Good lunch in the tunnel downtown Houston. I like the Otto's salad. Used to eat these regularly when I worked downtown. read more

Houston has tons of great restaurants, but many are spread out and require a car or Uber ride. If you're working in Downtown with a big group and want to grab something close, there are not a lot of options within walking distance. Turns out that Houston has an elaborate tunnel system and you can find food courts and standalone restaurants scattered throughout. Our group decided to try the underground Allen Center food court. Definitely got some steps in to/from Smith St. Can't leave Texas without sampling BBQ, so I chose Otto's for lunch. The brisket was good - soft and mostly juicy, but that Hickory Smoked Turkey was incredible. I have not had turkey breast that soft and flavorful before. For sides, the Dirty Rice gives you another mini-meat dish with the sausages. My other side was a cheesy grit-like dish that reminds me of mac and cheese, only smoother. Besides BBQ, you can get burgers, salads, loaded potatoes, and breakfast here. I think the breakfast and burgers are served in a separate line. read more

Otto's - 2-meat platter: brisket (4 stars), turkey (5 stars), dirty rice (4 stars), and some sort of cheesy grits?! - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had a meeting at City Hall and a friend suggested we go here for a quick lunch. They had a special for a two meat / two side combo with a drink for like $15, which is much cheaper than any other BBQ place around. I had the brisket and sausage (ribs weren't an option). Both meats were fine, slightly bellow Pappas BBQ which is my standard comparison for BBQ. The brisket was a 2-3 star, the sausage a 3 star. For sides I got the potato salad and fries. The potato salad was very unique, it was sweet tasting. Not sure if I like it or not, but I ate it all so I guess it wasn't bad. The fries were pretty solid and I'm not generally one to like fries. If this review was about just the food, it's a 2-3. However, the value of the meal, bring it up to a 3, maybe a 3.5. Next time I'm in the area I might give the burger a try. read more

Otto's - a tray of food - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

The few things (being a vegetarian) are good and definitely were the try. Pretty fast service and willing to accommodate

FYI !!!! These are not hash browns. These are just a pile of potato's with pepper on them. I am really upset that a restaurant of this caliber can mess up my entire morning, Thanks Otto's read more

Otto's - Nasty Hash Browns!!!! - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Found my way to the tunnels and to a Horrible double cheeseburger. Horrible fries. Food was ready in 3 min so I knew something was going to be up. Didn't have the highest expectations, but did expect something better than McDonald's or frozen bubba patties. Waste of my money and time and honestly put me in a bad mood. At least I got a coke to wash down this terrible excuse of a burger. Gotta come harder, no seasoning or salt on fries nor were they hot, burger the same, no seasoning or nothing. It was just filler. Didn't even taste like the burger was there, just veggies, bread and a hint of mustard. Never again! read more

Otto's - Double cheeseburger w/ everything - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Skip tacos. $12 for two measly flour tortillas with chewy beef and and a small slice of avocado. Rip off.

Very good BBQ and salads that you would not expect, assorted BBQ meats on salad and various others that are very good and quick

This is probably one of the best of the Allen Center eateries...but there are some menu items I would not recommend. I had BBQ brisket baked and turkey baked potatoes. Nothing special. The turkey did not have much taste to it...no smokey BBQ flavor. It looked like cubes of processed turkey. Without good meat, the meal was just a baked potato with sauce and cheese. The brisket tastes much better, but still not quite there. The potatoes are much bigger and tastier at nearby Pappas BBQ. The brisket tacos are incredible. I have had them multiple times in the past, and highly recommend this "not on the menu" item. Grab a container of BBQ sauce near the salad line and some jalapeños. Very tasty. Unfortunately, Allen Center restaurants tend to get overcrowded at lunchtime, and you generally end-up with subpar fast food at high prices. I occasionally find this at Otto's. I may try the catfish next time. read more

I usually come for the cheeseburger which is an underrated item ln the menu. Size wise it is a little bigger than a Whataburger Jr but it perfectly balanced in tems of toppings, nothing slips out when taking a bite. Today I tried the fried chicken BLT sandwich. It is big and very crispy. It is bigger than any others in the food court and very tasty with the bacon and cheese. You need to hungry to get it all down but surprised me with how nice the chicken was for a BBQ place. read more

Downtown tunnel food can be shady and inconsistent, but Otto's doesn't disappoint. I'm trying to eat better, so I haven't had Otto's barbecue in years. But on my last encounter, I got the Fabulous Baby Spinach salad with grilled chicken. And OH. MY. GOODNESS. It's usually hard to get excited about a salad, but WOW! Here's the description: Baby spinach, mushrooms, shaved apples, smoked bacon, chopped egg and goat cheese tossed with honey balsamic vinaigrette. And I added the grilled chicken. I mean, reading the description I knew that I would enjoy it, because those are some of my favorite things, all compiled in one bowl (or to-go clamshell, in this case). But I had no idea just how awesomely they would all come together. And that dressing was to die for! This is definitely a salad worth going back to Otto's for! read more

Otto's is a good option when you're not feeling Papa's. Plus, most of the menu is a tad cheaper. Otto's offers a single daily special each day. The most recent daily special I have had was chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and "green beans" (think they were actually lima beans, which is close, I guess). I dressed up my gravy with jalapenos from the condiment bar. Tasted like southern comfort. They had a smothered chicken special last I was there, but went with the pork po boy. Holy smokes, that was some good pork! Sometimes when the meat sits for a few you'll wind up with a dry piece, but the rest is a good ration of tender, meaty and fatty. ( This is what my dad usually gets; he can vouch.) My dad got the dry piece this time, so mine was entirely delectable. The bbq sauce is pretty good. Opt to get it on the side if you ain't man enough to finish the huge sandwich, like me. (I hate soggy bread!) Potato salad is ok. A bit too sweet for my taste. Like, a combo of really sweet pickles and apple cider mixed in there. Came here once for breakfast a few years ago and I still remember that the biscuits and gravy were good. Not sure if they still have that, though. The burgers, on the other hand, have eluded my memory. I recall coming here a couple times for burgers, but can not remember anything else about them. (Could be Fuddrucker's fault.) One downside is that you're probably better off getting ribs at Papa's since there's only one choice at Otto's. The burger/sandwich line is separate from the bbq one. Also, note the daily special lunch is ordered in the bbq line. Plenty of newly remodeled shared seating just outside the restaurant. read more

Otto's - Pork po boy - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Burgers sounded good tonight and Otto's really hit the spot! They're made to order so I got my cheeseburger with pickles and ketchup and it was just yummy. Not earth-shattering or anything but I don't care for those giant 1/2 or 1/3 pound burgers - this was perfect. This was a nice burger (think kind of like Burger King) with a yummy toasted bun. I love the fries, too. They don't have a children's menu but it finally dawned on me that it's a food court for people working downtown. Thus, I ended up getting an adult order of chicken strips for my little dude. They were so good! Coated in Italian bread crumbs and cooked fresh. Yum-my! It's very possible we'll get another chance to come back to Houston, and Otto's will definitely be on my list. All of their sandwiches sound fantastic and so do their salads. They're also one of the few places open "late" (until 5PM). read more

I'm going to miss this place since I no longer work downtown. As strange as this sounds, the best thing on the menu is their sweet tea. Can't get enough of it. :-) But food wise, their burgers are your run-of-the-mill. Perfectly cooked to a juicy center on a poppyseed bun. Fries can be a bit wimpy sometimes; I prefer my fries crispy. If you want a good burger and fries, can't go wrong here. read more

Otto's - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food was average tasting. It was good, but nothing spectacular. The serving size was about an par for what would be expected at a 3-Star place serving 3-Star quality food at about 3-Star prices if you consider the convenient location. I would eat here again, but honestly would probably just pay a couple dollars more and eat at Papa's. read more

The manager is very rude she always has a attitude. When you ask for her for something she acts as if you are bothering her like she does not want to help you at all read more

I had the scrambled egg bacon and cheese croissant. The worst breakfast sandwich i have ever had. The croissant was hard and the eggs were like rocks. Won't buy that again. read more

Because of the breakfast tacos, Otto's remains at a solid 3-stars. I went back for lunch recently, and the experience was meh! I ordered a fried shrimp platter with a side of onion rings. You receive six pieces of butterflied, fried chicken battered shrimp. I describe it as fried chicken battered because the shrimp was overwhelmed with an amount of batter that was meant and probably used for their fried chicken or chicken fried steak dishes, since I don't eat that stuff, I don't remember if it's actually even on the menu. What I do recall is these crustaceans were overwhelmed by the batter, that one couldn't get past it to appreciate the shrimp. Batter with some filler is what this was. The dish is accompanied by french fries (pretty good) and three hush puppies, in case you didn't feel like you ate enough batter, here's some variety with some deep fried cornmeal balls. I had no idea that I would be participating in Batterfest 2011, so I ordered onion rings. I also thought they'd replace the fries with onion rings, but no, they charged me for an order of onion rings and kept the fries. The onion rings were also, can you imagine? Over-battered! And soggy to boot. So no more lunch ventures at Otto's for me, unless it's absolute desperation or morbid curiosity. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day anyway, and Otto seems to excel where that's concerned. read more

We visit Otto's BBQ for breakfast or lunch. They have a decent selection and the staff is always friendly. We typically take our food to go. We like the breakfast tacos, salads, baked potatoes, and meat plates.Give them a try, you wont be disappointed. read more

I wish we could do half stars, I understand it would add to the complexity of reviews but this join really could use 3.5 stars. I can't really say anything was wrong but I can't really say anything was great. Actually I can, the price is RIGHT! It is about as expensive as a combo meal at Whataburger and it does taste better than fast food. A chili cheese burger with fries and a drink runs about 5.50. The service is speedy and the food is pretty good but I just can't force myself to do 4 stars on this one. I would still give it a thumbs up and recommendation for a solid lunch establishment. read more

Delicious BBQ! The BBQ was great! The sauce was just perfect and the sides were incredible. Good Ole Texas BBQ for a Detroit girl! read more

Otto's - Beef brisket broccoli casserole and potato salad - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place used to be great, but now prices has gone up and quality went down. Fries are watery, and grilled chicken sandwich is still great (maybe the only thing I still enjoyable). read more

Great Chicken Finger Salad with honey mustard. Nothing overly impressive but does the job when you are at work and the tunnel is your option. The menu is pretty big and my reviews may change as I move along on the menu. Stay tuned!!! read more

Opens at 6:30AM (weekdays) with fresh breakfast options. Very fresh! Do wish they had beans for their breakfast tacos, but the eggs tasted great! read more

Otto's - Swiss & mushroom omelette--fresh! - Burgers Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have eaten here many times from Breakfast and Lunch since it is conveniently located very close to my office. Their prices are decent considering the location, and the food is ok, nothing to write home about, but just fine. Good selection and fast service seems to be their staple. For lunch I usually go on the BBQ side. I like this location a lot better than the Pappas BBQ across the street. read more

Just another fast food joint. Meats mediocre, sides undistinguished. Service folks tolerating us sharing oxygen.

Service was fantastic. I had the brisket tacos and they were yummy! It's a great place for a quick lunch

Okay any place downtown that stays open past 2 PM, automatically deserves a star just for that. Especially for those of us who prefer to take a late lunch. But... I'm sorry to report that this place has put a major bad taste in my pallet. My earlier experience on going here was successful as I ordered their half chicken. It was very flavorful and delicious and their sauce pretty okay. Now I must insert here that If you fail on BBQ Chicken or Ribs, you don't deserve to be a BBQ spot, in my book. I've tried the Ribs, and they are an absolute FAIL. But, they still have the chicken from my first experience to fall on. Now to the chicken. On 2nd return, I bit into what I expected some tasty deliciousness and behold, blood seeping from the bone. I took a fork and peeled through and the whole inside was red and unfortunately, I didn't feel much like Dracula that day or an alien wishing to dissect animals from Earth. So take 1 star away from being consistent, 1 star from bloody chicken, and 1 star from the bad memory of the blood oozing from a fresh bite. I'm just glad I didn't dip it in sauce as I would have not seen the blood. I will never return here again. Doesn't take but one bloody adventure to steer me away for good. Eat well and prosper. read more

This place has the best breakfast tacos around. They are made to order and cooked fresh right before your eyes. The tortillas are good and the price too. Because I do not eat eggs it is important to be able to order the taco exactly as I want it without eggs, without cheese but with bacon, sausage, or ham and yummy potatoes seasoned just right. Love them! read more

This Otto's DESERVES to be under the city of Houston. I can't believe the Memorial location shut down to have this cover-up What-A-Burger exist instead. Seriously, the burgers are upper-class fast food. I remember when the original Otto's was around, and it was considered a great burger joint (and it was). Traditional style interior, traditional burgers, traditional prices, traditional traditions. The only tradition remaining now is the price. I paid about $6 somethin for my "Super-Cheese Burger" w/ drink, and I had already heard some negative stories about the place, but it was Otto's so every restaurant deserves a TRY. Meat tasted flavor-LESS. I asked for mayo, got mustard. Eh, whatever, I have HubCap as my resident burger provider now. On a good note though, you do get all the jalapenos and vegetables you want at the do-it-yourselF counter. read more

This is my go to spit for breakfast!! The staff knows me well and I never have any issues here!! I always get the same thing so when I walk in they already start my order. There is times when I can't make it down by 10:39 for breakfast and can only come by 11, but the cooks always show me love and still make me my favorite breakfast taco! Also the owner is awesome, whenever he sees me we end up chatting for 5-10 mins! Great people, great food equal a great spot!! read more

Otto's is my go to place in the park shops for a protein heavy meal. I typically get the BBQ western salad, which comes standard with brisket, ham and turkey. You can request different meats on the salad and my favorite combination right now is brisket and roast pork. The amount of meat they give you is fairly substantial and I don't have to order double meat like at Salata. In addition to the bbq, they have some decent specials everyday (catfish basket, chicken fried steak, etc) and a good chicken avocado sandwich. Really, I wouldn't go out of my way for this, but working downtown leaves this as a strong regular option for lunch. read more

Great burgers, fries, brisket tacos and great salad selection. My fav is the Santa Fe salad sub goat cheese for cheddar and add picante salsa...yum!! read more

Otto's offers BBQ and your basic grill items. My favorite things here either the fried catfish or chicken tender baskets. I mean, nothing special per se, but not too bad. A lot of people I know will go for the BBQ Western Salad, which is a huge salad with Brisket, Ham, and Turkey. Kind of defeats the healthiness of a salad, huh? Being a fan of the Chicken Tenders, the Chicken Tender Salad is my most ordered option. The left side offers burgers and a few more options, but I would not waste your time getting burgers here. Fudd's is just a block away and far better. I would stick to the BBQ line here or any of the fried foods. Service is decently quick, there's plenty of seating, and the food is decent. So, it's worth working into your lunch rotation due to lack of other options in the area. read more

Very low quality burgers. Ordered rare, got well done and it was that grey, weird textured, fast-food like patty. Disgusting.

I had the western "Salad", BBQ meat and iceberg lettuce, with the cilantro dressing. It was tasty, and I will probably go back and get it again sometime as a good alternative to a real salad. read more

Update 5/1/2014: I am bumping Otto's to five stars since it has become one of my go-to lunch places. I only get the BBQ. I have noticed a lot of bad reviews that were based on the hamburgers so I cannot speak to that. What I can say is that their sausage link and brisket are excellent. Highly recommend! Original review: The brisket tacos were very tasty. Good value for the money. The potato salad was also pretty good. Lose a star for the semi-bland beans. They were OK, but nothing special. Good choice for a quick lunch if you are in the mood for bbq. read more

Stopped in for lunch, at 11:00 no line at all. I ordered a chopped beef potato and a drink. At $10 for a drink and potato it isn't the greatest deal, but they had it ready in less than a minute. Service was friendly and the potato while less than "heaping" was plenty for a good lunch. The meat was tender, and the sauce pretty standard for Texas BBQ. All in all good for a quick BBQ fix. Also I've had their breakfast tacos previously, and they are quite good and fairly substantial. Certainly a hearty breakfast for when you need a "pick me up". read more

Solid when you *need* a bbq fix! I always eat lunch here at least once when I'm in Houston. I usually get the smoked chicken and beef and they're both awesome! It's definitely pricey but it's downtown so... read more

Attached to our hotel, this was the first place we tried at the food court. I had the turkey burger with fries and it was absolutely delicious. We'll definitely be back one more time before our trip is done. read more