Eat Your Way Around the World in Shenandoah, Texas

Content Produced in Partnership with Visit Shenandoah TX

Have you ever planned an entire trip around food? Guilty.

When Shenandoah pitched themselves to me as a genie-in-a-bottle destination with 60+ restaurants, 13 hotels, 10+ entertainment venues, and five shopping centers in just 2.2 square miles in one of the most desirable areas of Houston, it sounded pretty enticing to be spoiled for choice right outside your door without having to endure endless highways or hours sitting in traffic (iykyk). Plus, the Woodlands area is a vibe.

For context, for those who aren’t super familiar with Texas, the state is huge. Like, hard-to-wrap-your-head-around huge. Unlike Chicago, where you can be in 8 different states in 2 hours, in Texas you could be driving for 12 hours and still not be out of Texas. Major metros like Houston and Dallas are bigger than entire states like Rhode Island, and it’s not uncommon to take an hour-plus just to make it to the other side of one of those cities.

Being small and having everything at your fingertips is a major advantage.

And from interactive dining experiences like Korean BBQ and hot pot to a Brazilian steakhouse with surprise sushi — we were able to eat our way around the world without ever leaving Texas (or this delightful little bubble), leaving with a very different definition of “small town dining.”

Recommended Shenandoah Texas Restaurants:

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot (Korean)

All you can eat Korean BBQ, hot pot, or — for $5 more — both. The soup bases alone span the continent, from Thai tom yum to Japanese tonkotsu, and an iPad ordering system that means no awkward moments flagging down the server for your 10th serving of wagyu. And yes, wagyu is included. So are other premium items crab legs, butter steak, and unlimited appetizers. The sauce bar is a choose-your-own-adventure that elevates the experience even further (my special concoction is oyster sauce, garlic, green onion, and scallion).

Munch Munch Mochi Donut & Bakery (Japanese)

For the “camera eats first crowd,” the pastry case alone deserves to be Instagrammed. Japanese mochi donuts come in a variety of sweet and savory flavors, think strawberry, matcha, s’mores, that are light, fluffy, and dangerously easy to justify before noon. Everything else is almost too cute to eat, shaped like bears and bunnies, and stuffed or topped with things like BBQ chicken pizza, curry, and sweet potato (the surprising favorite), plus a variety of croffles (croissant waffles) and croons (circular croissants). The rainbow cake itself is iconic, with each layer a different flavor: red velvet, orange, mango, green tea, blueberry, and ube.

Katz’s (New York Style Deli)

With a slogan of “Katz’s Never Kloses,” this 24/7 deli has a huge menu with a smorgasbord of whatever you may be craving. Perfect for breakfast, late night (“Best Late Night Food Spot” by the Houston Chronicle), or an anytime meal, they’re known for the award-winning reuben but I was able to get all my staple Jewish soul food: lox, matzah ball soup, potato pancakes, and a ridiculous 7-layer chocolate cake they proudly proclaim is “taller than a New York skyscraper and richer than a Texas oilman.”

Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina (Tex Mex)

With a sign that reads “bienvenidos, y’all,” Goode Kitchen is where your abuela’s kitchen meets the Gulf, with interesting fusions like made-to-order guacamole topped with pumpkin seeds, roasted garlic, and pickled onion, and queso with all the “goode stuff” — pico, sour cream, and more. Chef/Owner, Levi Goode, is a three-time James Beard semifinalist so really, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the redfish on the half shell and three-day prepared carnitas are go-tos. We couldn’t pass up the sizzling fajitas (with perfectly cooked steak), verde enchiladas, and fully intended to get the pecan pie (one of Oprah’s favorite things!), but were persuaded by our waiter to go tres leches — which had a meringue that tasted like toasted marshmallows and did not disappoint.

Kyuramen (Japanese)

Designed like a honeycomb, the interior is gorgeous with a wishing tree where you can write a hope or dream on a wooden block and send it out into the universe. Rich and flavorful, ramen is the obvious choice, but the menu goes deeper with more unique dishes like kamamishi (seafood and rice served in an iron pot over a burner), rice burgers, and boba drinks from the attached Tbarr like my tasty taro smoothie.

Sal e Brasa (Brazilian Steakhouse)

Continuing south of the border, Sal e Brasa is a traditional churrasco with a white tablecloth, upscale atmosphere. Another interactive all-you-can-eat experience — flip your card from red to green when you want the servers to bring meat until you surrender. Served on skewers and carved tableside, the garlic piranha, ribeye, and shrimp were a surprising favorite. It’s hard not to fill up on the salad bar — “salad” being a very loose term for 30+ items spanning charcuterie, lobster bisque, potatoes, pasta, and sushi, in addition to fantastic passed sides like garlic bread and fried plantains. Wash it all down with a Brazilian caipirinha, which comes in both alcoholic and mocktail form. Pro tip: weekday pricing is a slightly better deal.

Crawfish Cafe (Viet-Cajun)

One of the best crawfish spots according to the Houston Press, you can get crawfish 5+ different ways — from beignets and egg rolls to empanadas and étouffée — but let’s be real, the star of the show is the boil bags. Completely customizable: choose your size (how many pounds you can put down), flavor (from traditional Cajun and garlic butter to crazier house blends like Thai Basil and Coco Loco), and spice level from mild all the way up to reaper. The snow crab was perfectly cooked and available in a variety of combo platters and fully reminded us why no one does seafood like Southeast Texas.

Goode Company Seafood (Coastal Creole)

With one of the most pet-friendly patios in town, Goode Seafood is a celebration of the Gulf bounty and the sister restaurant to Goode and Co. Kitchen and Cantina from the same James Beard nominated chef. The 2–3-person seafood tower (the Pearl) is beautifully plated and a good excuse to try all the appetizers you would have ordered anyway — raw oysters, shrimp cocktail, smoked redfish dip, and chilled crab claws with a green marinade I still dream about. Entrées include po’boys and virtually any fish you could want, mesquite grilled or fried.

SomiSomi (Korean)

If you somehow have any room left after all that, cool off with Korean-inspired soft serve ice cream. Known for their “Ah-Boong” fish-shaped waffle cones — served upside down or right side up — the swirl combos change weekly, from ube-matcha to sakura-milk (very refreshing!), which can be topped with a variety of fillings.

Work it Off (Things to Do That Aren’t Eating in Shenandoah):

Escapology

Elaborate themed escape rooms to satisfy even the most extreme puzzle nerd, Escapology is a choose-your-own-adventure, from the Lost City (Indiana Jones-esque) we did to Seven Deadly Sins and the more kid-friendly Scooby-Doo and Batman and the Dark Knight. A host walks you through the experience and a game master makes sure you’re on track, offering clues if you need a little help.

Brkthrough

Immersive challenges that are physical, mental, skill-based (or all of the above), you have two hours to conquer as many of the 40+ rooms and earn as many points as possible. You’ll find everything from carnival-style throwing games to break dancing and brain puzzles, plus a few surprises where figuring out what to do is half the challenge (looking at you, Prison Break). A lot more of a workout than you’d expect, when you need a breather, the “break room” has a tap wall with mixed drinks, local beer and cider, and a café with tasty treats like s’mores fondue with Biscoff cookies.

Back Nine

A high-tech indoor golf simulator with top rated courses ranging from Scottish castles to local greens, play a full 18 holes or practice your putting and driving for those who prefer to keep score by accuracy or distance rather than ego. They also have games like Skee-Ball and darts for kids (or kids at heart, which let’s be real, was more my speed). Open 24/7 for members; the public can book an hourly time slot.

Family Friendly Attractions

For all ages fun or to wrangle the little ones, Cheeky Monkeys is an “edutainment” rec center with interactive jump zones, blocks, and arts and crafts stations that’s basically a playground with a hall pass. For higher energy (and higher altitude), Urban Air Trampoline Park is great for bigger kids to expel some energy. Game Show Battle Rooms and Dave and Buster’s are there when the group needs a little friendly competition, while Color Me Mine Pottery Studio is for those looking to get creative.

Shop Local

Picket Fences has upscale home décor and seasonal accents, including ceramic dog bowls for the bougie fur babies. Daiso is a Japanese dollar store with all kinds of home goods and exotic chips and snacks. Orange Pocket is a fun stop for collectibles, Asian beauty products, stuffies, and claw machines. Violet Kpop is an anime market with Hello Kitty and Pokémon galore, stickers, a photo booth, and wild Cup of Noodle and chip flavors you won’t find at your local grocery store. For more kitchen goodies, Knead Me Bakery is the place to score sourdough starters, artisanal granola, and handmade jams, jellies and treats.

Hotels in Shenandoah Texas:

Thirteen hotels in 2.2 square miles means plenty of options without deliberation. Most are in the mid-to-upper range and are similarly priced like Aloft, Home2Suites, and Hyatt House. The EVEN Hotel was especially dog-friendly and wellness-forward with good beds, in-room yoga equipment, and the kind of setup that makes a multi-day food tour feel slightly more justified.

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Looking to explore more of Southeast Texas? Here’s where to head:

• Baytown: Try geocaching, the art scavenger hunt app, and don’t miss Buc Ee’s, a gas station that has better BBQ, jerky, and snacks than most of America.
• The Woodlands: Pleasantville on steroids, the Woodlands has great shopping, riverfront trails, and one of the best outdoor concert venues in the country.
• Brazosport: Five destinations in one, Brazosport, is one of Southeast Texas’s most accessible beach getaways.
• Beaumont: The Cajun capital of Texas, tour the historic downtown and get your fill of tasty cuisine.
• Corpus Christi: A bit further afield, Corpus is home to thousands of acres of dunes as part of the Padre National Seashore. Try watersports, go horseback riding on the beach, and watch the waves.
• Pearland: Gem of the fruit cities, enjoy photo ops and good mood food.
• Bay City: Matagorda is a fishing hotspot on the Gulf.

More Texas Travel:

• 75+ Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do in Texas
• 14 Surprising Road Trips You Need to Take in the Lonestar State
• An Austin foodie and photo guide.
• Things to do in the Big D…. Dallas, get your mind out of the gutter.
• Instagram Spots and Must-dos for First-Timers in Fort Worth.