#98 "You Buy We Fry" Trout Basket at Hank's Fish Market 4319 Lockwood Fifth Ward

Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments.

"You Buy We Fry" Trout Basket at Hank's Fish Market 4319 Lockwood Fifth Ward

There is a Buddhist shrine behind the counter of Hank's Fish on Lockwood in the Fifth Ward. The Vietnamese who arrived on the Gulf Coast after the fall of Saigon in the 1970s gravitated toward the seafood industry. They now own most of the "you buy, we fry" fish markets in Houston's African-American neighborhoods. The quality of the seafood and the ridiculously low prices make these urban fish markets excellent sources for fish dinners.

You can buy a whole fish and have it cleaned and fried on the spot. Gulf sea trout and redfish are my favorites. At Hank's, two filets of trout and six shrimp with french fries and salad are $5.10. Three fish filets and fries are $3.79. And the family order of 10 fish filets and 15 shrimp is $16.

The list to date:
#100: Green Chile Chicken Kebabs at Chatkhara Grill
#99: The All-Day Burrito at Cherry Top Bakery