We present the winners of our 2025 Best of Westchase contest in everyone’s favorite category: food!
Best New Restaurant: Mad Dogs
“It’s a great place to hang out [with your family and friends] while you enjoy your delicious gourmet dog or smash burger.” – Moustafa Eissa, Founder
Nor your average hot dog: Mad Dogs’ culinary creativity generate a hot dog menu like you won’t find elsewhere.
This fast-growing family-owned eatery has quickly become a local favorite, blending innovative flavors with a commitment to community and quality. Founded by Moustafa Eissa, Mad Dogs reimagines the classic American hot dog with a halal twist, offering an eclectic menu that’s as diverse as the neighborhood it serves. Signature offerings include the Mad Dog, topped with cream cheese, crispy fried onions, sriracha, house-made curry ketchup and honey mayo. The Elote Dog, inspired by Mexican street corn, has roasted cream corn, jalapenos, Parmesan, Tajin and lime. With other menu items like Loaded Fries with toppings such as chopped cheese, Philly Cheesesteak and brisket, its easy to see why Mad Dogs is such a hit with the locals. www.eatmaddogs.com
Best Coffee Shop: Blackrock Coffee Bar
“After trying that caramel blondie … I was hooked. The vibe is [always] superb.” – Google Review
This winner is kind of like finding unexpected foam art inside a to-go coffee cup: The grey exterior of Black Rock’s Westchase outpost understates just how warm and fun it is on the inside. After ordering from a menu of premium coffees, energy drinks, sweet treats, and breakfast options, guests can settle in and get comfortable. Whether they’re at a table or on the leather couch, customers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere created by vintage-style lightbulbs, red accents, and colorful art. Black Rock brings this same energy into the Westchase community at large, with job-training programs for special education students and donating a portion of sales to local causes on Give Back Days. www.br.coffee
Best Mexican Food and Best Happy Hour: El Tiempo
“It’s our hospitality behind the cooking … We’re like a family here.” – Kimberly Maldonado, Manager
Ready for guests: The patio at El Tiempo is prepped and ready for the lunch rush that will ultimately fill every table in the room.
Steeped in earth tones and splashes of turquoise, El Tiempo’s vibrant Westchase location has been a cornerstone in the community for over 11 years. While the fajitas and signature margaritas made from agave tequila and an agrumi mix are undeniably a hit, it’s El Tiempo’s strong sense of community that makes it so popular with the locals. According to Maldonado, all of the restaurant’s servers have been there since the location first opened. Loyalty clearly runs deep here. “It’s a generational thing,” Maldonado explains. “I know all of the people who come in here, and I know their daughters, sons, granddaughters … this place runs on regulars.” www.eltiempocantina.com
Best Chain Dining: Becks Prime
“It’s our customer service that makes the big difference… We see these people all the time and know them by name.” – Randy Lynch, Manager
Dining al fresco: With thick shade trees and a cozy deck, diners can enjoy the outdoors at Becks Prime.
For forty years, Becks Prime has been a part of Houston’s history—and locals have made the Westchase location their own for more than three decades. It’s not just fan-favorite dishes like the mesquite-grilled Bill’s Burger with prime sauce, hand-cut sweet potato fries, and fresh salads – it’s the team’s attention to detail that has cultivated such a loyal following. Multiple reviews specifically praise how the meals are never overcooked and compliment the manager by name. Close to the community, Lynch shares meal coupons with teachers so they can reward students for good grades. It’s no wonder Becks in Westchase has 75% repeat customers! www.becksprime.com
Best Non-Chain Dining: Saldivia’s South American Grill
“My son works here, my daughter works here, my father used to work here – we’re just family-oriented.” – Gustavo Saldivia, Owner
It’s what’s for dinner: Beef, chicken and salmon top the menu at Saldivia’s. They offer daily lunch specials for $16.95
Some places just feel like home—and this family-run restaurant is one of them. For 31 years, the Saldivias have been serving up authentic Uruguayan and Argentinian favorites—including their Entraña skirt steak, a bestseller here in Westchase. Yet it’s not just another grill, Saldivia explains, but a place where people can meet and enjoy a moment together over some of their famous chimichurri. “We know all of the customers that come in, and they know us,” Saldivia says. “It’s kind of like one big family.” Today, Gustavo’s daughter Nicole has taken the reins of this local treasure that has become a popular destination for Westchase diners. www.saldivias.com
Best Pizza: MOD Pizza
“The way we get to be expressive and help our customers be expressive with their choices … It adds a little bit of love.” – Lauren Perez, MOD Pizza of Westchase
Artisan-style pizzas, salads, and a whole lot of personality come together here, making it the kind of spot where great food and a great atmosphere go hand in hand. You won’t hear “That costs extra” at this Westchase favorite. When they say diners can pile on as many toppings as they like at no extra cost, MOD Pizza means it. According to one customer’s Google review, “I thought I’d get some pushback, but nary a [judgmental] word was said.” It’s this collaborative “let’s make it yours” vibe that makes the Westchase MOD Pizza such a hit with the locals. www.modpizza.com
Best Persian Food: Kasra Persian Grill
“Our recipes trace back generations…guests can taste the history, passion, and love that goes into every dish.” – Adam Parsa, Owner
From Iran to Houston: The authentic Persian dishes at Kasra are the result of recipes that span four generations of the family.
When the reviews all point to the same conclusion, you know it’s the real deal: Kasra’s is where diners go for some of the best, most authentic Persian food in Houston. Between a review exclaiming in all caps that they dream of the zereshk polo with chicken dish, and another proudly declaring they drive nearly an hour for Parsa’s hummus – Kasra’s has been a hit in Westchase since it first opened in 1999. “Kasra’s exists thanks to the support of our [community] and neighbors,” Parsa says. The Parsa family’s warm hospitality and support for local schools, colleges, and other organizations have solidified Kasra’s popular place in the Westchase community. www.kasrarestaurants.com
Best Office Lunch Catering: Jason’s Deli
“As long as [you] call us an hour before the delivery schedule time, we can make any modifications.” – Alicia Reyes, Manager
Three squares: The menu at Jason’s Deli offers choices for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
With so many restaurants and businesses in Westchase, office catering is a tough area in which to stand out. Yet Jason’s Deli has carved out a loyal following thanks to its combination of flexibility and hospitality that makes even the trickiest requests possible – and feel effortless. Tight building security? Change of plans? Picky eaters? The deli’s staff will bend over backward to make sure no belly is left unsatisfied. www.jasonsdeli.com/catering
