The Houston restaurant community has a big heart — just like our Houstonians stepping in wherever needed to help their neighbors in distress. Here are a few restaurants I’ve heard providing meals to first responders:

Houston Restaurants: Free Meals for First Responders

photo: Peli Peli Kitchen (Facebook)

Peli Peli Restaurants stepped up big and provided 20,000 meals so far to the Red Cross, thanks to its huge group of volunteers who prepped, cooked, packed, delivered and cleaned to make it happen. It also has served free meals to first responders, disaster relief workers and evacuees from the Katy and Spring Branch locations, thanks to food arriving from the Austin Grassroots Food Relief Effort.

Peli Peli Kitchen (9090 Katy Fwy) – free meals for first responders; open to public September 2

Peli Peli Cinco Ranch (23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd.) — free meals for first responders; open to public

Peli Peli Vintage Park (110 Vintage Park Dr.) — free meals for first responders beginning September 1

Killen’s Barbecue and Killen’s Burgers are providing “free meals for first responders and those in need without means to feed themselves,” according to its Facebook page. It has provided 3,500 meals in two days, and their goal is 30,000 free meals. Owner Ronnie Killen is asking for the public to help support his goal with a GoFundMe page. Donate here if you’re interested. (Not open to the public yet.)

Killen’s Barbecue (3613 E. Broadway, Pearland)

Killen’s Burgers (2804 S. Main, Pearland)

The Union Kitchen is offering free meals to first responders at three of its locations. The Memorial location took in water.

The Union Kitchen (4057 Bellaire)

The Union Kitchen (3452 Ella Blvd.)

The Union Kitchen (23918 US 59, Kingwood)

McDonald’s locations of Greater Houston are offering free food for uniformed first responders through Tuesday, September 5.

Pinkerton’s BBQ in the Heights is offering free food to first responders. Tuesday they served 950 plates to HPD officers downtown.

Dish Society is offering free meals to first responders through Sunday, September 3. They are open with normal business hours to the public.

Dish Society (5740 San Felipe)

Dish Society (23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd.)

JCI Grill is offering a free meal to first responders in uniform (HPD, HFD, Paramedics) plus military in uniform. Its Coney Cruiser is also out providing free meals.

Freebirds World Burrito is offering free food for first responders. All Houston-area Freebirds are currently open with the exception of Beaumont and Fairway Plaza locations.

Karbach Brewing Co. is providing free meals to first responders today (8/31) until 8 pm.

Fogo de Chão is providing free lunch or dinner to first responders at its Houston and The Woodlands locations through September 15. Simply show your medical personnel or duty badge.

Fogo de Chão (8250 Westheimer)

Fogo de Chão (1900 Hughes Landing Blvd #400, The Woodlands)

I will continue to update this page. Please let me know of other restaurants thanking our first responders with free meals!