Local Foods

"Sandwich: crunchy chicken sandwich Ask almost anyone in Houston what to get at Local Foods, and we bet at least 83% will say the crunchy chicken sandwich. Served on a sturdy pretzel bun, the sandwich gets stacked with thick slices of roasted chicken layered with a crispy crumble of nuts, seeds, and a generous layer of salted potato chips. Grab another side of chips and toasted pumpkin seeds if you need even more crunch." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene, julie takahashi

"The healthy-ish restaurant Local Foods has several locations, but we’re partial to the one in Rice Village. Cozy and casual, the inside of this counter-service spot is airy, with bouncy green booths to snuggle into before taking down a crispy chicken sandwich topped with crushed chips and briny housemade pickles. Local Foods also has dozens of specialty drinks (hello sparkling pomegranate lemonade with cardamom) to add on to your meal and maybe a chocolate chip cookie, too. After you’ve eaten, take a stroll through the market and buy a bottle of fancy olive oil to remember Local Foods by." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"Local Foods, the fast-casual favorite, closed its location at 5740 San Felipe Street on December 23." - Courtney E. Smith

"Local Foods’ crunchy chicken sandwich is integral to Houston’s sandwich scene. The harmonious marriage of perfectly thin chicken, potato chips, fresh tomato, creamy buttermilk ranch, and pickles between a pretzel bun make for the perfect meal at lunch or dinner." - Brittany Britto Garley, Katie Holtman

"For years, one of the worst parts of being a vegan in the Lone Star State was missing out on a good bowl of chunky queso. Thankfully, this fast-casual eatery recognizes the importance of this cheesy staple. Local Foods uses cashew cheese to get the same smoothness Texans know and love and adds in vegan “taco meat” for an extra punch of richness. Add vegan chili and chips and you’ve got yourself a vegan frito pie. Still hungry? Try the quinoa burger or the power bowl, a combination of navy beans, brown rice, quinoa mix, curry tofu, roasted squash, red watercress, and sunflower seeds with a harissa vinaigrette." - Andy Huff, Brittany Britto Garley, Megha McSwain