HOUReview
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Houston This Is It Soul Food
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At Houston This Is It, you’ll see longtime-regulars chatting with staff who are preparing their usual order in styrofoam trays like it’s muscle memory (because it probably is). This place has been around since 1959, and it’s had an undeniable footprint in the Third Ward. When the appeal of fancy pants restaurants have worn thin, and you want something straightforward and satisfying, turn to Houston This Is It, a soul food spot that delivers comfort food in a setting that feels like home.
A meal here feels easy—the only thing difficult about eating here is narrowing down your meal to just three options. It functions a bit like an elementary school cafeteria, but instead of square-cut slices of pizza and a fruit cup, trays are loaded with stewed oxtail, glazed candied yams, and smooth, buttery mashed potatoes. A standard dinner tray here comes with one entree and three slides, and once you’ve decided on a main, it’s best to pick sides that will maximize the flavor. For fried fish or chicken, a standard macaroni and cheese-candied yam-cabbage trio will do the trick. But if you’re getting something that comes with a little sauce—like the smothered turkey wings—it’s imperative that you get some rice to ensure that no sauce is left behind.
The interior is pretty modest, mostly consisting of a few tables dotted around the room, only separated by a fish tank. Along the walls are various plaques, certificates, and trophies that this place has accumulated over the years. You’ll see just about everyone, from construction workers having fried fish on their lunch break, to college students making the most of their budget and hoveling down discounted food trays. The dining room is often pretty buzzy, but there’s still room to quietly enjoy your meal, with staff occasionally passing by your table to see if you’re enjoying the side they recommended, or offering to bring you a few extra napkins.
Whether you need a comfort meal that can help you recover from a long day at the office, or want to show your friends from out of town what it means to have soul food in H-Town, Houston This Is It Soul Food is a classic. It has kept Houstonians fed for decades, and it’s become a watering hole of the Third Ward, bringing the community to the same place, where we can always convene over stuffed styrofoam trays and cups full of sweet tea.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
photo credit: Richard Casteel
photo credit: Richard Casteel
photo credit: Richard Casteel
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Food Rundown
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Oxtails
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Mac & Cheese
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Candied Yams
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Cabbage
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Cornbread
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Lemonade
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Tea Cakes