Gulfton Houston, TX

During the 1960s, a number of developers took advantage of the availability of substantial tracts of undeveloped land in the Gulfton region to construct several apartment complexes, ranging in size from large to monumental. During the oil boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, this area served as a prime location for those seeking an upscale "swinging singles" lifestyle, exemplified by extravagant television advertising for Colonial House Apartments that featured noted California promoter, Michael Pollock.

When the oil boom ended in the mid 1980s, the Gulfton neighborhood faced a steep decline in fortunes. No longer a stylish address as it was in its heyday, the Salvadoran civil war made the Gulfton district a prime destination of Salvadoran refugees. However, by 1993 at the urging of local community organizers, Gulfton received over 500 new sidewalks, paved streets, street lights and other amenities, which substantially improved the quality of life for residents.

A number of restaurants reside in the Gulfton area, particularly along Bellaire Boulevard. The Roadster Grill at 5210 Bissonnet Street stands as a Houston institution, with 15 different superb hamburgers and a surprising selection of Greek specialties like Moussaka and Souvlaki as well. This dining establishment's gyro sandwich draws rave reviews from the locals. Look for the blue building with a hot rod painted on the side when you decide to visit.

Adjacent to the Fiesta Mart, Mambo Seafood serves your favorite fish and shellfish with a Mexican flavor.Try the civiche playero, made fresh daily with salmon, tilapia and jicama civeche, to tantalize your taste buds with robust flavor, or choose the Mambo rice, with your choice of shrimp, pork, or chicken.

Another Mexican-themed restaurant, Tacos La Bala sits at the intersection of Dashwood Drive and Rampart Street. This popular eatery serves a variety of tortas, such as a delicious barbacoa torta as well as a traditional torta nopales with cactus. For breakfast, try the huevos rancheros on corn or wheat tortillas to start your day.

A number of Hispanic-themed mom and pop restaurants lie scattered across the neighborhood as well, principally serving Mexican, Salvadoran, and Central American cuisine.

For nightlife, the Babilonia Discoteque located at Hillcroft between Sands Point and Gulfton serves a primarily young Hispanic clientele. Get in for just $10 on weekends, but be prepared to pay more if a live band takes the stage. Be sure to arrive early on weekends as this place fills up quickly.

Most locations in the Gulfton area feature excellent access to Houston's ubiquitous freeway system via Interstate 59 (known locally as the Southwest Freeway), which makes the best route to downtown. Rampart Street, Renwick Street and Hillcroft Street provide good North-South automobile access to and from the Southwest Freeway. Bellaire Boulevard provides a good east to west alternate to the Southwest Freeway for the southern portion of Gulfton. Houston METRO provides bus service via the 2 Bellaire, 9 North Main/Gulfton, 33 Post Oak Crosstown, 47 Hillcroft Crostown and 163 Fondren Express Lines, although most destinations require several transfers. The METRORail doesn't serve the Gulfton area, although both a Gulfton station as well as the Hillcroft Transit Center stand as stops on the proposed University or "Blue" line. When the city completes this expansion, it will certainly revolutionize transportation in the Gulfton region.

Several taxi companies serve the area, including Fiesta Cab Company, a widely used area cab service. Rather than hailing a cab off the street, most locals call ahead to arrange a pickup. Although some streets don't have sidewalks, you can walk with ease in most areas. Designated bike lanes exist although fairly heavy street traffic often makes safety a concern. Ample street parking ensures easy-to-find spaces most of the time.

Discover Burnet-Bayland Park located at the intersection of Gulfton and Chimney Rock. Free admission to the park grants you access to the community center, an outdoor basketball pavilion, a playground and a lighted sports field. A number of local soccer leagues use this park. No dogs are allowed.

The cost of living in the Gulfton neighborhood tends to be significantly lower than that in other areas of Houston. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $603.14, although move-in specials run often in the area. The price of beer at Babilonia Discoteque usually runs $5 for domestic brands.

Like the rest of Houston, gasoline costs less than the national average, which keeps expenses down. Cars comprise the primary mode of area transportation because of Houston's notoriously poor public transportation. METRO Bus service for Zone 2 (where Gulfton is located) costs $3.25 per ride, or $1.60 per ride for students, seniors, Medicare cardholders or the disabled. A METRO day pass allows free transfers (up to three hours in the same direction) for the first two paid fares. A METRO "Q" card allows free transfers with every paid fare.

Formerly the famous Sharpstown Shopping Center, PlazAmericas sits at 7500 Bellaire Boulevard at its intersection with the Southwest Freeway. In addition, the Gulfton neighborhood lies within two or three miles of numerous high-end shopping centers, just north of the Southwest Freeway on Westheimer Road and Post Oak Boulevard. The most notable of these is the famous Galleria located on Westheimer Road. The WalMart Super Center located on Dunvale Road makes for a short drive from the Gulfton vicinity. The 99 Cents store on Bellaire Boulevard offers very convenient discount shopping.

The Gulfton neighborhood gets its groceries at the Fiesta Mart on Bellaire Boulevard and Sellers Brothers located at 5900 Renwick, both of which provide name-brand food items at affordable prices. A number of small mom-and-pop stores catering to those who seek authentic Mexican and Central American ingredients and specialty foods also reside within the area.