Hickory Hollow

Rude counter service. I noticed she has worked there since 2003 and may feel entitled that customers owe her something. But no excuse for not being welcoming and nice. Food wasn’t great. Medium chicken fried was huge, but not flavorful and the meat was a tenderized round steak slab. Again, no flavor. My daughter likes it because they have big tables for the kids. I won’t go on my own though. I vote No Bueno.

BBQ chicken. Chicken fried steaks. Onion rings. Turkey. Sausage. All of it. amazing. I’m from a small town and this place definitely has that small town vibe inside. This is one of my favorite places to take friends and family that is visiting. Great place!

Just came from lunch there. Originally planned on having lunch elsewhere, but could find parking (welcome to Houston!). So we drove on and saw this out of the corner of my eye … my wife and I rolled the dice and took a chance on a «new place». We each had the 3-​meat platter, with slightly different meats and sides so that we could properly «sample». This is the first place I’ve ever been where you had a Chicken Fried Steak as one of your meat options! We told the young lady, who took our order («Tere», I believe) that it was out first visit and she was extremely helpful in helping us select. The «plate» was actually a «pizza pan» … there was so much stuff. Everything was fresh and delicious! Tere also checked back in with us while we were eating.
Though we didn’t have a salad, the salad bar was well stocked and very appetizing. The whole restaurant was very clean and welcoming. Drinks, silverware, sauces, napkins, etc were all available so you did didn’t always have to «ask someone» for simple things like an extra napkin or a bit more BBQ sauce.
My wife and I are from austin, but will definitely be back at our earliest opportunity … maybe even on a Friday or saturday, when they have live music!

(Didn’t dine in) but my coworkers went here for lunch to pick up our orders to go. I had the chopped beef & chicken loaded baked potatoe w/​everything… and man was that thing delicious! This was my first experience w/​HH and I was more than pleased. I pass by this place everyday coming into work, but now, I will officially become a regular.

Is there a negative 1 star rating possible? Let me start by saying I am a native Houstonian and have come here many times to eat in the past. I came back to my hometown to take my 79 year old grandma to dinner for her birthday. I placed our orders and the lady (Patti O) at the front was VERY rude! She YELLED at me to ask me about my order. When confronted about her rude behavior she of course denied it and said she would give my child a dessert but DID NOT ever do that. She was loud and obnoxious SCREAMING «bye» when we exited the restaurant as well.
The food here used to be good. Maybe it’s because I now live in Austin and have tried many good BBQ places out there. Either that or the food here has gotten worse over the years. The chicken fried steak was gross and the chopped beef sandwich was awful! I feel like I may throw up it was so gross! Not to mention the very rude and horrible service at the counter.

My boyfriend and I ordered a 3 meat plate to share. We picked the lean sliced beef, ribs, and smoked turkey. The meat was very tasty… cooked perfectly and tender! The quantity of meat was amazing… we had enough for both of us to have 2 meals. We had the mac & cheese and hot tots for sides. The hot tots were awesome! Everyone was very friendly, and we loved the old school feel of the place. The BBQ sauce is one of my favs also… not too sweet or thick, so it doesnt overpower the meat flavor. We want to go back to try a chicken fried steak one day.

hickory hollow never lets me and my family down… everything tastes delicious and I will always be a patron at hickory hollow

Very solid BBQ joint in The Heights. Sure, it’s not on Gatlins level but you also don’t have to wait in those ridiculous lines.
The service is good and the food is above average. Get the hot tots!

I wanted to try out this Long time local restaurant, I’ve driven by three weeks in a row and was able to walk from my office. Looks on the outside versus inside don’t change much, the place has lots of character, this means it’s real down home here. You won’t be disappointed, I wanted to eat lite and they actually added new lite items, lite on calories, big on the Texas BBQ taste.
I had the pork spate ribs, meat falls off the bone and flavored just right, I also had the smoked turkey breasts that will make your taste buds flow. Sides were Hit tots and potato salad. Together everything was delicious and bust my gut or wallet.
Place was also real clean and staff pleasant and friendly.

Everything is awesome! Fast service, friendly people, and best BBQ in the area! My coworkers and I frequent this place. Smells awesome just pulling up the place.

Hickory Hollow is the place to go for varying sizes of Chicken Fried Steaks. I’ve had their bbq (which is very good) a handful of times but most of the time I end up ordering the chicken fried steak. They have them in three sizes:
Large Rancher — the «Saddle Blanket»
Medium Hired Hand — «Texas Size»
Small Plowman — «Perfect for lunch»
Most of the time the Small Plowman is the perfect portion size for me, and i’ve ordered the Large Rancher and have split it occasionally. They have a variety of delicious sides to choose from. And they do also have steak.
My last visit, I ordered the Large Rancher and it felt like the meat didn’t have enough flavor, so I was relying on the brown gravy heavily. However, my visit before that, the meat was slightly seasoned and flavorful without the gravy. It’s never bursting in your mouth full of flavor, but it’s usually pretty good. It may have just been a random thing, but I’m still a big fan of the place. Check it out and see what you think.

Very very good. My absolute fav is the chicken fried steak. The gravy is to die for. Wish they had more dessert choices.
The staff is very pleasant and helpful. I will definitely be back. No complaints here.

After reading all the great reviews they had online, I was expecting MUCH more than what I actually experienced.
The chicken-​fried steak was HUGE (likely a 12 in piece of meat). However, it was not tender, and the coating was bland. I had to add my own set of spices to make it bearable.
The fries were soggy and warm and tasted like they had been sitting out for a while.
The green beans were «just ok», lacking some pork fat or some bacon and potatoes in there.
The macaroni tasted store bought, and tasted like it was stovetop cooked.
The only saving grace for it was their gravy. It was good and seasoned. I wondered why they gave me 20 oz. of it; now I know why. You have to practically drown your food in it to mask the lack of seasoning.
Though they were featured on The Food Network, someone owed someone a favor. I’m sure the locals in that part of town love flavorless, spiceless food. But I’m not part of that majority.
I gave it a chance. I’ll likely not go back.

OK, so I wanted to treat the family to a good old-​fashioned weekend BBQ dinner, and I hit up the ever-​reliable Hickory Hollow in the Heights.
Short version: A cool, laid-​back family type of place that brings together all sorts of Houstonians with their flavorful, moist, and succulent BBQ with all the fixin’s. Get here fast before it gets taken over by hipsters!
Long version: I could write a book about barbecue, its roots in Texas and the vast number of ways it could be fixed. In fact, former Houston Press food critic and restaurant owner Robb Walsh has written such a book describing it. I urge you to read it if you are a BBQ fanatic. But I digress.
Barbecue in Houston has three main cultural influences: Southern white (from across the Sabine), Southern black (from East Texas) and Mexican (from across the Rio Grande). The type of meat, the way it’s cut, the spiciness of the sauce and the types of fixin’s that accompany it let you know which influences are the strongest.
Hickory Hollow is definitely among the Anglo/​Hispanic genre of BBQ. For starters, the brisket is sliced, not chopped (which is the hallmark of how blacks serve it). The meat itself is moist, tender and falls apart with a fork. The brisket is charred and slowly morphs from the pink to the brown in perfect detail.
Let me pause here to wipe the drool from my face. OK, I got it.
The sauce is a bit on the smoky/​spicy side, which reflects the influence of Mexican «barbacoa.» White Southerners like a sweeter sauce to go with their pork BBQ. Because I grew up eating BBQ made by people who were influenced by Mexican cooks, I am more comfortable with a spicier sauce on my brisket.
The sausage is also a hit. Hickory Hollow makes two types — regular and «spicy.» Think andouille, Creole-​style. There’s the Southern influence right there.
Now let’s talk about some good ol’ smoked pork ribs here. (Wiping mouth again.)
These ribs are fall-​off-​the-​bone and melt-​in-​your-​mouth deliciousness. They are served dry, but I always slather that wonderful BBQ sauce on them and chow down on them like J.J. Watt taking on a QB out of the pocket. They have to hose me down after eating six of them, but I don’t mind a bit!
The BBQ beans are — again — simmered in that wonderful spicy/​smoky sauce. Again, Mexican influence (thank God!). Bland beans are a no-​no in my book.
Other sides include such wonderful homemade items like creamy coleslaw, southern green beans, kernel corn, fried okra, and the most delicious mac-​and-​cheese I have EVER eaten. Again, all three cultures are represented here.
The building itself is nice and rustic, with the requisite aroma of smoky BBQ wafting in the parking lot. TV sets are in every dining room, which makes Saturdays in the fall so special. We’re talking college football here, folks!
It also draws a cross-​section of Houstonians from all ethnicities and walks of life, which is probably why it is so popular. Typical diners include Little League teams (with their burly coaches), small families, big families, Heights residents, senior citizens, and people like me.
Like I said, a microcosm of Houston.
Another thing I like about Hickory Hollow is the speed at which you are served, the pleasant demeanor of the workers there, and the fact that they encourage you to share your table with others if you are dining alone or at a big table with extra chairs.
NOTE: This sort of behavior is par for the course here in the South. Everyone is family, and nobody is meant to be out of place or uncomfortable. For you transplants who aren’t used to this type of «good-​olé-​guy/​gal» behavior, just smile and say thank you.
Parking is adjacent to the building, but please watch your valuables — the Heights isn’t as safe as it once was. Hence the one-​star deduction.
Bottom line: if you want truly authentic Houston BBQ in quaint surroundings with lots of great food and friendly people, give it a shot. It’s on my short list of the best BBQ in town — if not the entire state of Texas.

Went here for lunch with a group of co workers. Saw a tv show on the food network channel so we decided to see what the hypes about.
Ordered the large chicken fried steak and OMG is it huge and looked amazing! Unfortunately though it didn’t have much flavor definitely had better. The sides however were VERY good I got mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese. They give free bread with your order and they have a very nice salad bar with a decent amount of choices!

Aww shucks. Not so much. Meh, etc.
The live music was both fun and interactive with the audience — no complaints there. As for the food, I found myself thinking I’ve had better BBQ in the north. It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t super-​good either. The atmosphere makes you feel like you’re in the boondocks with wooden tables, trinkets on the walls and low ceilings (very fitting for a bbq joint). I’m eager to explore more bbq establishments in Houston during my next visit.

Down home community center vibe with mega comfort food. Perfect for a Sunday hangover or post church family gathering. Ribs and turkey barbecue are undeniably great. Nothing fancy or frilly, just a great little bare bones joint with some meat on it.
Really dig the big tables too. Also: there’s a cool little stage that would be great for some live music

So after years of being on a hiatus I finally got my family to come with me to check out the wonderful chicken fried steak of my youth unfortunately this place is gone bad with average sides (mashed potatoes absent of salt and fried okra with zero flavor) the only pluses were my son likes the box flavor of the Mac n Cheese and my daughter had the chicken fried burger which was totally different to her. Sad to say this was a favorite prior to my wedding so I’m stretched to believe that either my palate has matured or the place is sliding down. Portions are still grand in the CFS area, and if I only had feel my mouth as they were cooked well texture wise, just missing flavor. So if you want to cover your food in Tabasco this is your stop, or if you want good food search elsewhere. Btw. Tea was still good but pie-​skip

This has been on my «to eat» list for years. Finally, found my way to this seedy restaurant located on center and Yale. Seedy as in, they advertise to hide your belongings and there’s bars on the windows. No matter, the restaurant staff itself is extremely welcoming. The inside asks that you make new friends by sharing the long banquet tables scattered throughout the restaurant with fellow dinners. Walk up, order and then wait for the beeper to buzz.
Ordered the chicken fried steak, ribs with fried okra and potato salad for my sides. Their drink station has cute little mason jars which gives this place an even more down home country vibe. Chicken fried steak was so good. Country gravy is drizzled generously on top and the breading is crispy and delicious. The ribs here were just okay. Had a nice smoke ring and was tender but I’m just underwhelmed by the bbq sauce. Sides were both really good! The okra was crispy and seasoned well, not too salty.

I came here to try their chicken tenders as they were advertised as being especially good. Most of their dishes come with two sides, so I ordered french fries and Mac and cheese. I’ll come back to the food…
There’s a private parking lot, so unless it’s really crowded parking should not be an issue. The atmosphere is fun and casual with live music on a Wednesday night. Patio seating is available and it’s counter service, self-​seating. Staff is friendly and welcoming.
The food was just OK. My chicken was pretty good. Even though my sides had cold spots the taste was still all right. Pricing was about average for this neighborhood and the portions were fair. There’s a salad bar available and their baked potatoes looked really good. Fountain soda and tea available to drink.
I really liked the environment of this restaurant more so than the food. There’s a chance I’ll come back here again if I want to watch a Texans game with a side of BBQ or country cooking.