It's that time of year again – the gyms are packed, the salad aisle is bare, and everyone is starting the new year with a healthy plan. If you're looking for the best Houston restaurants, anywhere in the city, to support your healthy eating goals, you're in luck. As someone who values both healthy eating and great taste, I've been curating this list of the best healthy restaurants in Houston, TX for a few years now and am excited to share it with you. From nutrition-focused options to plant-based dining, these top Houston restaurants offer something for everyone. Yes, this has been updated as of 10/24/24!
Now if you want the summarized version here they are, but if you want details of my experience even second recommendations, I suggest you read on after the summary.
Healthy Restaurants Houston & Recommended Plates
Vibrant - Gnocchi, chicken tacos, and roasted chicken panini
Sweetgreen - The Harvest Bowl (BYOD)
Green Fork & Straw - Asian Chicken Salad + Chicken & Turkey Sausage Gumbo.
Lua Viet Kitchen - Lua Beef Pho Soup
True Food Kitchen - Kale Aid (green juice), Ancient grains bowl, or the Korean Noodle Bowl (add shrimp).
Leven Bakery & Cafe: Carrot Shawarma Bowl (add protein); Patty Melt
Local Foods - Crunchy Chicken Salad, Vegan Power Bowl, or one of their seasonal dishes
Ruggles Black: Pistachio Snapper, Tandoori Chicken Pizza, & Paleo Almond Joy Cake for dessert
1. Vibrant
Vibrant is at the top of my list for the healthy restaurants in Houston- and for good reason! This adorable restaurant in nestled in the River Oaks area and they create delicious foods that are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, corn-free, peanut-free, & non-GMO. They are also one of the only restaurants that are completely SEED OIL FREE! I've tried pretty much everything on Vibrant's menu and I can tell you- you'll never be disappointed!
What to order at Vibrant: I recommend the gnocchi, chicken tacos, and roasted chicken panini.
2. Sweetgreen
Although Sweetgreen is a chain and I usually don't like chain restaurants, Sweetgreen has a great menu that is impressively healthy AND delicious. I love to grab one of their warm bowls (Harvest Bowl is my favorite!) when I have a busy day and don't have time to cook. What makes them most impressive is that they list all of their nutrition information online including a breakdown of every ingredients they use bringing them to this list of healthy Houston restaurants. This is very helpful for people with allergens or if you're tracking your macros. Sweetgreen is also conscious of their carbon footprint- which is an added bonus if you like companies with heart! One thing I want to mention is that many of their dressings are not seed-oil free, so I encourage you to BYOD (bring your own dressing). You can always opt for their red wine vinaigrette or just olive oil + vinegar as a dressing.
What I order at Sweetgreen: The Harvest Bowl is my go-to and I ask for olive oil + balsamic vinegar instead of their balsamic vinaigrette.
3. Green Fork & Straw
Green Fork & Straw is a great option when you need something "grab + go". It's not much of a sit-down restaurant IMO (although they do have tables/chairs). They are completely seed-oil free and gluten free. They have a larger location in Tanglewood and a smaller one in the Heights that I like to visit when I need something quick, healthy + easy. They offer family meal orders as well! Check out all of their locations here.
What to order at Green Fork & Straw: I love their Asian Chicken Salad + Chicken & Turkey Sausage Gumbo.
4. Lua Viet Kitchen
Lua Viet Kitchen has the best pho in Houston! When it comes to finding healthy restaurants in Houston to eat at, transparency is a high priority for me. I love that Lua Viet Kitchen is extremely transparent about where they source their food from. Not only does their food taste amazing, but many of their ingredients are free from GMOs, their proteins are free of antibiotics and hormones, cage-free, seafood sourced from GFSI and ABP certified fisheries, select organics, and farm-fresh produce. They've also got many plant-based options if meat is not your thing. Their pho is is 100% seed oil free (fried dishes are not, so proceed with caution there).
Check out their menu to see all of their delicious options and get the best healthy Vietnamese food in Houston.
What to order at Lua Viet Kitchen: Lua Beef Soup (basically beef pho) and the summer spring rolls.
5. True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen is also a chain, but they're another restaurant that I frequent often due their transparency in the ingredients they use. True Foods is another one of the few restaurants that shares their entire nutritional guide online, so that you can get all of the ingredients + macronutrient information. They have plenty of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free & dairy-free options. It's a great place to entertain with friends who might not have the same nutritional limitations as you- everyone can find something they love! I have never had anything at True Food Kitchen that I didn't like. They also change their menu seasonally- which means you get delicious food that is in season- good for your body & the planet!
*Most of their dishes are seed oil free but I always recommend asking your server!
What to order at True Food Kitchen: Kale Aid (green juice), Ancient grains bowl, or the Korean Noodle Bowl (add shrimp).
6. Leven Bakery + Cafe
Leven Bakery is a dedicated gluten-free eatery in Houston, TX (West U area). They are also 100% seed oil free! I love this spot for a cozy sit-down meal. They have a ton of yummy gluten free desserts as well :) Even if you aren't gluten free, you'll love their menu. This is a great spot to take friends/family who don't eat as healthy as you do, because they have lots of comfort food/classic dishes like a burger, egg sandwich and French toast. Their bone broth is also delicious!
What to order at Leven Bakery: Carrot Shawarma Bowl (add protein); Patty Melt
7. Local Foods
Local Foods is seriously AWESOME. Not only do they have some delicious entrees on their menu, but as the name implies, they source most of their ingredients locally. I have been a long-time fan of Local Foods because they source the highest-quality, SEASONAL ingredients resulting is nutrient-dense, DELICIOUS food that I feel good about eating. Their menu offers many plant-based, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options that all taste incredible. All of their locations have slightly different menus, too- so you know it's extra fresh! My favorite location is the Rice Village location, but they are all awesome.
What to order at Local Foods: Crunchy Chicken Sandwich, Vegan Power Bowl, and of their seasonal brunch items. The Asian Chicken Salad is my other fave!!
8. Ruggles Black
Ruggles Black is the most upscale option from this list! I've had many fitness & health enthusiast friends host birthday parties and gatherings here. Their food is DELICIOUS and most of their dishes are seed oil free. They source a lot of their ingredients from local farms. They have a lot of paleo, vegan and keto options, so it's a great spot for mixed groups with different dietary preferences. They have a FULL paleo dessert menu that is to die for. You really can't go wrong with anything on their menu.
What to order at Ruggles Black: I have not had anything that I don't enjoy here. I HIGHLY recommend the Pistachio Snapper, Tandoori Chicken Pizza, & Paleo Almond Joy Cake for dessert.
If you're unable to dine out at the moment and while you take your time to try out the top 7 best healthy restaurants in HTX, be sure to check out our collection of easy and healthy lunch and dinner recipes. And if you're looking for some healthy breakfast ideas, don't miss our post on 5 easy high-protein breakfasts to kickstart your day. These dishes are perfect for anyone looking to make healthier choices and boost their energy levels.
