Heads up, Houston, celebrate Pride month with these local LGBTQ+ owned eateries! June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride (LGBTQ+) month. Houston is known for its diverse population. Houston is also home to the largest Pride Celebration in the southern United States.
Unfortunately, this year’s Pride parade is postponed due to the pandemic, but don’t let that bring you down. Another way to celebrate is to support the LGBTQ community directly. Eating food is a big part of Houston culture and there are many restaurants faced a struggle through the past year or so. We Texans are known for our pride and what better way to spread the love is there than to support our local queer-owned businesses.
Support Local Over Rainbow Capitalism
The LGBTQ+ community faces some unique challenges. One of those challenges is the co-opting and exploitation of the queer identity. Instead of lining the pockets of people trying to capitalize off of allyship, use Pride as a chance to support actual members of the LGBT+ community directly by buying from LGBT+ owned businesses.
List of LGBTQ+ Owned Eateries in the Houston Area
This list highlights restaurants and other non-alcoholic food-related businesses to be inclusive for all age groups to enjoy.
La Sicilia Italian Bakery and Cafe
515 Westheimer Rd. Suite C
Houston, TX 77006
[open in Google Maps]
La Sicilia Bakery and Cafe is located in the heart of the Montrose area, the epicenter of Houston’s LGBT community. La Sicilia is owned and operated by the couple of general manager Antonio Rios and pastry chef Diego Chiarello.
A display filled with beautiful Italian pastries, cakes, cookies, breads, and other baked goods greets you when you walk inside. Their breakfast and lunch items* are equally as beautiful as the dessert.
Pride 2021 special: Pride macarons, ciambella
Pictured right: Pride ciambella (photo: La Sicilia)
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Koffeteria
1110 Hutchins St #102
Houston, TX 77003
[open in Google Maps]
Koffeteria opened in East Downtown in late 2019, This warm, welcoming cafe serves delectable croissants, muffins, scones, and other baked goods made by owner and pastry chef Vanarin Kuch who has appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef: Just Desserts and Food Network’s Chopped. What’s unique about the savory options is he often combine Asian flavors into typically non-Asian eats; one example being pho or kare kare filled kolaches. I highly recommend their quiche! Koffeteria “puts the treat in ‘treat yo’self.’“
Pictured right: lemon meringue taco
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Michael’s Cookie Jar
5330 Weslayan St.
Houston, TX 77005
[open in Google Maps]
1864 Fountainview
Houston, TX 77057
[open in Google Maps]
711 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
[open in Google Maps]
Started in 2006, Michael’s Cookie Jar serves hand-crafted cookies made from scratch with real ingredients and natural flavors. The bakery has 3 locations in Houston with the main location located at West University Place. The other locations are located in downtown and Tanglewood.
Order cookies online and shipped anywhere in the U.S.! They can also make custom cookies for any special occasion.
Pride 2021 special: Michael’s is making several designs of Pride cookies and 10% of sales from these cookies will be donated to Houston’s LGBTQ resource the Montrose Center‘s Hatch Youth program!
Pictured right: Pride cookies (photo: Michael’s Cookie Jar)
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Fish Company Taco
1914 23rd Street
Galveston, TX 77550
[open in Google Maps]
Fish Company Taco is one of the freshest and unique places in Galveston! Chef Daya Myers-Hurt creates a refreshing gulf-to-table experience with Asian, southern America, and Tex-Mex inspirations. They serve seafood tacos in a fish du jour style. Chef also makes daily specials in limited quantities which always sell out quickly.
Fish Company Taco is one of my top choice restaurants in Galveston, TX! I highly recommend it.
Pictured right: Baja fish taco, Vietnamese fish taco
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Dumpling Dudez
East Downtown Houston
The Dumpling Dudez are two husbands creating a fun and unique dumpling experience. Based out of East Downtown, they offer dumpling cooking classes and private parties. You may pre-order dumplings for pickup almost every week.
Dumpling Dudez create both sweet and savory dumplings in fun fusion flavors. The blue flavor for this year’s Pride pack will be Blueberry Butterfly Cheesecake. More flavors to be revealed soon!
Pride 2021 special: Pride dumpling pack where 50% of net proceeds will support LGBT homeless youth through Houston’s Montrose Center.
Pictured right: Pride dumplings 2020
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Reposteria Con Sabor a Mexico
Galleria area (and beyond)
Reposteria Con Sabor a Mexico is a new home-based bakery making artisan Mexican breads available for pickup and delivery. They opened in the Galleria area in May 2020. Their name translates to “pastries with a taste of Mexico.”
Their Pride month goodies include rainbow conchas, cuernitos, armadillos, cookies, and a cheesecake (mini or full size). Pre-order these colorful goodies today by messaging them on Instagram or calling/texting their phone.
Pictured right: rainbow concha breads (photo: Reposteria Con Sabor a Mexico)
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Urban Eats
3414 Washington Ave.
Houston, TX 77007
[open in Google Maps]
Urban Eats is a trio of a bistro, bar, and market. On the first floor, go shopping in their market full of artisan sweets, craft coffee, fresh bread, and a selection of locally-sourced products from many Houston-based brands. On the second floor, feast your eyes and bellies inside the artisan bistro and full-service bar.
Hop in for happy hour every Monday-Friday 3-6 P.M. and urban brunch every Sunday 10 A.M.- 3 P.M.
Pictured right: Urban classic sliders (photo: Urban Eats)
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The DoughCone
locations varies
Founded in 2016, The DoughCone is a dessert food truck serving up a sweet vanilla bean ice cream inside a cinnamon sugar dough cone also known as a chimney cake. Order unlimited toppings! Owner Avi Oberoi strives to train the staff to be welcoming and inclusive to all customers.
Find the truck at Buffalo Bayou Cistern on some days. Their location changes daily, so make sure to check their social media for the most up-to-date business hours and location. In the past, they created a special rainbow cones to celebrate at Pride.
Pictured right: two DoughCones with multiple toppings
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Popfancy Dessert Bar/Pops
Dessert Bar
9393 Bellaire Blvd. A6
Houston, TX 77036
[open in Google Maps]
Pops Stand
5085 Westheimer Rd – 2nd Floor (In front of Apple Store)
Houston, TX 77056
[open in Google Maps]
Popfancy Pops started out as a gourmet popsicle stand in the Galleria. Their popsicles are made of fresh, all natural ingredients and come in many refreshing flavors, many of which have Asian influence. In 2019, they opened Popfancy Dessert Bar at Bellaire Food Street which added soft serve, mochi waffles, and milkshakes.
Popfancy Dessert Bar is also home to many themed K-pop and anime-inpsired pop-up themed fan cafes.
Pictured right: chocolate brownie popsicle, soft serve, chocolate lovers mochi waffle
2021 Pride special: During the upcoming Sailor Moon-inspired pop up cafe, they’ll be serving special rainbow themed treats. The Sailor Moon event’s Pride Week is set for June 14-20.
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Support Local Houston Businesses
I started this list in 2019 and continue to grow it every year! As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol much, I noticed many existing lists heavily focused on bars. Since I don’t partake in the bar scene myself, I sought out to find restaurants and other food businesses around the city to directly support LGBTQ+ businesses with a full stomach. If you are an LGBTQ+ owned restaurant in the Houston area interested in being featured on the list, please contact me to be added!
Photos taken by me (Eating with Stephano) or belong to respective businesses. Though I am not a restaurant, I am a queer food blogger and photographer. Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook for my newest posts!
