Meat master Ronnie Killen (of Killen’s Steakhouse) opened a barbecue restaurant after going the pop-up route in temporary settings before, and his flocks of fans have made a ritual of queuing up out in the suburbs of Houston.

Website: killensbarbecue.com
Number of seats: 200
Average per-person check: $25
Popular dishes: Brisket with salt and three grinds of black pepper; “Flinstonian-sized” beef ribs; homemade beef and pork sausage; creamed corn; crème brûlée bread pudding.
What people come for: Free beer while you stand in line on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; old-school country tunes.
Address: 3613 E. Broadway, Pearland, Texas
Phone Number: 281-485-2272

This farm-to-table concept in the neighborhood of Briar Forest operates on a “flex-casual” basis, with counter service for breakfast and lunch and then wait staff for dinner.

Website: dishsociety.com
Number of seats: 150
Average per-person check: $16
Popular dishes: Pork belly hash with skillet potatoes, onions, jalapeños, soft-boiled open range egg, house avocado hollandaise and slow dough toast; Gulf shrimp sautéed in Tabasco shallot butter with smoked gouda bacon grits; coffee-crusted pork tenderloin with Port cherry reduction, mashed sweet potatoes and sautéed collard greens. What people come for: Three-daypart menu; separate service area for take-out.
Address: 5740 San Felipe St.
Phone Number: 832-538-1060

The new namesake of Houston restaurant scene-maker Tony Vallone identifies with a “technique-driven approach” to a modern steakhouse model with pasta and seafood too.

Website: vallonessteakhouse.com
Number of seats: 375
Average per-person check: $49
Popular dishes: 55-day house-aged rib-eye; house-made tortellini stuffed with chianti-braised short rib; The "Tex": classic enchiladas served with center-cut filet.
What people come for: 50 wines under $50, private dining options
Address: 947 Gessner Rd.
Phone Number: 713-395-6100