Houston Dining on the Cheap - A Guide to the Best Inexpensive Restaurants in Houston - First Edition

Houston is a big messy city that is dazzling in its culinary and dining options. What I like about this book is that the author keeps his eye on his niche -- cheap eats and only cheap eats. What that means is hundreds of fabulous ethnic restaurants, mom-and-pop diners and the quirkiest dives. If you ever wondered what that interesting little hole-in-the-wall is like, this book will tell you. It's very useful, very detailed.

I lived in Houston for many years, and I am impressed by how well this author knows the Houston restaurant scene. He truly did not leave out any of the tasty cheap restaurants in the city. He even mentions some of the really good but more expensive ones in a special section and guides readers to hard-to-find cuisines like Guatemalan. This is a fantastic book for both locals and visitors.

This book is exactly what it claims to be. Well written, and thorough. Mike seems to know of every cheap eatery in the city, and gives a comprehensive review of each. A salivating read!

Who knew that the Chinese food restaurant around the corner (which we had never bothered to try!) was a hidden gem? Mike Riccetti did! Besides some of the Houston standards, there are many pleasant surprise choices in this book. Reviews are accurate representations and include info on atmosphere, drinks, and "what to order." Riccetti advises on places with breakfast specials and lunch bargains as well. Some of Houston's best restaurants offer good deals at lunch - he'll tell you which ones. Restaurants reviewed heavily favor Vietnemese, Mexican, etc, but will give you the courage to try some of those strip-mall joints you've wondered about (you'll be pleased!). Most restaurants are inside the Beltway/near the Loop but there are a few on the outskirts as well. Indexed by cuisine type, meal, location, etc. Very easy to find what you want. Call ahead, however - some of the information is already outdated due to the rapidly changing nature of the restaurant industry.

We keep this book in our car. It is organized by area of town, and neighborhoods so suggestions on where to eat are easy to find. We have tried several places already and were well-pleased with the food, decor, etc., which match the book's description. Houston is a wealth of culturally diverse restaurants and many of them are listed in this book. Don't be fooled by the word "cheap" as the food is really good! And this book will be a great add to the phone book you also keep in your car!!