A Fancy Japanese Chocolatier Will Open Its First Houston Location in Asiatown

Royce Chocolate, the Japanese candy maker known for its matcha green tea chocolates and chocolate-covered potato chips, is opening a shop in Houston’s Chinatown.

Construction permits filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation indicate that the shop will open its doors at 9798 Bellaire Boulevard, with construction expected to be completed by November 30. That location is just inside Beltway 8, in front of the Bellaire H-Mart and Sterling Plaza.

Royce Chocolate was founded in 1983 in Sapporo, Japan. The candy maker is known for its green tea chocolates and matcha-filled pralines, as well as booze-drenched, raw-chocolate ganache “Namas,” handmade marshmallows, candy bars filled with dried fruit and nuts, and of course, those salty-and-sweet chocolate-covered potato chips.

Since opening, the chocolatier has expanded to 14 countries, including US cities like Chicago, New York and Las Vegas. The Bellaire shop will be the first Royce boutique in Texas, but not the first time the chocolatier has visited the Bayou City. Royce hosted two pop-ups at the Galleria in 2018, one for Mother’s Day, and one for Christmas.

No word yet on an opening date for Royce, but perhaps the boutique will be open in time for this year’s holiday season.

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