The Delicious Story of The Hay Merchant

Source: Nightlife in Houston

There are some people who grab a beer every once in awhile, and then there are beer connoisseurs like the folks at The Hay Merchant.

With an entire wall of taps, some bottle options and a comprehensive menu of creative eats that pair perfectly with their extensive beer selections, The Hay Merchant has made a name for itself as a frontrunner in craft, imported and just sheer breadth of beer selections.

And now it’s easier than ever to try excellent brews. Happy hour is from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm, with 30 of their on-tap selections (I told you—they have a LOT of taps!) made available for just $3! This place even has nights where the “beer-curious” (as they call them) can learn about beer. But you know me folks, and my absolute favorite thing on the planet is… well, food. And frankly, The Hay Merchant does it right.

Source: Foodspotting, Nacho Fries

But, before we get into how right their amazing Mango Habanero BBQ Pork Buns are, The Hay Merchant has steeped itself in Houston’s rich history and caters to an authentically Houston bar and restaurant experience. Believe me, it’s worth hearing about! Their philosophy is that “great bars… excel at mirroring their neighborhoods,” and their carefully considered name bears no exception.

Source: Zagat, The Katsudon

Westheimer, the street onto which Hay Merchant looks, was named for a German immigrant who built an empire— including our city’s first public school, while raising 16 kids, learning 6 languages and maintaining the upkeep of a large parcel of land, on which he was able to harvest and sell hay, thus, making him Montrose’s original Hay Merchant, although here they’re “pushing grains of a different sort.”

Source: Houston Chronicle, Smoked Pork Breakfast Skillet

As I said before, however, this place isn’t only valuable for its hops! I’ve had their Fried Shrimp Tacos at brunch and they are absolutely killer—the cucumber pico de gallo really takes it to another level. The Katsudon, a Japanese dish of crispy pork cutlet, miso corn, pickled cucumber plus rice and eggs, is to die for, as are the Mango Habanero BBQ Pork Buns. And trust me on this, their Sweet & Spicy Pig Ears divine! It is nutty how much you want to eat exclusively Pig Ears after trying these and that is not an exaggeration. It’s opened up an entirely new neighborhood in my diet.

Source: Zagat, Victoria’s Cinnamon Roll

You should also know that Tuesday nights are steak nights at Hay Merchant and every single night from 11pm-1am there’s a late night food special, serving specific snacks for only $3! There’s a little something for everybody here!