Everybody who writes about food loves Agnes and Sherman. The Asian American diner concept in the Heights neighborhood of Houston from two celebrated local notables, Agnes and Sherman has been named one of Bon Appétit’s best new restaurants for 2026. The honor is yet another for the relatively young eatery.
Bon Appetit published its annual Best New Restaurants feature Monday, highlighting Agnes and Sherman among 18 other businesses across the U.S. There are two New York spots (Kabawa, Lei), two from Philadelphia (Honeysuckle, Sao) and one from Austin (Le Calamar) among the several others listed, with the disclaimer that restaurants that launched between March 2025 and March ’26 were eligible. Agnes & Sherman, which chef Nick Wong and business partner Lisa Lee opened in April ’25, was applauded for its ability to serve up nostalgia while also pointing a brave new way forward.
“Roughly a tenth of the metro Houston population identifies as Asian, and this restaurant serves up a refreshing kind of nostalgia that is simultaneously specific and expansive, wrote Kate Kassin.
Bon Appétit celebrated Agnes and Sherman’s cheeseburger fried rice and wedge salad, and noted its new-age “American diner” aesthetic. It also offered, via Wong, a recipe for cheeseburger fried rice, so you can make it at home.
Wong and Lee said Monday in a statement to Chron they “remember ptiching” Agnes and Sherman “like it was yesterday.”
“While it was hard for many to grasp, we had a strong conviction about creating dishes and a space that reflected how we grew up and were also distinctly Asian American,” read the statement. “We are immensely proud to represent Houston, Texas, on this list and to keep building a place that makes it just a little easier for our guests and staff to be themselves.”
Agnes and Sherman, which Wong named after his parents, has already been recognized several times since opening last year. Back in March, the restaurant was named a finalist for a James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant. It was designated as a recommended restaurant by the Texas Michelin Guide in late 2025. Paula Forbes of Texas Monthly named Agnes and Sherman her Restaurant of the Year in early 2026, and earlier this month, Good Morning America put a spotlight on the eatery as part of a series on American diners.
