As the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo gears up for its 2025 season, so do Houston restaurants with themed food and drink specials that serve as the perfect pre-event snack or post-event nightcap.
The Rodeo kicks off Tuesday, March 4 and lasts through Sunday, March 23, with an entire weekend prior devoted to the World Championship Barbecue cook-off. The nearly month-long tradition draws in folks from around the country for its livestock show, sprawling carnival and petting zoo, over-the-top carnival food, and big name musical acts. It’s always a festive time for Houstonians who get into the “Go Texan!” spirit by donning their Wranglers, broken-in boots, custom cowboy hats, and fringe galore.
The Rodeo has a number of dining options to consider, including a Champion Wine Garden and plenty of fried food on the midway, but local restaurants have also wrangled up themed food and drink specials that reflect the spirit of the season. For those looking to have a mutton-bustin’ good time, both inside and outside of Rodeo fairgrounds, check out this list of specials offered around town.
The Pit Room
The Pit Room’s “Go Texan Day” festivities are back again, with this year being the first for the barbecue restaurant’s new Memorial location. On Friday, February 28, both outposts will host patio celebrations from 4 to 8 p.m. with free entry for all. The family-friendly extravaganza features live music, a petting zoo, cotton candy, and phot-ops. Along with the full barbecue menu, guests are welcome to take advantage of seasonal crawfish offerings. Attendees are encouraged to dress in western wear. 1201 Richmond Ave., Houston, thepitroombbq.com
Pizzatola’s Barbecue
On Friday, February 28, Pizzitola’s is offering traditional Texas barbecue buffets in celebration of “Go Texan Day”. Guests can score two meats and two sides ($22), or three meats and three sides ($26), with protein choices like brisket, sausage, turkey, chicken, and pork; and sides including potato salad, cole slaw, smoked cabbage, Texas caviar, and street corn. 1703 Shepherd Dr., Houston, pizzitolasbbq.com
Goode Co. BBQ
Goode Co. BBQ is offering its indulgent 1977 sandwich for a limited time through the entire run of the Rodeo. The handheld is stacked high with sliced brisket, ham, macaroni and cheese, jalapeno, bacon, and onion, and available at all Goode Co. BBQ restaurants. Rodeo-goers can also visit the Goode Co. booth on the fairgrounds, and enjoy items like the Hometown Hero sandwich made with brisket, Czech sausage, and barbecue sauce. Multiple locations, goodecompany.com
Goode Co. Armadillo Palace
On the weekend of the cook-off, from February 27-March 1, Armadillo Palace is hosting late-night live music shows so that Rodeo-goers can keep the party going once they depart the fairgrounds. Jon Stork will perform on Thursday, February 27; while Kin Faux takes the stage on Friday, February 28; followed by Bri Bagwell on Saturday, March 1. Doors open at 10 p.m. and tickets are $20, with full-bar service and late-night food items like sliders and Frito pie available for guests. 5015 Kirby Dr., Houston, thearmadillopalace.com
Eunice
This Gulf Coast-inspired restaurant, led by chef Drake Leonards, is getting into the Rodeo spirit with a special cowboy ribeye ($55). The steak is topped with crawfish butter, wild mushrooms, and potatoes, and will be offered all day on Friday, February 28, in honor of “Go Texan Day”. 3737 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, eunicerestaurant.com
Plume
This chic Heights cocktail lounge is kicking off the rodeo season with a themed brunch beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. Guests are encouraged to dress in western wear, and try items from the newly launched brunch menu. 1100 W. 23rd, Ste. 150, Houston, plumehtx.com
Brasserie 19
Brasserie 19 takes every opportunity to throw a party, and Rodeo season is no different. On Saturday, March 22, the restaurant is hosting a St. Germain Buckle Bunny brunch from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The event will feature Magnolia Mercantile, who will be on site with a pop-up hat branding station, and guests are encouraged to dress in their finest rodeo-chic attire. If you can’t make the party, take advantage of Brasserie 19’s Rodeo Hour, offered all day, everyday from March 4-23, featuring specials like turkey leg croquettes and venison sloppy joe sliders. 1962 W. Gray St., Houston, brasserie19.com
Norigami’s Hidden Bar
This moody and dark speakeasy-style cocktail bar, located inside Norigami restaurant, serves as a great meetup spot before or after the Rodeo. The West U-area haunt is just three miles from NRG Center and is offering 10% off at the bar, when guests present their Rodeo ticket between March 4-23. 2715 Bissonnet St. Ste. 160, Houston, norigamhtx.com
Relish Restaurant & Bar
Between March 4-23, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, both Relish locations are offering a menu of Rodeo-inspired eats. The 44 Farms mini corn dogs ($10) are served with spicy mustard, and are a nod to the midway corn dogs served at the Rodeo. Other specials include the pulled pork sandwich ($18); and the rodeo burger ($20), made with house-ground beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce, shoestring onions, and Relish bbq sauce. Whimsical cocktails like the Space City Cowboy ($14) and Rodeo Rita ($14) are sure to put a little yee-haw in your step. 2810 Westheimer Rd., Houston, relishhouston.com
Emma Jane
This tea room and wine bar in Montrose is serving up a Country Time Tea every Thursday between February 27-March 23. The special tea service ($75) is available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and features items like fried chicken and caviar. Wearing chic western garb is highly encouraged. 1226 W. Clay St., Houston, emmajanehtx.com
Monarch at Hotel ZaZa
Located inside the trendy Hotel ZaZa just one block from the Museum District’s Metro Rail stop, Monarch is a prime place to dine during Rodeo season. In honor of Houston’s month-long Rodeo craze, the all-day restaurant is showcasing a special menu from March 2-March 31. Highlights include the Texas grazing board, loaded with munchies like summer sausage, candied brisket jalapeno poppers, cowboy cheddar dip, pimento cheese, and Texas fire crackers; and cowboy caviar, a bean salad tossed in a chili-lime vinaigrette and served with tortilla chips. 5701 Main St., Houston, hotelzaza.com
Kazzan Ramen & Bar
Rodeo-goers looking for an alternative to all of the ‘cue and carnival food can take advantage of Kazzan’s rodeo season discount. Between March 4-March 23, the ramen bar known for its volcano ramen, is granting guests 10% off the cost of their meals when they present their rodeo ticket, or come decked out in western wear. 191 Heights Blvd., Houston, kazzanramenhtx.com
The Original Ninfa’s
Both Uptown and Navigation locations of this iconic Houston restaurant are running cocktail specials that pay tribute to some of the musical performers taking the stage at the Rodeo this year. The Purple Drank ($15) will be served on Friday, March 7, as a nod to rapper Bun B’s Birthday Bonanza; and the Calle de la Frontera ($13) will be served on Monday, March 17 in honor of Grupo Frontera.The final beverage salute will be the Chill Billy Deluxe ($12), which will be offered on Saturday, March 22, when famed country duo, Brooks & Dunn, perform. 2704 Navigation Blvd., Houston, ninfas.com
Zanti Cucina Italiana
From March 4-23, Zanti is offering a braised beef slider special ($15), available all day. The handheld, which was Zanti’s entry for this year’s Rodeo Uncorked Best Bites, is served on a brioche bun, and topped with chipotle aioli, fontina cheese, and crispy potato strings. Visit during happy hour, and score the slider for just $12. 1958 W. Gray, Houston, zanticucina.com
Molina’s Cantina
This iconic Houston Tex-Mex restaurant is bringing back a fan favorite for Rodeo season. Chef Anthony Brefo’s jalapeno chicken-fried steak ($16) is a top round steak, seasoned with a special house-made blend of spices and fried to a golden crisp, before being smothered in spicy jalapeno gravy, and served with crispy fries and charro beans. Molina’s has also introduced Fajita Wednesdays for Two ($35), offered every Wednesday for dine-in guests. 3801 Bellaire Blvd., molinascantina.com
Trill Town
Legendary Houston rapper, Bun B has earned a cult following with his Trill Burgers restaurant, which will be popping up at the Rodeo for its fourth year, going even bigger with the debut of Trill Town. The 9,000 square-foot standalone space on NRG grounds features a DJ booth, seating, games, and a bar serving beer and wine. Attendees can enjoy Trill burgers, and the newly introduced Trill tenders, and order fresh-squeezed lemonade from the Trill Lemonade stand. As a bonus, Trill has teamed up with Truth BBQ to offer two menu items exclusively at the Rodeo — the Truth BBQ brisket burger and Truth BBQ brisket fries. NRG Park, 3 NRG Parkway, Houston, trill-burgers.com
The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse
This concept from Berg Hospitality pops up at NRG Park once a year, only while the Rodeo is in session. Located in a 16,000 square-foot climate-controlled tent on Rodeo grounds, the full-service restaurant offers three different dining experiences. The Saloon is casual and accepts walk-ins; the Steakhouse offers a fine dining steakhouse experience with advanced reservations; and a carnival-style walk-up window with a take-and-go menu. The three concepts serve signature items from Berg Hospitality concepts, with the walk-up window offering handheld favorites like Texas wagyu corn dogs and hot dogs, plus bites from the group’s new Heights restaurant, Buttermilk Baby. Night owls can stick around for “the Ranch After Dark”, at which time DJs liven up the vibe, and guests can reserve lounge tables from 9 p.m. to close. NRG Park, 3 NRG Parkway, Houston, theranchatrodeo.com
