Downtown Houston’s Barbacana is more than a restaurant—it’s a tribute to the city’s diverse palate and cultural depth. Helmed by acclaimed chef and Houston native Christian Hernandez, this new casual fine-dining gem at 907 Franklin Street blends global technique with Gulf Coast soul.
Downtown Houston’s Barbacana is more than a restaurant—it’s a tribute to the city’s diverse palate and cultural depth. Helmed by acclaimed chef and Houston native Christian Hernandez, this new casual fine-dining gem at 907 Franklin Street blends global technique with Gulf Coast soul.
Located just a block from Allen’s Landing—the city’s birthplace—Barbacana draws inspiration from Houston’s roots while looking toward its culinary future. Chef Hernandez, a graduate of Culinary Institute LeNotre and veteran of top restaurants from Houston to New York to Mexico City, calls Barbacana his love letter to the city that raised him.
With a rotating chef’s tasting menu and à la carte options, Barbacana captures the essence of Houston’s cultural mosaic. Signature dishes include a buttered onion tart topped with jumbo lump crab, Texas Wagyu carpaccio with pickled strawberries, and a Japanese-inspired donburi bowl featuring hedgehog mushrooms and puffed rice shichimi. A standout: the dry-aged Rohan duck breast paired with pistachio dukkah and Medjool dates soaked in duck stock.
Raised in Houston’s East End, Hernandez credits his adventurous mother for his early culinary curiosity. “She made it a point to expose us to different cuisines,” he said. “Those meals shaped me.”
The 140-seat restaurant, designed by Carl Eaves, offers a modern, art-filled interior with brick walls, bold murals, and an open kitchen. Behind the bar, Gustavo Perez (formerly of Anvil and The Pastry War) crafts bold cocktails and leads fermentation projects that echo the restaurant’s sustainability mission.
From zero-waste cooking to highlighting bycatch seafood, Barbacana is redefining Houston cuisine—one thoughtful plate at a time.
Barbacana is open Tuesday through Friday for lunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Tuesday through Saturday for dinner (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Reservations via OpenTable are highly recommended. Visit barbacanatx.com for more.
