"The best Mexican food in Texas since Texas was in Mexico." The Original Ninfa's on Navigation has been a Houston classic for decades. Mama Ninfa Laurenzo is credited with popularizing sizzling fajitas in Texas. A great place to have some fajitas, queso, and margaritas!

El Tiempo Cantina, owned by Mama Ninfa's descendants, is also great!

One of the best Mexican restaurants by the renowned Mexican chef, Hugo Ortega. Ayleen likes the cabrito!

Another restaurant by Hugo Ortega! Xochi specializes in Oaxacan cuisine. The moles and desserts are a must-try.

Ayleen and Sergio are HUGE fans of MasterChef. Luckily, Houston is home to some restaurants of the AMAZING chef Christine Ha, winner of season 3. Blind Goat is a fusion of Vietnamese and Texan cuisine. Everything is spectacular, but the Rubbish Pie a la Mode with fish sauce is a must. Don't knock it till you try it - it's what gave Christine the win in season 3!

Delicious Indian-fusion food! Ayleen was such a regular here that at some point that she was on a first-name basis with her favorite waitress at Pondicheri! Some highlights on the menu are the coconut crab dosa, samosas, thalis, and the vindaloo ribs. Their bakery is also really good!

Coltivare is always a go-to for Ayleen and Sergio whenever they want some fresh Italian food! They have a backyard garden where they source ingredients for their menu! Ayleen and Sergio's favorites include the focaccia and burrata, chicken liver mousse, chicken wings, and the wood-grilled chicken!

Everything at Nancy's is really, really good, but we highlighted a crowd-favorite: the Nancy Cakes. Make a reservation before coming to Nancy's Hustle - it's very popular but also in a small space!

Fun Fact: Dua Lipa featured the Nancy Cakes on her Instagram story when she did a concert in Houston! They're that good.

Naturally, Ayleen absolutely loves Cajun and Tex-Cajun food. Whenever it's crawfish season, you'll catch her with gnawing on two pounds of crawfish and shrimp. Sergio's kind midwestern self, however, is not the hugest fan of boils but will happy watch Ayleen chow down. BB's is one of her favorite spots! The etouffees are also delicious.

Viet-Cajun is something really unique and special to Houston! Houston has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the US, and the fusion food that has resulted is delicious. Crawfish and Noodles has even been featured in Netflix's special "Ugly Delicious." Here, you can enjoy a seafood boil with different flavors and really yummy noodle or rice dishes!

Speaking of Vietnamese food, the Bahn Mi's are Roostar are also a must-try! They will be a tad more expensive than your usual Bahn Mi prices, however, it truly is worth it. Ayleen and Sergio's go-to order is a Chopped Ribeye with added pate, Grilled Pork with egg and avocado, and the garlic butter fries.

If you want a burger from somewhere other than Whataburger, Stuffed Belly is a great option! Sergio's favorite is the Sichuan Chicken Sandwich and Ayleen goes for the classic Belly Burger. This restaurant is also owned by Christine Ha!

Fun Fact: Ayleen named the mud pie on the menu! Get the "Bayou Mud Pie" :)

Any BBQ joint in Texas is likely to be good, but this is one of Ayleen and Sergio's favorites! For the out-of-towners, yes, you order meat by the pound at BBQ joints!

Order the Salty Cat. Seriously, try it. It's one of Ayleen's all-time favorite drinks. The food here is also delicious if you're looking for drinks and food!

This cocktail bar is the only place in Houston to have a James Beard award! It's definitely more pricey than your typical bar, but very worth it. Some of Ayleen and Sergio's favorites include the Cherry Bounce Sour, Lychee Highball and the Tepache Julep.

Another solid cocktail bar, but this time in the heart of Montrose! It gets very busy here, so this is a place more to "start the night."

Ayleen recommends walking over to Pistoleros after some drinks here for chips and queso!

Listen, sometimes you just wanna sit down at a good restaurant okay, you want there to be chips and salsa on the table. You want a fat margarita okay, and you want your friend to look you in the eye and tell you something so scandalous that your jaw is on the floor.

Doneraki is the perfect place to do just that.

For Ayleen, this is her favorite coffee shop. It has everything she wants: good coffee, delicious sweet treats, and a setting that somehow makes her get to work. This was her go-to spot to study for her USMLE exams and to complete her Master's thesis! Her favorites are the Iced Mocha and the Cowboy Cookies.

Besides cafes in Chinatown or Katy Asiatown, Mille Cafe has one of the best Vietnamese Iced Coffees!

Delicious sweets and baked goods! The Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie is known favorite.

Un Caffe is on the pricier side for coffee in Houston, but it is really good and unique. They have a really cute drink called the Iced Citrus Americano that has a cold-brew ice bear on top :)

"Coffee for Justice." All proceeds from this coffee shop go toward ending human trafficking in Houston, and another pro is that the coffee is really good!

Eleanor Tinsley Park is a section of Buffalo Bayou Park that will offer you a great view of the Houston skyline!

Located in the Houston Museum District, the MFAH hosts rotating exhibitions, educational programs, film screenings, and lectures. Make sure to walk through the outdoor Cullen Sculpture Garden if you stop by!

If it's your first time in Texas, Sergio HIGHLY recommends stopping by a Buc-ee's! It is more than just a convenience store and gas station; it is an experience. Below are 3 locations in The Greater Houston Area

Buc-ee's Katy

Address: 27700 Katy Freeway, Katy, TX 77494

Situated west of Houston along I-10.

Buc-ee's Texas City

Address: 6201 Gulf Freeway, Texas City, TX 77591

South of Houston, between Houston and Galveston, along I-45.

Buc-ee's Baytown

Address: 4080 East Freeway, Baytown, TX 77521

Located east of Houston along I-10.