Brian Nagele
Home of the original Imperial Sugar factory, Sugarland is a historical and family-friendly town an hour south of Houston, Texas.
While Houstonians may call Sugarland a suburb, it’s been around for well over a century and has many unique attractions and multigenerational inhabitants who’d beg to differ.
Best Restaurants in Sugarland
- Guru
- Japaneiro’s
- Live Oak Grill
- Jupiter Pizza & Waffle Co.
- Keeper’s Japanese
- Carmelo’s Mexican Grill
- The Rouxpour – Sugar Land
- Corelli’s
- Sara’s Halal Burgers & NYC Gyro
- Nirmanz Food Boutique
- Aling’s
- Spice Lane
- Fernando’s
- Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
- Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen {Sugar Land}
Sugarland also has a wealth of diverse and delectable restaurants to enjoy with family and friends. You won’t need to travel to Houston for a decadent dinner or weekend brunch. My list of the best restaurants in Sugarland Texas has something for every taste and budget.
Guru
2268 Texas Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: 281-313-0026
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Located in the heart of Sugarland Town Square, right next door to Sugarland Town Hall, Guru Burgers and Bowls is a beloved, family-owned Sugarland haunt serving colossal burgers and healthier vegetable and grain bowls.
The fast-casual counter service and funky, contemporary dining space with wooden benches, stainless steel tables, and a large chalkboard with the menu and daily specials scrawled in multicolor chalk.
Their sweet potato fries and thick-cut French fries are incredible on their own or you can spice them up with cilantro, fried egg, Korean BBQ sauce, jalapeno pure, and sriracha mayo.
My favorite burger was True Grit, with hickory-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cheddar, and Mexican Coca Cola Barbeque sauce.
Japaneiro’s
2168 Texas Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: 281-242-1121
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As the name implies, Japaneiro is an Asian and Brazilian fusion restaurant, serving Sugarland’s best, most creative sushi for over 17 years.
Located in Sugarland Town Square, in an industrial-chic dining space with a full cocktail bar and lively atmosphere, Japaneiro fuses Japanese flavors and ingredients into popular Latin dishes and vice versa.
Their sushi plates certainly uphold the Japanese culinary traditions of aesthetic presentation. The menu has hot and cold plates, sushi, rolls, soups, salads, and hot entrees.
I recommend going with a crowd to sample a few of each course. My favorite specialty roll was the Kamikaze with crabmeat rolled in squid and flash-fried, then rolled in soybean paper with Masago and rice and topped with unagi sauce and sesame seeds.
Live Oak Grill
12935 Dairy Ashford Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: 281-491-5253
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Live Oak Grill is a quintessential Texas ramshackle roadhouse experience, located inside an old tin-roofed Texas house painted red with a giant Texas star out front.
Located in Executive Park, this fun Texas gem serving American comfort food with a Texas twist has two large patios shaded by gorgeous oak trees, inspiring its name.
They have a full cocktail bar with cheap beer, wine, and a wonderful happy hour from 2- 6 pm Monday through Thursday.
You can get weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner from a massive menu of American and Southwestern classics.
I had their signature Texas Cheese Steak served on a po’boy bun and stuffed with beef fajita, white American cheese, grilled onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, jalapenos, and spicy mayo.
Jupiter Pizza & Waffles Co.
16135 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: 281-313-1008
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Located in a bright and airy dining space in City Plaza at Sugarland Town Square, Jupiter Pizza & Waffles Co. is a New American brunch and dinner eatery, specializing in stone-oven pizzas and sweet and savory waffle creations.
They have a full menu of breakfast plates, burgers, and appetizers served all day and night, fusing flavors from around the world.
Their creative, Neapolitan-style pizzas fuse Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican, and Greek flavors for unique and delectable specialty pies.
Their waffles come in every variation imaginable, topped and stuffed with everything from fruit and nuts to pulled pork and caramelized onions.
I went for the southern classic Cal Naughton jr, with battered, fried chicken with spicy maple sauce topped with two over-easy eggs and Hollandaise sauce and served over a Belgian waffle.
Keeper’s Japanese
4654 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: 281-242-0389
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Named for the Executive Chef and Sugarland native, Keeper’s Japanese restaurant is a contemporary Japanese kitchen and cocktail bar in Lakefield.
The sleek, modern interior with white leather booths and circular LED lighting is as edgy and elegant as the stunning plates of sushi rolls, sashimi, and creative small plates from Chef Keeper’s kitchen.
If you’re on a budget, Keeper’s has an all-day Happy Hour food and drink menu with an abridged but still vast selection of moderately priced sashimi, appetizers, nigiri, handrolls, and sushi. The red snapper sashimi was the freshest, lightest, and most flavorful I have ever tasted.
Carmelo’s Mexican Grill
4888 E Hwy 90 Alt, Sugar Land, TX 77498
Phone: 281-494-2031
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Carmelo’s Mexican Grill is a family-friendly Mexican food restaurant in Stonehaven, serving heaping plates of authentic Mexican food from various regions, along with Tex Mex favorites like cheesy Enchiladas and queso dip.
They pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients and making all sauces, chips, and dishes from scratch daily.
They have a full menu of tequila and mezcal drinks, with a wonderfully refreshing margarita to accompany endless baskets of tortilla chips and made-to-order guacamole.
They’re famous for their big-as-your-face burritos, stuffed with beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese along with your choice of meat or veggies. I chose ground beef for my burrito.
The Rouxpour – Sugar Land
2298 Texas Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: 281-240-7689
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With locations in Memorial City, Kay, Baybrook, and Sugarland Town Square, The Rouxpour is a fancy, fine-dining New Orleans-style bistro.
Its luxurious and lively atmosphere with artsy yet elegant lounges and dining rooms as well as refined takes on classic New Orleans entrees make The Rouxpour an excellent choice for date nights and celebratory dinners.
They use the freshest gulf seafood for authentic New Orleans Creole and Cajun treats like their award-winning seafood and jalapeno sausage gumbo.
I had to pass up a comforting bowl of red beans and rice for their outstanding fried oyster po’boy served with French fries.
Corelli’s Italian Cafe
3229 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: 281-491-8900
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Corelli’s Italian Café is a charming and friendly Italian eatery, serving scratch-made and authentic Italian dishes to the Paynes neighborhood for 23 years and counting.
The old-school, rustic-meets-country chic dining room is replete with red and white checkered tablecloths, limestone columns, and a gorgeous outdoor patio with a large plant-covered enclosure.
The prices are budget-friendly, and many meals come with a slide salad and spaghetti. They have an authentic Italian menu of antipasti, fresh pasta, thin-crust pizza, and entrees.
I am a fan of stuffed and baked pasta, and their manicotti filled with four cheese blends and topped with Sugo rosa meat sauce hit the spot.
Sara’s Halal Burgers & NYC Gyro
13420A W Bellfort St, Sugar Land, TX 77498
Phone: 281-506-8153
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Located in the Four Corners district, Sarah’s Halal Burgers & NYC Gyro is a friendly fast-food restaurant serving Halal gyros and burgers made from 100% organic and fresh ingredients.
All sauces, meats, garnishes, and ingredients are scratch-made in-house. They have friendly counter service and modest, casual dining space.
The large menu of burgers has typical American as well as regional fusion flavors. They also offer wings, fried chicken, and subs.
Their NYC gyros come as plates, over a salad, or in a pita, with lamb, chicken, fish, and shrimp. Their lamb gyro pita was filling, fresh, and delicious.
Nirmanz Food Boutique
16338 Kensington Dr Suite #160, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: 832-532-0699
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From Executive Chef, Owner, and Indian native Nirman Shah, Nirmanz Food Boutique is an upscale yet festive Indian food restaurant in a Bollywood-themed dining space in The Village on Royal Oak.
Chef Nirman uses his decades of experience working in fine Indian Hotels and studying food and hotel management to inform his authentic menu and provide a welcoming and unique dining experience for Sugarland natives.
The sleek dining space with awesome murals of Bollywood stars and large TVs with Bollywood musicals playing is a fun atmosphere to enjoy family-style Indian street fares like tandoori roti, chicken tikka masala, and vegetable biryani.
Alings Chinese Bistro
6542 US-90 ALT, Sugar Land, TX 77498
Phone: 281-242-0432
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An homage to the 1940s Chinese migration through India to the west, Aling’s is a family-friendly yet refined Chinese Bistro in Robinson Landing, serving a fusion of Chinese dishes with Indian influences.
They serve a wonderful and eclectic lunch buffet as well as an a la carte dinner service with fast, friendly take-out as well.
Their vast menu is affordable and vegetarian-friendly. I started with an authentic bowl of Hot and Sour Soup with diced mushrooms and vegetables.
For a taste of Chinese and Indian fusion, I recommend Aling’s fried rice, using basmati rice and a mix of chicken and shrimp.
Spice Lane
3355 Hwy 6 Ste. A, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: 281-313-0697
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Teetering between Edgewater and Grant Colony, Spice Lane is a casual and vibrant cocktail and sake bar and Asian American fusion restaurant serving a creative combination of Southern American food with an Asian twist.
They have daily happy hours from 11- 6 pm, awesome daily specials, and a decadently boozy weekend brunch.
Wednesdays are smoked steak nights during the winter and crawfish boil nights during the summer, while Tuesdays is the Birds and Bubbles special featuring a heaping shareable platter of fried chicken, Brussels, fries, and toast with a bottle of Prosecco.
I couldn’t get enough of their spicy Southside Rice with shrimp, chicken andouille, bell pepper, and onions.
Fernando’s
14135 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: 281-494-9087
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With glowing reviews from the Houston Chronicle and Houston Press, Fernando’s is a Latin American steakhouse and cocktail lounge in a gorgeous multiroom space in Sugar Creek.
Fernando’s uses prime beef, wood-fired to perfection along with authentic Latin American dishes, sauces, and a robust wine list.
Fernando’s menu features authentic dishes from various Latin American countries, from Argentinian empanadas to Peruvian Ceviche.
I recommend their wonderfully spiced paella with yellow saffron rice topped with clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, fish, crawfish, squid, chicken, and chorizo.
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
2115 Town Square Pl, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: 281-565-2727
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Originating in Houston as a butcher shop and deli in 1979, Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille has become a thriving fine-dining American steakhouse with locations around the nation.
Owned by the Perry family, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille offers the highest standard of service in an elegant, world-class atmosphere on par with their succulent and perfectly cooked cuts of beef and seafood.
The Sugarland location is in the heart of Sugarland Town Square in a stunning contemporary dining space and cocktail lounge.
One of their signature dishes is the Filet Perry, a succulent 8 oz filet mignon wrapped with applewood-smoked bacon, topped with jumbo lump crabmeat, and drizzled with Perry’s Steak Butter.
Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen {Sugar Land}
19940 Southwest Fwy #33, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Phone: 832-449-3920
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Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen is a funky and colorful Tex Mex restaurant and margarita bar across the toll road from Memorial Hermann-Sugarland Hospital.
The busy urban dining room has leather chairs and booths, giant succulents, and colorful pieces of southwestern and Mexican-inspired antiques.
Their bright and fresh frozen and top-shelf margaritas are dangerously well-poured, so I highly recommend an order of classic Tex Mex creamy queso loaded with ground beef, guacamole, jalapenos, and sour cream.
Whether you want a chalupa, a plate of sizzling fajitas, or a combo plate with a little of everything, Gringo’s has you covered in true Tex Mex-fashion. Come hungry!
Final Thoughts
Sugarland restaurants have everything from fine-dining steakhouses to family-friendly Texas roadhouses.
Whether you’re looking for an over-the-top burger or an authentic Indian meal in a Bollywood-themed eatery, you’ll find Texas-sized diversity on my list of the best restaurants in Sugarland.
If you prefer restaurants who are dedicated to the art of grilling meat to perfection, check out our list of the best bbq spots in Houston.
If you have more suggestions, we’d love to hear about your favorite Sugarland spots in the comments below.
