, and Neil Young, so if you’re lucky, you might even get to do a bit of star spotting.
Well, I think I have definitely saved the best till last, and as you can tell, this place is probably my absolute top pick if I had to narrow it down. But that’s just me.
Summary
Well, I don’t know about you, but after putting together this guide, I just want to get back out there and enjoy another themed night at a restaurant in Houston.
Whichever one you decide to choose, one thing that you are guaranteed is a fabulous night.
I hope that you’ve found this helpful guide and that I have managed to provide a bit of something to suit everyone’s tastes. If you want to find some more unique and quirky things to do around Houston, you should check out our guides on 10 Best Tattoo Shops In Houston for Every Style and 5 Best Sensational Drag Shows in Houston, TX.