Papalo Taqueria

Chef-owners Stephanie Velasquez and Nicolas Vera run this compact counter-service taqueria inside Finn Hall in downtown Houston, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand while seating barely a handful of diners. The restaurant nixtamalizes its own corn on-site to make fresh masa tortillas throughout the day, and the zanahoria taco, slow-cooked carrot in a nutty pepita salsa, ranked on Texas Monthly's list of the 50 best tacos in Texas. The chicharron with pumpkin seed vinaigrette and the tomatillo-braised pork shoulder are equally essential.