So it seems like your main issue is that you're just not close enough to walk/drive <5 min to basic stuff like a good coffee, some non-chain food, decent walkable areas. And yeah, that's the way it is if you live in your area or other areas that far out. That's a fair complaint. But there is SO MUCH to do here if you can stomach a 10-20min drive(or get an uber...)
Now I live near the intersection of Montrose and West Gray. I know. It's a fucking awesome location. I walk ACROSS THE STREET and get the most delicious kolaches and donuts (and guess what? It's not a chain! ) I walk a few blocks I've got a whole foods. There's like 4 bars I can walk to within a few min and I'm not even trying to think about it that hard. Restaurants goes without saying. I can walk like 10 min and go into a little convenience store owned by some Mediterranean guys and a Hispanic lady will make me the dankest $4 gyro youll ever eat and I can take it and walk RIGHT NEXT DOOR and eat it inside one of the best neighborhood pubs/bars in the city, with people of all types mingling/drinking downstairs and outside and if I want to there's a like a hardcore band or a comedy night or an open mic going on right upstairs.
All this is just in my own little enclave of east river oaks/north Montrose/fourth ward , whatever you wanna call it. These type of little enclaves exist all over the city and especially inside the loop. Then there's this awesome thing called my car and I can go to any of them like on demand. It's great. The coolest thing about Houston is being able to have such vast changes in scenery with just a few min travel, but if you want a little neighborhood you never have to leave I have that too. And most people here on this sub would probably agree.
You seem like a guy that needs to live in a more central part of the city. If you can't afford that then you should rethink the "Houston was the best offer" cause right now you're not really doing Houston, you're doing forest west/oak forest whatever you wanna call your neighborhood and ya I wouldn't wanna do that as a single late 20's male.
Find a way to live closer to your job and you'll be able to walk to all the non corporate coffee you want. If you put in some reasonable effort it's not hard to find rents in the sub 1000 range in Montrose. If this is outta the question then suck it up and embrace that car man.