About as all-American a holiday as you can get, Thanksgiving is either a love it or hate it kind of meal that’s heavy, highly seasonal, and guaranteed to leave you with leftovers for days. If you’re like me and can only eat so much turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce before getting stuffed and burnt out on the classics, here are a few other dining options to diversify your taste buds and please the palate.
KO Korean Grill
A highly anticipated newcomer to the SETX dining scene, KO was Beaumont's first cook at the table Korean grill. Known for their high-end soju cocktails and sizzling meat platters, grab a group of friends and make it a feast of epic proportions.
Thai – Chaba Thai Bistro
Traditional “sit on the floor” style Asian dining, Chaba has been a local favorite for years. A recent Taste of the Triangle winner, their menu is huge (think hundreds of items) with a variety of proteins from shrimp and steak to noodle bowls, curries, and soups supplemented by free-flowing sake. If you don’t know what to order, the spicy eggplant and Pad Kee Mao (their take on “drunken noodles”) are a good place to start.
Chinese – Great Wall
A neighborhood gem for over three decades, Great Wall also has a massive 150 item menu. Known for their fried rice, lo mein, and chicken wings, it’s fresh, flavorful, and craveable Chinese with some of the best lunch deals in town. While their normal plates are quite tasty, they also have special Weight Watchers-friendly steamed dishes made with no MSG, salt, oil, and sauce on the side to appease the diet crowd.
Mexican – Tacos la Bamba
With colorful murals and mosaics adorning the tables and walls, Tacos La Bamba feels like a fiesta every night of the week. Known for their massive portions and amazing deals, they often have $1 taco night or 20 for $20 platters that would really feed the whole family. Known for their tacos, tortas, and burritos, they also have whole fish plates and other delicacies for less than $10.
Vietnamese – Sweet Basil
Viet-Cajun fusion, Sweet Basil has an interesting mix of noodle soups, banh mi sandwiches, bao buns, and seafood platters infused with Creole spice. An easy gateway from local flavors into Asian fare, it’s a good way to introduce less adventurous eaters to Vietnamese cuisine. The hot mess fries topped with ribeye, beignet balls, and Monkey bread are house favorites.
Japanese – Tokyo
Dinner and a show, Tokyo has both full course cook at the table hibachi meals and sushi. The kids will love being entertained by the onion train and flaming foods while leaving completely stuffed as each dish comes with an entrée, soup or salad, rice, shrimp and grilled veggies. For another excuse to play with your food, they also take caterpillar and dragon rolls quite literally so be sure to snap a photo of the adorable creations. Just don’t sit too close to the fire or you might go home without an eyebrow.