Home to more than a hundred award-winning restaurants, Houston is renowned for its distinguished culinary scene. The area around NRG Park does not have as many highly-rated restaurants as River Oaks or Uptown, but there are still several places near NRG Stadium where you can enjoy a fine meal before or after attending a concert, game, or other events.
Budweiser Plaza Food Trucks
When headed to NRG Stadium for a Texans game, keep in mind that Budweiser Plaza’s free community tailgate party is the closest place to the stadium for grub and game day beverages. Tailgate attractions include live music, games, drinks, and plenty of food. The family-friendly atmosphere and range of meals and snacks available at the food truck make the Budweiser Plaza tailgate amenable to fans of all ages and tastes.
Glazed The Donut Cafe
Glazed, the popular donut cafe, appeals to late risers heading to early afternoon events. Or really, all donut lovers. You can pop in to indulge in a donut or two and be inside the stadium all within 30 minutes. In addition to traditional glazed donuts, Glazed bakes lemon poppy seed, maple bacon, and mocha-glazed varieties too. Glazed is a two-minute drive or five-minute METROrail ride from NRG Stadium.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Cajun-inspired seafood kitchen Pappadeaux serves enormous portions of flavorful gumbo, fried shrimp, crab, catfish, crawfish, and more. If you’re in the mood to fill up or split a dish with a friend, Pappadeaux’s portions are worth taking into account. The midrange chain has a location a half-mile from NRG Stadium.
Pappasito’s Cantina
Next door to Pappadeaux is Pappasito’s, serving Tex-Mex cuisine and handcrafted margaritas in a festive atmosphere. Pappasito’s makes a nice backdrop for catching up with a lively group of friends over chips and salsa, guacamole, tacos, enchiladas, imported beer, and authentic margaritas, before or after an event at NRG Stadium.
Pappas’ Bar-B-Q
The owner of the last three restaurants on our list, Pappas Restaurants Group has a strong presence around NRG Park. If you’re a fan of Pappas’ Bar-B-Q, you can enjoy that familiar hickory-and-mesquite flavor on a sandwich, po-boy, or rack of ribs just three minutes’ drive from NRG Stadium.
If you’re looking for good eats near NRG stadium and want to keep driving and walking time to a minimum, these are a few good places to start. Should you arrive too close to the start of your event to eat beforehand, you can enjoy a jalapeño-cheddar dog from Underbelly, chicken wings from The Hay Merchant, or a sandwich from Grady’s Carvery at the stadium. Wherever you eat before your next visit to NRG Stadium, we hope you eat well and have fun.
Where will you eat the next time you’re meeting with friends before an event at NRG Stadium? Write about your favorite restaurants in the area in the comments.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst