Gilhooley's Restaurant

When seafood fans are looking to get their oyster fix, many in-the-know diners head southeast of the city to Gilhooley's Restaurant. Located in Bay Area Houston, the laid-back, no-frills spot packs hungry crowds coming in search of plump mussels, cheap beer and Gulf Coast breezes.

Minimize your second-hand smoke intake by snagging a seat outside, alongside Gilhooley’s faithful—a mix of bikers, townies and diehard oyster-lovers. There, dig into Texas-size varieties of fresh-shucked, slightly sweet oysters smoked in the pecan wood-fired barbecue pit. Outside of oyster season, Gilhooley’s continues to pack diners in for peel and eat shrimp, boudin and other seafood dishes.

Know before you go: No kids or dogs are allowed and the restaurant is cash only, so plan accordingly. Open for lunch and dinner, daily.