All week long
Cheeseburger Samosas/Fluff Bake Bar Shakes at Burger Bodega
Burger Bodega, 4520 Washington, brings back its fan-favorite Cheeseburger Samosas for Ramadan, a crispy, golden mashup of seasoned ground beef, melted cheese and the shop’s signature smashburger flavors wrapped in flaky pastry. Created by owner and chef Abbas Dhanani as a nod to his own Ramadan memories and Pakistani iftar traditions, the handheld bites are available during regular hours: Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., while they last. Guests can also enjoy two limited-edition Fluff Bake Bar shakes available through Sunday, February 28. The Couch Potato Cookie Dough Shake and Veruca Salt Cake Shake.
Thursday, February 26
Dakar Nola & Mr Tomonoshi Dinner at Navy Blue
Navy Blue, 2445 Times Boulevard, will host a one-night-only collaboration dinner with New Orleans Senegalese restaurant Dakar. The four-course seated dinner brings together chef Aaron Bludorn and chef Serigne Mbaye for a menu focused on contemporary West African flavors. The evening will also feature original artwork created for the event by Martellus Bennett, known as Mr. Tomonoshi. Tickets are $105 per person, not including tax.
Thursday–Saturday
World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest at NRG Park
Rodeo season fires up with the return of the three-day World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, as more than 250 teams compete for bragging rights in brisket, ribs, chicken and dessert. While many tents are invite-only, public ticket holders can dig into complimentary barbecue plates at the Chuckwagon and grab bites and drinks at the Rockin’ Bar-B-Que Saloon. It’s smoky, saucy and one of the tastiest ways to kick off Rodeo season. Tickets start at $30 for adults and $10 for kids 3–12; ages 2 and under get in free.
Saturday, February 28
Crawfish Season Kick-off at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown
Crawfish season lands at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown, 1700 Post Oak. Hit the spacious patio for Saturday boils featuring 2.5- or 5-pound batches piled high with corn, potatoes, sausage and garlic butter, plus extra South Texas Spicy seasoning and chipotle dipping sauce on request. The Guzzlers provide live music from noon to 4 p.m. each weekend that crawfish is offered.
Saturday Cooking Class at Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
Chef-owner Sylvia Casares kicks off the Winter/Spring season of her popular Saturday cooking classes with a Tex-Mex appetizer lineup at Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, 1140 Eldridge, from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests will learn to make flautas, chile con queso, picomole, avocado salsa, roasted tomato salsa and ceviche in a hands-on setting inside the restaurant’s Eldridge classroom. The $70 ticket includes all materials, instruction and a meal. Register online at sylviasenchiladas.com or call 832-230-3842.
Craft Pita x Winnie’s Habibi Night at Winnie’s
The third annual Craft Pita x Winnie’s Habibi Night takes place at Winnie’s, 3622 Main, from 6 to 11 p.m., bringing a Lebanese-inspired menu packed with halloumi fries, za’atar chicken wings with labneh ranch and deviled egg labneh dip, plus heartier bites like a fried shrimp shawarma sandwich, pepperoni kaak pizza with sujuk and a Sloppy Joseph with lamb and ground beef. Expect arak cocktails, frozen mint lemonade, Arabic Afro House music and hookah throughout the night.
Sunday, March 1
Backyard Boil Series at Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
Josephine’s, 318 Gray, brings back its Backyard Boil Series with a Gulf Coast–style crawfish throwdown from 2 to 6 p.m. This round features chef Lucas McKinney alongside guest chef Mike Pham of Trill Burgers, serving crawfish by the pound plus special dishes to match. Expect punch, beer, whiskey and Jell-O shots to keep the party going, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Southern Smoke Foundation.
Texas Independence Day Celebration at Armadillo Palace
Chef Levi Goode celebrates 190 years of Texas with a Lone Star–inspired bash at Armadillo Palace, 5015 Kirby, beginning at 4 p.m. Expect chef-driven bites like ancho-glazed pork ribs, spit-jack roasted ribeyes and barbacoa quesadillas, plus specialty handcrafted cocktails to wash it down. Live music from Texas country band The Broken Spokes keeps the party going. Tickets are $75 plus tax and include entry, food and two cocktails.
Garden & Gun Rodeo Smoke Show at Truth BBQ
Kick off rodeo season with Garden & Gun’s Rodeo Smoke ShowGarden & Gun’s, held at Truth BBQ, 110 South Heights, starting at 6 p.m. Pitmaster Leonard Botello teams up with Ryan Lachaine of State of Grace, Bobby Matos of La Lucha and Seth Siegel-Gardner of Local Foods and Milton’s for a night of expertly smoked meats, Texas sides and desserts. Blade and Bow bourbon cocktails flow alongside live music, plus a Western-minded makers market featuring Lucchese, Manready Mercantile and Laura Goodson Art. General admission is $85, VIP $115 with early entry, off-menu bites and a curated gift bag.
All month long
Black History Month Bites
This February, Dandelion Café, 611 West 22nd, 6100 Main, is honoring Black History Month by donating $1 from every Black History Month cookie sold to the BE Impactful Foundation, which supports underserved communities. Guests can celebrate the month and give back with every cookie purchased.
OMG! Burger has teamed up with chef Shannen Tune, Chopped champion and former owner of Craft Burger, to bring back his iconic Truffle Butter Juicy Lucy Burger. Available now through the end of February at all five OMG! Burger locations, the burger features two all-natural beef patties stuffed with shaved truffles, butter, and cheddar cheese curds, topped with smoked Gouda and finished with house-made truffle mayo. A portion of proceeds will go to support Feed the Soul Foundation, which helps marginalized culinary businesses and students through education, grants and scholarships.
Yiddish Cooking Month at Kenny & Ziggy’s
Kenny & Ziggy’s, 1743 Post Oak, is celebrating Yiddish Cooking Month throughout February with a $45 three-course prix-fixe menu available for dine-in lunch and dinner. Get classic Eastern European deli dishes, from chopped liver, gefilte fish, and pelmeni soup to pastrami-stuffed chicken, old-fashioned cholent, and a selection of rugelach, babka, and New York cheesecake. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, which preserves Yiddish language and literature.
New and ongoing specials
Daily Cocktail and Bite Menu at Bar Doko
Autry Park hotspot Bar Doko, 3737 Cogdell, has launched a new cocktail and small-plate menu. Highlights include the Tora no Michi with foie gras peanut butter, the apple-cinnamon Kintsugi no Yoru, and dessert-inspired Kakigori, alongside elevated snacks like Masu Masu Crudo, Tuna Tostada, and A5 Wagyu Toast.
The Big Parma Special at Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Hopdoddy has brought back the Big Parma Burger of the Month after popular demand. The burger features a grilled chicken parm patty with Pomodoro sauce, melted mozzarella, and basil pesto mayo. For a spicier option, try the Hot Parma, with a crispy chicken parm patty dipped in chili oil. The special is available now and runs through March 3.
Fare Deal Menu at State Fare
State Fare, 947 Gessner, 1900 Hughes Landing, launches its new Fare Deal Menu, available Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to close. The menu features guest-favorite dishes in a casual, easygoing setting, with items ranging from $1 Gulf oysters and $8 Dill Pickle Dip to $12 CFS and $5 Fried Twinkies. Kids eat free on Fridays and Saturdays with the purchase of an entrée, and selections from this menu count toward the offer.