Fusion in Houston

2241 Richmond Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-529-3100

One of two Blue Fish House locations in Houston (the other is in Sugar Land, and neither should be confused with the two, separate Blue Fish locations), this original on Richmond is one of the most casual sushi spots in town. Tucked into the charmingly run-down Portsmouth Square — home to Houston's worst parking lot — the Blue Fish House has an inviting patio that usually fills up before its dining room, which is only slightly more formal. Inventive hand rolls draw most of its clientele, who gobble up creations like the Crazy Ocean roll and the spicy Deep Fried Madness, but less expected dishes like udon and a sizzling beef-and-kimchi platter are equally good.

The Burger Guys

12225 Westheimer Rd. Memorial

281-497-4897

Burgers, Fusion, Critics' Pick

The closest you'll come to a regular burger at this Memorial-area joint is the Houston burger, made with house-pickled bread-and-butter jalapenos and locally made cheese. But it's worth the trek out Westheimer and the sometimes mind-boggling menu (a Sydney burger with beets and a fried egg, a Saigon burger with pate and daikon radish) to experience The Burger Guys' progressive and ambitious gourmet burgers. Don't forget to order a side of Belgian frites -- duck fat fries -- with your choice of house-made dipping sauces. Top it all off with a made-to-order milkshake.

Community Bar

2703 Smith Montrose

713-526-1576

Bar Food, Eclectic, Fusion, Bars and Clubs, Best Of, Menu

Community Bar's atmosphere caters toward more mature adults. Meaning that it is neat and quaint without a lot of cutesy ironic stuff on the walls. It sometimes gets forgotten in the Midtown bar mix, which is a shame. It boasts a stellar bar food menu that fuses several different types of cuisine. The bar's Tuesday steak nights are the truth, and the stuff that Wednesday lunches are made of due to the portion sizes.

2 articles

Dosi Restaurant & Soju Bar

2802 S Shepherd Dr. Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-521-3674

Fusion, Korean, Menu

Dosi is a perfect Lower Shepherd/Kirby Dr. place to hang out with groups of friends and coworkers. Using an izakaya model, Dosi’s emphasis is on sharable dishes and drinks. The smallish menu is heavy on small plates, so diners should order several. The Goat Milk Ice is a can’t miss confection. Pricing is extremely reasonable and even after ordering alcoholic beverages, the check will be smaller than you might expect. Parents take note: Kids under age seven are not allowed and Dosi recommends that kids not be brought at all after 7 p.m. Get a sitter and go have some quality time with your grownup friends.

9 articles

Edgar’s Hermano

1700 Smith Downtown/ Midtown

713-495-7854

Fusion, Tex-Mex, Southern

Pass the chilies, hold the queso at Edgar’s Hermano. The modern, turquoise-accented Edgar’s Hermano, tucked inside the Whitehall hotel, is a cute, welcoming spot to stop by for happy hour and nosh on any number of Southern Tex-Mex fusion dishes. The restaurant is split between a roomful of booths and rustic wooden tables and a long bar situated next to a row of smaller tables where sports aficionados can catch the latest game. The fare is mostly elevated beyond the typical hotel restaurant menu, though several dishes, like the salmon salad and the tres leches parfait, suffer from a lack of polish and execution. However, the fried chicken is tender and generously stuffed with creamy mac and cheese at dinnertime, and the doughy housemade tortillas — found in everything from the quesadilla appetizer to house-fried chips — are worth a second glance. Skip dessert, but be sure to try the savory fried chile relleno.

1 article

El Pacifico Sushi

5800 Bellaire Blvd. Outer Loop - SW

713-218-0700

Asian, Fusion, Japanese, Latin American, Sushi, Vietnamese, Recommended

El Pacifico is a Latin Asian fusion restaurant with a giant bar and happy hour specials. The menu is full of appetizers and large platters of fish. You can order big plates of sushi or by the piece, but the real winner is the ceviche. The Vietnamese sandwiches are tasty and cheap.

Eric's Restaurant

4800 Calhoun Rd. Third Ward

713-743-2512

Fusion, Italian, South American, Recommended

This hands-on laboratory for hotel and restaurant-management students is a casual counterpart to the upscale Barron's Restaurant. Their breakfast and lunch menus offer traditional American cuisine. The dinners are heavier, with pan-seared salmon, seared ahi-tuna,filet mignon, grilled rib eye, pasta and burgers.

Farrago

318 Gray St. Downtown/ Midtown

713-523-6404

Fusion, New American, Recommended, Menu

This trendy Midtown bar and grill has a sign that reads "World cuisine" over the entrance. But Farrago does better with the simple stuff. There's a great crunchy pizza, an excellent Caesar salad, a list of innovative and inexpensive wines and one of the best burgers in the city - everything you could ask for in a neighborhood restaurant.

2 articles

Kaneyama

9527 Westheimer Outer Loop - SW

713-784-5168

Fusion, Japanese, Sushi, Recommended, Menu

This well-frequented restaurant in a strip center on Westheimer is known for the freshness of its fish. The chefs create traditional Japanese food with contemporary flair, and the special sushi rolls are beautifully presented. The atmosphere is relaxed yet upscale, with the hostesses dressed in traditional kimonos. Private parties can be accommodated in three tatami rooms.

Kata Robata Sushi & Grill

3600 Kirby Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-526-8858

Eclectic, Fusion, Japanese, Sushi, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Executive Chef Manabu "Hori" Horiuchi has been a James Beard: Best Chef Southwest semi-finalist three times since 2012. So, it comes as no surprise that he is serving some stellar sushi and stunningly inventive dishes here in Upper Kirby (not to mention what is easily considered one of the best omakase, or chef’s tastings, in the city). Granted, the fabulous stuff doesn't come cheap. But if you're on a budget, go to Kata Robata during happy hour when you can eat inexpensive grilled dishes off the robata and drink cheap domestic and Japanese beers.

130 articles

Kiran’s

2925 Richmond Greenway Plaza

713-960-8472

Indian, Fusion, Best Of, Slideshow

Forget the steakhouses and take your celebration dinner to the new incarnation of Kiran’s on Richmond, where the large space features a handsome dining room and a sleek front bar and lounge area. The extensive dinner menu featuring classic Indian curries, biryani, naan and more isn’t the only draw — come for afternoon tea, lunch or a cocktail and light bites at the bar. The modern Indian menu allows diners to choose from either classic Indian dishes or typically American dishes with a fusion twist, like foie gras with fig chutney or rack of lamb with Indian-spiced potatoes, all executed with exemplary technique. Don’t miss the inventive stuffed naan, which comes in more than ten varieties.

3 articles

Ibiza

2450 Louisiana Montrose

713-524-0004

Eclectic, Fusion, New American, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Ibiza offers a package deal of great value: an adventurous list of wines at prices close to retail, combined with imaginative dishes from one of the city's most daring chefs. Ibiza does do well with its red meat dishes, and the restaurant boasts a long list of boutique red wines, but don't ignore the excellent fish dishes.

7 articles

Lucio's BYOB

905 Taft River Oaks

713-523-9958

American, European, Fusion, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Bring your best bottle of wine to Lucio's BYOB, between Montrose and Midtown, as their corkage fee is only $5. The food and service are exceptional and the patio is high-end, making this the perfect place to uncork that long-cellared treat with friends. Start your meal with the elegant and inspired appetizers, including seared tuna sashimi and a gorgeous heirloom tomato salad. For dinner, try chef Brett Maesch's simple roasted chicken or a whole fish fileted for you tableside.

1 article

Peli Peli

110 Vintage Park Blvd. Jersey Village

281-257-9500

American, European, Fusion, Best Of, Menu, Readers' Choice

Peli Peli offers upscale South American cuisine is a romantic atmosphere. The striking interior of this Vintage Park restaurant features high ceilings and unique centerpiece called the "acacia tree," a "trunk" in the center of the dining room that curves up to the top of the room and features panels that change colors. The wine list features several South African vintages, and items like flame-roasted chicken and unusual steaks (two filets served over deep-fried buns?) will set you back a bit, though they won't break the bank.

9 articles

Rosinka Wine & Tea House

2509 Rice Blvd. Kirby-West U

832-509-9464

Cafe, Coffeehouse, Colombian, French, Fusion, Italian, Pastries, Russian, Tea, Wine Bar, Bars and Clubs, Coffee Shops

Located in Rice Village, Rosinka offers wines mostly from France and Italy, but a few from the Americas, made by small producers; these are not the kinds of wines you will find in big grocery-store chains or liquor stores. It also sells high-quality teas from China with no blends or added flavors, as well as French Cafe, Jamaican-style and organic Colombian coffee. There is food as well, which Rosinka describes as a Russian, French and Italian fusion; meat and chicken pies are among the favorites. Sweets sold here include lemon cream cheesecake and apple turnovers; join the wine and tea club to receive retail discounts and attend member-exclusive events like wine tastings.

2 articles

Shade

250 W. 19th St. Heights

713-863-7500

American, Asian, Fusion, New American, Critics' Pick, Menu

Claire Smith's flagship Heights restaurant keeps it light and casual. Its occasional Asian-inflected dishes don't skimp on flavor, though, like the sautéed red snapper with Napa slaw and a red curry-coconut broth. Thanks to a remodel and new executive chef, Kenten Marin, Shade is breathing new life into the Heights. Hit the bar for excellent weekday happy hours, with classic cocktails served alongside favorites like fried pickled veggies and curry lime chicken wings.

10 articles

Todai Japanese Restaurant

7620 Katy Outer Loop - NW

713-682-0009

Asian, Buffet, Fusion, Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, Recommended, Menu

There are 40 kinds of sushi on display at Todai, the all-you-can-eat Japanese seafood buffet restaurant in the teen-friendly Marq*E Entertainment Center. Of course, sushi that has been sitting out on a buffet line isn't as fresh and shiny as the kind you get at a good sushi bar, but some of it is pretty good. And when they have lobster and king crab legs on the buffet line, it's an incredible bargain.

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Fusion in Houston