Hamsa’s dishes are contemporary in their presentation, but their flavors are relentlessly classic. Photo by Kirsten Gilliam. One of the newest additions to Houston’s thriving food scene is this little Israeli restaurant, which opened in May 2022 in the city’s Southampton neighborhood near Rice University.

While the patio at Hamsa in Rice Village may be small, the vibe is over the top. It really screams, “patio,” like one of those outdoor showroom set pieces with almost too many potted plants and a fancy cantilevered umbrella. Dinner between a few hedgerows?

New-fashioned Israeli cuisine is front and center at this Rice Village stunner. That means you can dine on a vibrant mosaic of salatim (small side dishes): fiery carrot harissa, tomato and pepper matbucha, silky baba ganoush and a larger plate of the world's creamiest lamb hummus. As for the main stuff, come with friends so you don't have to choose between grilled branzino, lamb spare ribs, and skewers of beef tenderloin dripping in a za'atar and sumac spiced butter.

This relative newcomer to Rice Village serves what is hands-down the city’s best Israeli food. The restaurant and its bar counter are a ton of fun, but Hamsa also has a small patio out front that’s perfect for people-watching visitors of the trendy shopping complex. Go all out for lunch or dinner, or simply order a few salatim to share—hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh—and wash it down with some wine or a flight of arak, a distilled spirit made with anise.

Hamsa – Levantine – Easily the most stylish and ambitious place for the cooking of the Levant in Houston now, this builds on the success and popularity of the owners’ excellent Badolina Bakery next door. Serving what it describes as “modern Israeli cuisine,” the Middle Eastern food will be largely familiar to most Houston diners, but in a more wide-ranging fashion and plated more attractively. A decent array of wines, too.

Hamsa, Okto’s sister restaurant from Sof Hospitality, sits on prime real estate in Rice Village and features a dreamy patio that faces out to Morningside Drive. Oversized umbrellas and lush greenery offer shade, where guests can enjoy wine, arak-fueled cocktails and the modern Israeli menu featuring dishes like lamb hummus ($17), falafel ($15), and chicken shawarma ($30). 5555 Morningside Dr. #100, Houston, hamsahtx.com

Tucked away in a lush, tranquil setting, this inviting restaurant serves up Mediterranean-inspired brunch classics that transport you straight to the heart of the region. From shakshuka hummus to babka French toast featuring chocolate babka, vanilla anglaise, and raspberries, it’s the perfect spot for a laid-back weekend experience where time slows down and you can truly savor each moment. 5555 Morningside Drive, Ste.

For the best of modern Israeli cuisine, but with a decidedly Texan flair, head to Hamsa, a new concept from Sof Hospitality, located right in Rice Village. The restaurant is helmed by Sash Kurgan and Yotam Dolev, who make the fluffiest, silkiest hummus and baba ganoush, with pita bread baked to order on-site. All dishes are served family-style, complete with charcoal-grilled meats and tons of veggie options.

Salatim, a group of small salads and dips served with downy pita snatched from the wood-burning oven, sets the festive tone that permeates this striking Rice Village modern-Israeli restaurant. The silken lemon tahini and baba ghanoush are standouts. Honestly, we’d be fine making a meal of the salatim, perhaps alongside a spritz or a Down South, Hamsa’s riff on a Southside, at the comfortable bar.