John Bogna
For February, Texas Monthly released its list of the 10 best new restaurants for 2018, and, keeping in line with our latest Champ City status, Houston’s Xochi landed in the number one spot.
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Foodies, eat your heart out: our annual roundup of the ten best new restaurants in Texas has arrived. https://t.co/6RjCqBjMph
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) February 19, 2018
The article author explains, to be considered for this year’s list, it must be a restaurant’s first location, and they needed to opened between December 1, 2016, and December 1, 2017.
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Texas Monthly writer Patricia Sharpe calls Xochi “the most fascinating restaurant to open in Texas in 2017,” and it seems to offer plenty, with dishes inspired by the Mexican state of Oaxaca, including flying ants served inside mole de chicatana, and cabrito, a dish made from goat’s meat and mole.
The man behind Xochi is chef Hugo Ortega, James Beard award recipient for 2017, and he could win again with Xochi on this year’s list of nominees for best restaurant, alongside a number of other Houston establishments.
The food scene in #Houston & #Texas has never been better, stronger & more diverse. That's why this honor from @TexasMonthly means so much. Xochi named best new restaurant in Texas. Muchisimas gracias a todos! #xochihouston #hugoortega #jamesbeard #oaxacancuisine #houstonproud pic.twitter.com/E7vTMjpfdV
— Xochi Houston (@XochiHou) February 18, 2018
Hometown biases aside, Houston’s food and drink scene is strong, and the numbers prove it:
H-town brought more flavor to the Texas Monthly list than Dallas, Austin or San Antonio, with Killen’s STQ, Theadore Rex and Riel also claiming spots, only lower on the list.
Even if Ortega’s Xochi doesn’t bring him home another James Beard award, his latest creation is already a winner after Houston Chronicle restaurant critic Allison Cook named it number one in Texas.
RELATED: Xochi just got named one of the best restaurants in America
Get your reservations while you can!
Not eating meat on Fridays during #Lent? We have lots of delicious #seafood and #vegetable options for you to enjoy! #houston #xochihouston #hugoortega #jamesbeard #oaxacancuisine #houstoneats #HTX #HTXfood #downtown #avenidahouston #downtownhouston pic.twitter.com/EKKLyo7NJS
— Xochi Houston (@XochiHou) February 16, 2018
