In this episode of “Eat Like a Local”, Chris Shepherd’s premise is simple: no theme, no rules—just the Houston-area places he’s excited to eat right now (plus a couple of “you’ve gotta try this” recommendations). Here are all the restaurants/food stops he visits in the episode, in order, with what to get and why they made the cut.
1) J.A.M Viet Kitchen (West Side / Westheimer)
Why it’s on the list: Shepherd says he found dishes at J.A.M Viet Kitchen he hadn’t seen since traveling in Vietnam—plus a Vietnamese-ingredient-driven bar program that’s not typical for most Vietnamese restaurants.
What he eats/drinks in the episode
- Egg coffee (cold version) — whipped egg yolk + sweetened condensed milk foam over Vietnamese coffee.
- Salted caramel coffee — heavy cream whip with powdered sugar + sea salt over the same coffee base.
- Egg coffee martini (espresso martini riff) — Vietnamese coffee + the egg/condensed milk element turned into a cocktail.
- Phở Bắc (pho-based cocktail) — tequila infused with skimmed pho fat for “all the flavors of pho” in drink form.
- Bánh tráng nướng — crispy, egg-seared rice paper “pizza” style snack with sausage; he calls out the quail eggs as the best part.
- Bánh căn — small skillet rice-flour pancakes (Central Vietnam-style), topped with seafood like crab, cuttlefish, shrimp.
- Bánh bột chiên — steamed rice cake with fried egg, Chinese sausage and a soy/vinegar element.
- Cơm tấm (“Saigon oi” broken rice platter) — pork chop + steamed pork cake + pork sausage, plus crispy/rendered bits and shredded pork skin; he mentions you can even add shrimp, bone marrow, or a tomahawk.
- Cao lầu — a Hoi An specialty with roasted pork, herbs, crunch, citrus, and distinctive noodles; Shepherd highlights the noodles’ chew and says to get it “as fast as you can.”
Shepherd’s quick “what to order” recap
- Bánh tráng nướng
- Bánh căn
- Cao lầu
- Saigon oi / broken rice platter
- Finish with an egg coffee martini (and he also raves about the pho cocktail)
PREVIOUS EPISODE: Chris Shepherd shares two of his favorite Houston-area spots for a great meal with friends
2) Milton’s (Rice Village)
Why it’s on the list: If you want a “classic Italian-American dinner,” Shepherd calls Milton’s the place— especially for a certain comfort-food classic he can’t stop talking about.
What he orders
- Chicken Parmesan — the one he says he “dreams about,” praising the fry, seasoning, moist chicken, melted cheese, and sauce.
Extra notes he drops
- Pasta is made in-house.
- Great-value wine list.
- Cocktails are “fantastic.”
- Mentions Lee’s next door as a nearby spot to nightcap/pre-game.
3) Yiayia’s Greek Kitchen (Richmond)
Why it’s on the list: Shepherd frames YiaYia’s as a must for the “things I really love to go eat” portion of the lightning round—Greek food with a high-end approach, a big bar, and a deep Greek wine selection.
What he drinks
- YiaYia’s tonic — an herb-forward gin & tonic he says is perfectly balanced (with noticeable dill that doesn’t go too far).
- Kokkini Sunset — tequila + mezcal with a bell pepper cordial, named after Kokkini Beach outside Corfu.
What he eats
- Chicken souvlaki — air-chilled chicken thighs, finished with olive oil/garlic/shallots; served with tzatziki, grain salad, charred tomato. He says this is what other souvlaki “want to be.”
- Saganaki (tableside) — seared Kefalograviera (sheep’s milk cheese) flambéed with brandy and topped with a date/pear compote; served with house pita.
Extra notes he drops
- Mentions it’s relatively new and references the space’s prior identity (YiaYia Mary’s).
- Calls out 100+ Greek wines on the list.
- Encourages: get a reservation and go.
4) Tornado Burger (Stafford)
Why it’s on the list: A recommendation-driven stop—he says “Abbas told me” to get the spicy burger, and he’s here specifically for that.
What he orders
- Double Spicy Burger — patties ground with jalapeño, garlic, and onion so the heat/flavor is built in (not just chunks). He notes it’s not overly spicy, and you can add more jalapeños if you want.
Also mentioned (temptations)
- Cheesesteak (including the idea you can do it spicy).
- Onion strings (he sees them and has to get them).
5) Froberg’s Farm (Alvin) — for the fried pies
Why it’s on the list: This is the nostalgia/pilgrimage stop. Shepherd says when he was cooking at Brennan’s, they’d come down to Froberg’s Farm weekly for produce—and it was “mandatory” to come back with fried pies.
What he gets
- Fried pies — he rapid-fires flavors including lemon, pineapple, tart cherry, coconut, chocolate, buttermilk, strawberry, plus a “Sweet Caroline” flavor he describes like banana cream.
Why it works
- He ties it to seasonality and place: seeing strawberries growing nearby and then eating a strawberry fried pie made with preserves that aren’t “out of a big jug.”
The takeaway: a Houston-area hit list with zero rules
If you’re copying Shepherd’s exact “no theme” energy, do it like this:
- Start with J.A.M Viet Kitchen for Vietnamese snacks + coffee/cocktails.
- Go classic comfort at Milton’s with chicken parm.
- Make it a night at Yiayia’s (cocktails + souvlaki + tableside cheese).
- Detour to Stafford for the Tornado Burger spicy smash.
- Finish with a drive to Alvin for Froberg Farms fried pies.
“Eat Like a Local with Chris Shepherd” is your guide to the best food in Houston. Watch new episodes Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KPRC 2.
Season 3 of “Eat Like a Local”
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 56: Season 3 of ‘Eat Like a Local’ launches with chefs recognized by the James Beard Awards
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 57: Beer + Bites: Discover two of the Houston-area’s best craft breweries
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 58: Hungry for a short trip? 4 flavorful restaurants to try in Baytown
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 60: From tortas to paletas: Generations of Mexican-American flavor in Houston
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 61: Farmed Fresh: Gulf Coast oysters make waves in Houston restaurants
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 62: Houston’s pizza scene is rising: Chris Shepherd explores top spots for every style
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 67: Discover Houston Asiatown’s unique snacks with Chris Shepherd
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 69: Chris Shepherd’s Houston-area burger picks include a hot new spot and a 50-year classic
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 71: Win the Hosting Game! 🏈 Game Day recipes & crowd-pleasers from Chef Chris Shepherd
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 72: These meat markets are a cut above when it comes to quality, flavor, and tradition
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 74: Houston coffee gems (Matcha lovers, this one’s for you)
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 75: Craving Cajun food in Houston? These restaurants deliver big variety and flavor
- SEASON 3, EPISODE 76: Where to eat in Houston’s Heights neighborhood | Chris Shepherd visits 3 top picks