Houston/East Houston

Rough-and-tumble East Houston is the city's beating, industrial heart - along with William P. Hobby Airport, you'll find the Houston Ship Channel and working-class neighborhoods (as made famous by John Travolta in the film Urban Cowboy) in the shadow of the somewhat alien landscape of oil refineries that line the shores. On closer inspection, though, East Houston is not so easily defined - here is also rich Hispanic culture (and eats!), Houston's namesake university (with surprisingly good student-run hotel and restaurant!), and off-the-wall live theater (bring the kids!).

EaDo (short for "East Downtown") and East End are two historic districts located just east of downtown Houston. EaDo is a trendy name given to several blocks of former warehouses and upscale townhomes centered around a newly-built Major League Soccer stadium. East End is a quieter, older suburb that hosts a racially diverse community. Two extensions to the METRO light rail system connect this area to Downtown.

Get in

• 1 Hobby Airport. The smaller of Houston's two airports, dominated by discount carrier Southwest Airlines, and serving mostly domestic flights. Public transportation to the airport consists of several bus routes. (updated Jul 2017)

Get around

By bike

Several BCycle bicycle rental stations have popped up around the city, one of which is at the George R Brown convention center just across the freeway from EaDo.

See

• 1 San Jacinto Battleground Monument (in San Jacinto State Park, Battleground Rd., La Porte (From IH-610 east, take SH-225 east for 11 miles to Battleground Road (SH-134), continue north approximately 2 miles. Turn right on Park Road 1836 for the Monument.)). Daily (closed for major holidays): battleship 10AM-5PM, monument 8AM-6PM. San Jacinto Monument is free. Before 2022, you could tour a World War II battleship, but the USS Texas was removed from the park at that time for repairs, and the head of the foundation that oversees the ship has stated that when she is reopened for tours in 2025, she will be at a different location (possibly Baytown, Beaumont, or Galveston). The monument commemorates the battle at which Texas won its independence from Mexico. Adults $5, children (6-18) $3, children (5 and under) free. Senior discounts.. 
• Linh Son Pagoda (in Santa Fe (Texas)). Has a 50-ft (15-m) high brilliant white statue of the Buddha, North America's largest. 

• 2 1940 Air Terminal Museum, 8325 Travelair St, ☏ +1 713 454-1940. Located in the west side of Hobby Airport is the original Houston Municial Airport Terminal. Opened in 1940, the art deco style terminal building has been restored and houses exhibits from Houston's general and commercial air travel past. Several aircraft and flight simulators are also on display. $5.00 Adults, $2.00 Children under 12. (updated Feb 2020)

Do

• The Orange Show, 2402 Munger St (IH-45 South (Gulf Freeway to SH-35 (Telephone Rd) exit), ☏ +1 713 926-6368, fax: +1 713 926-1506, oranges@orangeshow.org. Sa Su 10AM-5PM. One-of-a-kind attraction dedicated to the eccentric, artistic and scientific. Features the Beer Can House and annual Art Car Parade. $1. 
• Houston Ship Channel Boat Tour. Tu W F Sa 10:30AM and 2:30PM, Th Su 2:30PM. See one of the busiest ports in the world. Advance reservations required. Free, reservations required.. 
• Houston Dynamo. Friday, Saturday game days. Varies, tickets don't usually sell out and are available at the door. 

Eat

• 1 Frank's Grill, 4702 Telephone Rd, ☏ +1 713 649-3296. One of the city's best places for a great breakfast on a budget. Texas size pancakes, a heaping plate of grits and the best bacon around. 
• 2 Taqueria Del Sol, 8114 Park Place Blvd. Authentic Mexican food. 
• 3 Kanomwan, 736 1/2 Telephone Rd, ☏ +1 713-923-4236. Wonderful Thai restaurant in historic 3rd Ward; home of the "Thai Nazi" (a la Seinfeld). 
• 4 Kim Son, 2001 Jefferson St, ☏ +1 713-222-2461, info@kimson.com. F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su-Th 11AM-11PM. Houston's biggest Vietnamese restaurant that has several other locations in town. 
• 5 Original Ninfa's on Navigation, 2704 Navigation Blvd, ☏ +1 713-228-1175. An old and popular standby founded in 1973 by Maria Ninfa Rodriguez Laurenzo that serves both Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine. This restaurant is widely credited with popularizing the fajita among Houstonians. Many celebrities including Aerosmith, George H.W. Bush, Michael Douglas, John Travolta, and ZZ Top ate at Ninfa's. (updated Feb 2020)

Drink

• 1 Moon Tower Inn, 3004 Canal St. A kitchen built from shipping crates serves an outdoor area of picnic tables. Lots of craft beer and gourmet hot dogs. 
• 2 Super Happy Fun Land, 3801 Polk St. Houston's venue for experimental electronic music, underground jazz, and outsider art! 
• 3 Lucky's Pub, 801 St. Emanuel, ☏ +1 713 522-2010. This sports bar is quite large and offers plenty of room for you and a large group of friends to go and watch your favorite sporting events. Anytime a Houston team is playing, this place gets packed with fans. They have plenty of beer on tap. Their food is also not bad for a sports bar. 
• 4 Little Woodrows, 2019 Walker St., ☏ +1 713 222-2224. A branch of Big Woodrows which is Uptown. With a wide selection of beer and an excellent patio, this is a great place to go with friends to enjoy a cool autumn night. 
• Xela Coffee Roasters, 4409 Canal St, ☏ +1 713 640-5189. 8AM-2PM (closed Tuesday). Coffee roaster serving freshly roasted coffee via batch brew and pour overs (single origins) as well as espresso drinks. Front porch and back patio make it a great place to enjoy a fresh drink when the weather allows for it. Black coffee: $2.00; single origin pour over for 2 people: $5.00; breakfast tacos $2.50. (updated Dec 2019)