I think Houston's is for sure one of my favorite restaurants of all time. They got their service down to a tee. I've never once came in and didn't get top tier service. Regardless of where I was sat. Bar top, party of 2, 4. Doesn't matter. Everyone is very kind and professional. That alone would warrant a 5 star. I haven't even mentioned the food. The food is SOO good. I typically don't eat a whole lot. But here, I always can handle an entre and app and I have to eat all of it because it's so good. I've came many times but here are some pics from my most recent visits. They have the best French dip I've ever had in my life, and trust me, I've tried many. Hawaiian ribeye is so good. And ribs fall off the bone. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Rack of Barbecue Pork Ribs Hawaiian Rib - eye Famous French Dip Au Jus Bees knees - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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The best pork chop ever! Big, juicy & flavorful. The restaurant can be long wait so I recommend you make a reservation or get in waitlist on Yelp. The last time we went was on spur of the moment and we waited over an hour on a weekday, and also had to wait over 20 min for food. We were almost late to our movie read more

I'd hesitate about coming here again on a Friday night at 5:30 because we waited for a brutal two hours! (We thought 45min). The food and atmosphere was great as Houston's always is. I had the spinach dip, artichokes, and their famous ribs. The host told me one hour when I walked in and 45 to my friend that walked in 2 minutes later. Her husband joked that it was because they didn't want her to leave... it made me feel bad. The servers def catered to my friends more than me but I don't know about my vibe by the time we sat down! They did try to compensate for the wait which was appreciated. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Waiting double time than expected!!! 1.5 hr so far! So hungry. - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

I cannot rave enough about Hillstone restaurants, but Houston's in Irvine is particularly excellent. My spouse and I live nearby & we stop in for dinner on a weekly basis. The food and the service are exceptional every single time we visit. I cannot recall a single time that we left feeling even remotely dissatisified with our experience. The staff is incredibly professional, warm, & inviting while also being experts in their craft. Their commitment to excellence is apparent and their genuine hospitality makes for an outstanding dining experience. In particular, Sophia at the bar is the star of the show. She is one of the primary reasons that consistently draws us back each week. Her warmth and hospitality are unmatched. She is remarkably attentive & professional and her cocktails are second to none. She knows our order before we even have to tell her. We place an order for a cocktail & she already has it in the works. While dining, we rarely find ourselves in need, thanks to her extraordinary service that strikes the perfect balance of attentiveness without being overbearing. As a regular martini drinker, a cold martini glass is an imperative part of the experience. Sophia elevates that experience by swapping your glass mid-drink, ensuring you have a refreshing cold glass to savor throughout. If I owned a restaurant, I would want Sophia to lead my staff. She is the epitome of exceptional service. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu at a Hillstone restaurant. Our favorites include the French Dip Sandwich, the Ribs, the Kale & Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Ding's Chicken Sandwich, the Thai Tuna roll & Nigiri plate, the Hawaiian Ribeye, the Veggie Burger, and the list goes on. The cocktails are impeccable as well. You simply won't find a better Dirty Martini than Sophia's at Houston's. The Manhattans are also best in class. We would be remiss if we did not mention the amazing atmosphere at Houston's. The music is smooth & soulful and creates an atmospheric ambiance. The sound proofing on the ceiling makes for a quiet & relaxing dining experience. Although the restaurant is always crowded, you can converse with your dinner guest(s) with basically a whisper. It is always a relaxing, quiet, & intimate dining experience. A special shoutout to Sophia, Michelle, Jodi, Dani & Aljhana at the bar, David the amazing cocktail waiter and the always friendly hostess staff. Kudos to the amazing team at Houston's in Irvine- you've made us lifelong fans!! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Dirty Martini with Goat Cheese Olives - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

We were in the mood for fish this weekend. We ordered trout and salmon with coleslaw and both were so good! We were torn what to order for dessert and chose the apple with walnut cobbler and that was a great choice. Overall experience was great! Really nice ambiance and very good server!! read more

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HOUSTON'S HATES KIDS! My husband, 16 month old and myself had a terrible experience here today on Easter Sunday of all days. After reading other reviews it seems like we aren't the only one with a small child who has had a problem. We sat down in a corner booth in the back of the restaurant pretty close to the kitchen. Other patrons were loudly talking and music was playing. We ordered waters and an appetizer. My son whined for one second and the manager came over to see if we needed anything so we ordered food. She did offer fries for our child while we waited but I don't typically let him eat fries so I declined. She went in and put in our order and my child excitedly starting babbling you know like babies do. She came over and said if we aren't able to keep him quiet I would need to go outside. I thought this was strange because we had been there all of 15 minutes and he only made noise twice. My husband and I looked at each other so confused because he eats out with us regularly and he wasn't being loud. No one was staring at us or seemed to complain. Regardless I took him outside because I didn't want to deal with the smug attitude of the manager. My husband got the appetizer and a salad we ordered. At that point he was pretty frustrated with the fact that he was sitting alone at our table while we were forced outside. A busser noticed he was upset and came over and at that time my husband told them to cancel the rest of our food and box up what we had. Even got charged for the iced tea I was only able to take a couple sips of before forced outside. I've never felt so discriminated against for having a baby. After all we all were once babies. If they have problems with children then they shouldn't seat you or let you know of their discriminatory practices before you order food. Anyways don't come here unless you sedate or muzzle your child because if they even speak they will asked to be quiet or removed. Bizarre dining concept for Southern California and for a place that isn't that fine dining...you allow people to wear tshirts...give it a break. read more

Disappointed they no longer have my all time favorite- the Thai Steak salad. They still have a version of it with either chicken or bbq pork, which was delicious, but wish they had a steak option. My bf had the French dip which was pretty good. The beef had great flavor and the bread was perfect. Our server was pretty great too! read more

Came to the restaurant on a Saturday night. The whole process of reservation was very smooth as always, and our server Adam was a true gentleman.. he was very professional, informative, and extremely friendly.. he' is a gem.... You guys are doing a great job read more

Just had a frustrating customer service experience. I called a few minutes ago and told the man that I was in the area and if there was seating and was told we could just walk in. And that we didn't need to make reservations. He made it seem like they weren't busy at all. Just for extra assurance I said my party of 3 would be in in a couple minutes. We were very hungry. We arrived and then were told there was a 30 minute wait. After explaining the situation to the hostess, she said "well yes, you can always walk in and put your name in." read more

Usually come here for family birthdays or to celebrate. The menu has changed over the years. For main entrees, they no longer have prime rib. I asked our waitress what happened to the prime rib but they removed it around 2020. You have to order the au jus sandwich to enjoy the prime rib. Bummer! They also removed the filet mignon. For the main entree, can't go wrong with ordering the Hawaiian ribeye. It's cooked perfectly, a nice pink inside if you get medium. The char is where it's at, beautifully seared with crisp charred edges. YUM. For sides, it's not on the menu but you can get the loaded baked potato. For drinks, the jackrabbit cocktail was refreshing and a tad strong for me. For appetizers, they can be a hit or miss. Tried the seasonal grilled artichokes (which come with 4 pieces), I would pass on it. The spinach artichoke dip is pretty tasty and something I recommend. For desserts, they changed their menu for that too. They have ice cream with fudge, an apple walnut crumble with ice cream, and key lime pie. They were all meh. Not like what it used to be. Overall, Houston's has a more casual and open environment. The lighting is dim, but the environment is good for couples, friends, families or happy hour after work. Location is nice as well. PROS: exceptional customer service, attentive staff and great hospitality as you're waiting for your table. They will offer you drinks (water too) as you wait. CONS: no RSVP for groups of 5+. Waited for a little over an hour. Removed the dearly beloved prime rib (bring it back!!!) change of management maybe. Classic items seem to be gone. read more

Took my mother out for dinner and I am glad i picked this restaurant. First thing i notice was the interior styling. Love it. Next thing is the service. Waiters and waitresses are so clean up and well-trained. They feel like oiled waiting machines. Lastly, the food..Yes. Cooked great, great portion. and taste. Yes 5 Stars read more

Houston's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Houston's is sooo consistently good. From the staff, to the ambience, to the food; they hit it out of the park every time. Every time my mom comes to town this is what she wants to eat. Thank you to the creators and management for executing the experience every customer should have. read more

I'm a steak eater despite being environmentally conscious & Houston's delivers great plates when. Am tired of my meatless meats at my other restaurant haunts. The shopping center has a big parking problem--very difficult to get a space. Otherwise, great stop for a wonderful meal. read more

I grew up eating at Houston's all the time in Texas. I've lived in California for six years and was visiting Irvine/Newport Beach. I was so excited to see they had a Houston's in Irvine. Because I have been working all day I didn't want to dine in, so I called them to place a take out. I was informed that they were focusing on their guests and not doing takeout. Honestly, I found this very offensive... even a person ordering takeout would be a guest, right???... I definitely won't support them in the future... YELP... you need to change things on this app because it says they offer takeout and clearly they don't. read more

Yes of course Houston's is great. They are super strict with their waitstaff. I know personally that they only pick the best and are super demanding. As such, you can expect hard working attractive wait staff who are serious about service ie no bs. Food is excellent and a bit pricey for what you get but let's be honest, the ambience is top notch; about as good as it gets. Expect a wait for a table which is no surprise. Can you design a Frank Lloyd Wright restaurant with such excellent ambience located in SoCal? Doubtful. But Houston's did. Case closed. read more

Great food, ambiance and service. Great martinis and my filet cut like butter and was cooked to perfection

Update 10 years later - still okay! Overall experience was fine. Burger - decent burger, cooked well. Nothing super special Smoked Salmon Appetizer: Loved the bread, but the salmon was WAY too salty. I know smoked salmon is supposed to have a bit of salt but this was a tad too much. The Chef sauce helped What really got to me though is that you're not allowed to take fries to go. (seriously...what?!) The waitress said that as long as she's been there, they have never allowed anyone to get fries to go because it "ruins the integrity" of the fries. I asked if we could order fries for the table, and then take the leftover home and she said no! so.... i can pay for my fries, but i can't take what I don't finish home? If i take them home, I acknowledge that they will not taste as good as when they come from the kitchen. I accept that.... let me take my damn fries home. read more

Date night place , so if we have more than 2 in our party, I usually have to call for reservations. It's close to my work, so we walk here too during lunch. We order the rib eye with fries and shrimp sushi all the time. Garlic bread was not worth the price. I've never tried anything else but the rib eye, which is by far the best I've had in OC. Think couple's place, so I wouldn't bring your crying baby here or a manager may approach you lol.. read more

Occasion: Birthday. They wished us on several occasions but didn't even give a complementary desert. Lack of courtesy! Service: Service was good. Sometimes someone different than our assigned waiter came which was confusing. Appetizer: Cheese toast was a rip off. $8 for two small pieces of garlic bread essentially. Food: Salmon was mediocre. Some of it was undercooked. The broccoli that came with it was alright. Not worth $35. Desert: $14 for a small cake and ice cream that didn't taste good. Better off going to baskin Robbin's or Hagen dasz. Overall: I don't recommend this place for any occasion. They don't even give you a desert for birthday celebrations and the food is not that good, and the price is ridiculous. Go elsewhere! read more

Houston's is so consistent! Seems hard to come by lately. Drinks, food and service all top tier. Definitely my top 5 regular spots in town. I have not ever left disappointed. Must try. read more

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restaurant has an amazing solid menu that I always eat the french dip sandwich, the hawaii ribeye, and everything including sushi is good here . service amazing and ambiance is private and cozy read more

Terrible. Just terrible. It's contradictory that the staff holds themselves to the highest customer service standards but I find them incredibly rude and condescending. I received a text stating that the dress code is enforced and to adhere to these ridiculous standards only to arrive to a room full of people wearing what they suggested not to wear. I find it insulting. Previous visits they would ensure that all dirty dishes and menus were cleared and twice I asked for them to take away dirty plates and they completely walked past me. Host at the reception stand ignored me, Did not let me know how long I had to wait. Did not direct me anywhere. Who do they think they are? Great food, terrible dining experience. Cringeworthy. Never returning, overpriced and the rudest wait staff. read more

Server was attentive but not so attentive I couldn't enjoy the meal and company. Spinach artichoke was delicious but the grilled artichoke was AMAZING. The prime rib sandwich also amazing. The bread was fluffy, meat was nice and pink, and the au jus was flavorful. Also had the hot fudge sundae and the apple cobbler. Both very good but was too stuffed from appetizer and meal to finish it all. Which makes me sad. read more

No take out is wack !! This Restaurant used to do take out orders and now doesn't which is pretty lame. Why can't they do a take out order? For real tho read more

Amazing friendly staff and the best ribeye steak! Almost impossible to find a steak house that will serve steak before 430pm in OC. Seasoning absolutely delicious. Glad I Made a reservation at around noon on a Thursday. The restaurant was hopping! read more

Was not disappointed in the food, service and overall dining experience. I highly recommend

Once again great food and service! Our server Angel was awesome! She was so kind and also funny. She recommended the Thai tuna roll and was that a WOW! It's now a must have. I've always just thought Houston's was known for having great steaks. Boy was I wrong, they have great steaks, ribs, sushi...pretty much anything on their menu. The kitchen knows how to cook up some pretty amazing dishes and service is always top notch! I love that when the hostess seats you, they always ask for your drink order right away. read more

We have dined at this location for 20 years and always loved the food and atmosphere. I was so looking forward to the Hawaiian Rib Eye and a ceasar salad. The dishes were not the same as my last visit. The dressing on the salad was oily, corn in the salad and literally 3 croutons. The taste was not good. The rib eye was much smaller than in the past and almost inedible as it was so tough and chewy. Prices have gone up and the food was below par. My beloved Houston's is just not the same anymore. Very disappointing. read more

We were there as a family, and we all really enjoyed the food. We ordered steaks, Thai salad, and for dessert, brownies and apple pie with ice cream. This is one of the best places in Irvine, highly recommend! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Thai salad - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Another great visit !! Food was superb and our waitress Angel was Awesome!!! Recommend highly !! Wish they had a restaurant in Aliso Viejo! We have many stops open for a Houston's !!! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Roasted Prime Rib - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food was very good and service was good as well. Everyone was very friendly! Perfect place for a little date night..

Always outstanding food and the absolute best service. Love the artichokes, salmon, or chicken sandwich.

I love Houston's - their ribs and coleslaw are to die for - their burger is pretty darn good too. However, my only gripe is they don't offer take out anymore post COVID. Please bring back take out, please - please. read more

This was my first time eating here. My mom usually brings home leftovers from her lunch meetings. We tried the salmon appetizer which was good, but I was expecting more for the price. They don't give you that much fish. For our entree we got the salmon and the Hawaiian steak. The sauce with the salmon is salty, but good. And the steak was crusted in a nice glaze. Overall the dining experience was good and our total came out to about $130. I've also tried their roast beef sandwich with the aju sauce and that is probably my favorite dish here. read more

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Haven't been in a while but it was packed at 5:00 on a Saturday....in spite of that, the service was exceptional!! Had a couple well made martinis with goat cheese stuffed olives along with the smoked salmon appetizer. Had the pan Asian noodle salad and left room for the apple dessert. Again, service was spot-on, food was delicious and we will be back! read more

Houston's has a delicious menu- both food and drinks. The outside waiting area is part of the experience- it includes bar service, chairs and a fire pit. Houston's service is attentive and the whole experience is consistently good. Try the burger- it's delicious and big enough to split. read more

I did not plan to do an updated review, but the service was so great I had to; it is hard to get good customer service these days and it should be recognized when it happens. We came to Houston's to celebrate a birthday. Our reservations were made a month in advance; I called to see if I could bring a birthday cake and was told that their policy changed and no outside food was allowed, they were very kind and told me that dessert was available for a birthday there. Once we arrived it was busy as always there were walk ups that the hostess were trying to accommodate along with the people that made reservations. Our reservation was for 7PM. We had a couple drinks while we waited to be seated and eventually were seated about 7:19PM. Louis seated us and apologized for the wait. He was so kind we were just happy to be there and in good spirits. The food was so very delicious as always and Louis gave us a complimentary spinach & Artichoke dip. Our main course included the double-cut pork chop which was cooked to perfection and the roasted prime rib. After our food the dessert ice-cream with a candle was nicely please on our table for the birthday boy. Houston's is a 10 out of a 10. read more

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Annie was a complete pleasure - she was on point with bringing us our drinks and meals a long with a wonderful dessert key lime pie. I can't get enough of this place!! Best ribeye anywhere by far. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Hawaiian Ribeye to die for!! Don't forget the grilled Jalapeño - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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We waited 1 hour to be seated, for the second time, they said at 8:30 pm they ran out of what I ordered, a veggie burger.

Highly recommend this restaurant! Definitely make a reservation! We came for the prime ribs but unfortunately it is not on the menu anymore :( however we still had a great time! Our server, Kendall was AMAZING! She was very nice and made sure our stay and food was great! You will be lucky to have her!! The dishes that we got were pretty delicious. The bbq pork ribs did fall off of the bone. At the end, they will bring out towels to clean your hands. read more

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