Houston’s First and Long Awaited Restaurant Devoted to Sushi Handrolls Opens Next Month

Exactly one year ago, Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee, the chefs behind buzzy Bravery Chef Hall sushi spot Kokoro, debuted plans to open the city’s first restaurant devoted to temaki-style sushi. Now, the duo has officially announced that Handies Douzo will open its doors next month.

Pham and Lee broke the news to diners at one of their Secret Taste pop-up dinners in the Heights, who were surprised to learn that they were eating inside the space that would eventually house Handies Douzo at 3510 White Oak Drive. As previously reported by Eater, the restaurant took over the address that formerly housed Happy Fatz, and Secret Taste partner Andrew Lin oversaw a complete remodel of the space over the past few months.

Courtesy Handies Douzo

The new dining room now boasts a 26-seat, U-shaped bar made of polished maple to the situated in the middle of the space, and a midcentury modern aesthetic that’s complimented by a color palette of greys, creams, and whites. Diners will be able to see the chefs preparing the food in the center of the room, after which dishes will be presented at the bar, chef’s-table style.

The menu isn’t finalized just yet, but diners can expect crudos, sashimi, and a variety of handrolls filled with premium proteins like Ora king salmon, yellowtail, toro (tuna belly), and kani (lump crab). The handrolls will be served a la carte, and in “temaki sets” of 3-6 rolls. The price point for each handroll ranges between $5 and $10, depending on the protein inside. “It won’t just be fish and rice inside of the rolls,” Pham says. “We will have it more elevated, but I don’t really want to say much more about what’s going to be inside of them just yet.”

Courtesy Handies Douzo

When Handies Douzo makes its December 1 debut, the restaurant will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eventually, there are plans to serve beer and wine, but until Handies Douzo’s permit comes through, the restaurant will be BYOB.

• Much-Anticipated Sushi Spot Handies Douzo Chooses a Location in the Heights [EHOU]
• Two Uchi-Trained Sushi Chefs Plot A New Spot for Hand Rolls and Omakase [EHOU]