Zaranda

Zaranda reimagines the cuisine of Las Californias—the historic region once stretching from present-day Northern California to Cabo San Lucas—brought to life in downtown Houston by award-winning Chefs Hugo and Ruben Ortega. The restaurant asks a simple question: What if Alta and Baja California had never been divided? The answer is a cuisine sin fronteras—food without borders—rich in history, culture, and abundance.
The name Zaranda comes from the traditional wire basket used for zarandeado, a centuries-old technique of grilling fish over an open flame, still beloved across Baja. Fittingly, seafood takes center stage on the menu, from lobster and octopus to clams and sea urchin.