September has brought a wave of new restaurant openings, setting the city ablaze with new places to dine, drink, and lounge around on the patio should the unpredictable Houston weather allow for it. From beloved neighborhood gems adding new outposts in the suburbs to original concepts offering fresh dishes and prepared family meals, there are lots of worthy new establishments just waiting to be added to your 2023 hit list. Here are the Houston restaurant openings you need to know about right now.

Gold Tooth Tony’s

Chef Anthony Calleo, the owner of the once beloved, now shuttered Pi Pizza, has returned to pizza full-time with the opening of Heights pizza shop Gold Tooth Tony’s. Located next to Amy’s ice cream, the restaurant, which opened “softly” or in limited capacity on September 11, offers Detroit-style pizza with cheesy, crispy-edged dough that is a cross between focaccia and sourdough. The combinations are creative, with classic offerings like the pepperoni-layered Pep, and more inventive takes like the seared pineapple and spam Sebation, and the Riz, which is topped with pancetta, Brussels sprouts, blue cheese, and chili flakes.

Gaspachos Mexican Bites

Jennifer Perez’s food truck empire Gaspachos Fruits and Cravings now has its own brick-and-mortar in Houston’s Levy Park. Gaspochos Mexican Bites opened in September with a fast-casual kiosk that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, like tortas, Mexican elote, flautas, and hot dogs, plus more cooling options for happy hour or a special treat, including frozen margaritas, agua frescas, Mangonadas, and ice cones.

Jay Ford

Balboa Surf Club

From the Hillstone Restaurant Group veterans comes this stunning Post Oak Plaza restaurant, which offers a Pacific vibe, with Brazilian brutalist architecture and decor inspired by a 1970s surf bungalow. Along with crab cakes and miso-glazed salmon, diners can also find a seafood-focused menu of nigiri and sushi rolls, like the Thai Shrimp Roll, a combination of jumbo Gulf shrimp, carrot, green papaya, Fresno chilies, and cashews — all served with homemade ponzu sauce, plus burgers and prime steaks butchered in house daily. Like Hillstone, formerly known as Houston, Balboa, which opened on September 12, offers a variety of dishes, but with an emphasis on freshness. Sushi rice is made fresh every 45 minutes, and the in-house bakery makes all of Balboa’s breads and desserts in-house.

Sweet Bribery by Craft Creamery

Montrose ice cream shop Craft Creamery, formerly in Montrose, and Sweet Bribery merged together in early September and now are serving a lineup of their well-known flavors in the Heights. Ice cream lovers can now find Sweet Bribery classics like its Cinnamon Toast Crunch alongside Craft chef Steve Marques’s creative and sometimes quirky flavors like Bastani, brisket, and miso caramel. Adults can also indulge in boozy treats like champagne and beer float flights, Katz Coffee affogatos, and Marques’s special ice cream dinners where scoops are paired with wine.

Stephanie Lam

Patis & Toyo

Katy’s new Filipino restaurant is dishing out a combination of traditional and innovative dishes, including pork Adobo, kare kare, a beef stew made with a thick peanut sauce and mixed vegetables, plus its “sizzling” proteins served in brown gravy. The restaurant, which is dripping in modern Filipiniana, also offers live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 23220 Grand Circle Boulevard, Suite 160, Katy, 77449.

Ocean 12

Though Gatsby Prime Seafood as diners once knew it is now closed, some of the restaurant lives on in Ocean 12. This new steakhouse and seafood restaurant has taken over the former Gatsby Restaurant Group location, offering a slightly different menu and a new premise, with dishes like fried lobster, miso-glazed sea bass, and various preparations of steak, plus vibe-dining options, including hookah, lively weekend brunches, live music, and DJs.

Betelgeuse Betelgeuse

The intergalactic-themed pizzeria and cocktail bar opens its second location in Montrose, with many of the classics, including the cheesy, yet crispy ironclad-style pizzas, but there are some new items that make the menu, too. Diners can delight in 10- and 14-inch style pizzas, with newer combinations like the smoked buffalo chicken pie and a Three Sauce pizza made with a sauce trifecta of basil pesto, pizza sauce, and vodka sauce. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse also keeps the decor weird, with extraterrestrial paintings, spacey backdrops, pizza murals, neon lights, and mannequins visible through the windows facing Montrose Boulevard.

Stick Talk Cajun-Hibachi

The Japanese-Cajun food truck opened its first brick-and-mortar in Midtown on September 1. Located at 502 Elgin Street, the restaurant expands Stilk Talk’s menu, fusing Japanese hibachi cuisine with Cajun spices in dishes like its seafood egg rolls, hibachi-prepared chicken, shrimp, and crawfish, plus combination plates served with fried or steamed rice or noodles, grilled veggies, and choice of homemade sauces.

Stick Talk Cajun-Hibachi

I Know the Owner

Sister to Ka Sushi, this cheekily-named Heights cocktail bar opened earlier this summer, serving cocktails and flirty floral decor that gives summer getaway vibes. Guests are greeted with frozen welcome shots, and then are invited to partake in its breezy cocktails, including a Bad Hombres Negroni, made with Dos Hombres tequila, zero-proof micheladas, and a miniature espresso martini served with cookies. Those who work up an appetite can dig into Latin-style bites, with just some of the fan favorites being the tamales, lobster tacos, empanadas, and the dressed-up East Coast oysters.

Best Regards

This new Heights bar aims to bring some of Los Angeles's lively day-to-night drinking scene, with a full-service bar, various seating, and floor-to-ceiling windows that give glimpses outside to the spacious outdoor patio. Beyond its thoughtful creative cocktails and boozy coffee drinks, Best Regards also offers an array of food boards, including a pickle-filled board, a classic charcuterie board, and burrata filled with creamy hunks of cheese, cured meats, and fruit.

Tumble 22

Home to some of the best-fried chicken in the country, Houston welcomes yet another chicken joint. Austin’s “Texas hot chicken” restaurant opened its second Houston location at 1017 Houston Avenue on September 12, offering its signature items including its O.G. chicken sandwich, bone-in chicken meals, deviled eggs, and sides like greens and mac and cheese. Newer items include grilled chicken sandwiches, new salads, and milkshakes. The dine-in restaurant features a full-service bar and a pick-up window for carry-out orders.

James

Permission Whiskey owner Peter Nolan is bringing the secrecy back to speakeasies with James. Located next door to Permission, the new membership-only cocktail lounge has no internet presence and can only be “inquired about within” Permission to gain access. With only 100 memberships granted per year, James is set to offer a tailored experience with personalized menus and cocktails, rare whiskeys, and spaces reserved for specific clients.

James

Bread Zepplin

The Dallas-based restaurant opens a second location in Houston’s Greenway/Upper Kirby area (3235 Southwest Freeway). The new Summit Square Shopping Mall food stall continues to blur the lines of sandwich and salad, stuffing toasted baguettes with one of 12 customizable chopped salads. The fast-casual restaurant also serves its offerings in salad bowls, with veggie-filled combos like the Southwest Zepplin, filled with avocado, tomatoes, corn salad, black beans, Cotija cheese, and romaine, and a Washington State Zeppelin made with herb-marinated grilled chicken, apples, walnuts, beets, and blue cheese crumble. The first Bread Zeppelin opened in City Place in June 2021.

ZOA Moroccan

Bella Restaurants Group opened the third Moroccan fast-casual restaurant in the Upper Kirby area (3303 Richmond Avenue) in late August. Joining locations in Bellaire and the Rice Military area, Zoa Moroccan serves up a menu of traditional Moroccan vegetarian and halal options, including buildable bowls or sandwiches made with homemade bread, various proteins, more than 20 toppings, and various sauces. Fan favorites include the Casablanca, which is comprised of Lamb Meshwi, Taktouka, pickled red onion and cabbage, white beans, cucumber and tomato salad, and garlic aioli, or the Marrakesh, which comes with beef tagine, confit onions, greens, sweet potato, pickled onions and cabbage, cinnamon raisin onions, and a green harissa sauce.

Shawn Chippendale

Big Chicken - Richmond

NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal held the ribbon-cutting for its second Big Chicken location in Richmond. The chicken sandwich joint, which also serves chicken tenders, Cheez-It-crusted mac and cheese, and milkshakes, opened its first location in Woodland Square in July and is slated to open its third in Washington Heights in early 2020.

Morelia Gourmet Paletas

Miami paletas shop Morelia opened its second Texas location in Rice Village in August, offering a wide variety of all-natural popsicles free of additives, preservatives, artificial colors, and GMOs. Flavors aren’t compromised, though — the shop offers a rich variety of frozen treats, including a Dulce de Leche popsicle filled with caramelized milk, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Belgian chocolate.

August

Nonno’s

From Martin and Sara Stayer, the owners of Nobie’s and the next-door tiki-style restaurant and bar Toasted Coconut comes this new pizza place that harkens back to the days of Pizza Hut’s reign. The Montrose restaurant officially opened Friday, August 4, serving Midwestern tavern-style pizzas sliced in square shapes and 90s nostalgia realness. Walk in and you’re met with 90’s tunes blasting from two reel-to-reel machines, an arcade area with pinball machines, spiffy booths with vintage light fixtures (two of which are vintage lamps that once belonged to Pizza Hut), and a full-service bar that serves frozen cocktails and espresso martinis on tap. The pizza, with its thin, cracker-like crust, is obviously a must-try. The Maui Wowee, a combination of thinly sliced spam, pineapple, and smoked jalapeno, is a delightful combination of cheesy, sweet, spicy, and smoky.

Brittany Britto Garley

Dookki Tteokbokki

Located next door to H-Mart on Bellaire Boulevard, this long-anticipated Korean restaurant quietly opened in early August. The all-you-can-eat restaurant Dookki serves tteokbokki, a type of simmered Korean rice cake, which is customizable with a variety of sauces and broths. Diners can visit its rice cake bar, filling up their bowls with different styles of rice cakes, before loading their dish with proteins and other ingredients, like ramen. Then, it’s time to visit the sauce bar and add broth to cook it at your table. The restaurant also features an optional cheese plate for dipping, plus build-your-own bulgogli bowls, and an instant ramen station. The prices are hard to beat for such an elaborate buffet. Adults can eat for $20 to $23, while children can dine for $14 for lunch and $17 for dinner (Kids under 4 eat for free). 9750 Bellaire Boulevard, Suite 100.

Love Croissants

The beloved croissants by chef Omar Pereney finally have their own home. Sharing a space with restaurant Weights and Measures at 2808 Caroline Street, Love Croissants offers fresh baked croissants Wednesday through Sunday, with divine savory options like butter, ham, and asiago, and crolache — a kolache and croissant hybrid that’s stuffed with jalapeño cheddar beef smoked sausage and three-year aged cheddar. Sweet classics include pan au chocolate and twice-baked almond cardamom, which can be copped fresh and warm at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11 a.m. on days that it’s open. Cruffins — muffin-shaped croissants made with rotating and seasonal flavors like hot chocolate tiramisu and raspberry passionfruit — are only available on weekends.

Nando’s Peri Peri

The international chain that champions Portuguese-South African cuisine and culture made its Texas debut in Houston’s Uptown on August 7. Located at 1717 Post Oak Boulevard in the same shopping center as Bluestone Lane Coffee Shop, Kenny and Ziggy’s, and Il Bracco, the restaurant was packed on opening day, with some customers waiting an hour or more for a table. Those familiar with “cheeky Nando’s” know that the restaurant prides itself on its flame-grilled chicken, with sides like mashed potatoes and roasted corn, and multiple different sauces with varying flavors and spice levels, all for the drizzling and dipping. But the restaurant is now offering a bevy of new items, like wraps, a veggie-packed Rainbow Bowl, frozen cocktails, and sides like the Brussels sprouts and the Peri mac and cheese — all of which have been debuted in Houston first and will be introduced to its other locations in the coming weeks. It’s not Nando’s only Texas stop, though. The restaurant will open new outposts in Katy at La Centerra and Dallas-Fort Worth.

The Rado Market & Cafe

Lucille’s chef Chris Williams’s latest project — the revival of Third Ward’s historic entertainment venue Eldorado Ballroom — finally opened in mid-July, with a celebratory multi-use space featuring an art gallery filled with pieces by Black Third Ward artists and the renovated ballroom. The on-site cafe and market, the Rado Market, welcomes the community to indulge in breakfast tacos, farm-fresh salads, and sandwiches that are masterpieces for the mouth and reflections of the neighborhood’s flavors (The oxtail smash burger and the three-cheese grilled cheese, served with a side of green gumbo for dipping, are must-orders). The grab-and-go market is also an homage to Third Ward, with produce, fresh pressed juices, ready-made desserts, and seasonings made by local entrepreneurs. Be sure to stop by the wine shop, which features obscure picks chosen by community members, and the book nook, which features personal picks from Chef Chris’s home collection for sale. And don’t be afraid to pack a picnic and take it to nearby Emancipation Park. Rado also sells insulated picnic bags and blankets for that very reason.

David “Odiwams” Wright

Tin Drum Asian Kitchen

The Atlanta-based Asian cafe and restaurant has now planted roots in Washington Heights, offering what seems to be a chaotic smorgasbord of Chinese, Szechwan, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Korean dishes, according to a release. Housed in the Vic at the Interpose, the multiuse-development at 1111 Shepherd Drive, the restaurant aims to channel the culture and ambiance of Hong Kong, with colorful art, neon lights and graffiti but features a menu that traverses Asia with stir-fries ramen, street snacks, wings, and more. Tim Drum also features a boba bar, with customizable fruit and milk teas and slushies, and a mini-mart, where a variety of candy, sauces, and snacks from countries throughout Asia are available to-go. Steven Chan, the restaurant’s founder and CEO, based the restaurant on his upbringing in Hong Kong and the tale of Tin Drummer, a man who woke a neighborhood up each morning by playing a time drum, leading them to the local cafe.

Becca Wright

C3

Sommelier and spirits expert Sean Beck, who previously worked with James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega at restaurants including Hugo, Caracol, and Xochi, opened C3 Cafe in Bravery Chef Hall in July. The food hall stall offers a variety of coffee, cocktails, and mocktails, plus sells licensed cannabis products. A grand opening is planned for September.

Fiora’s Bottle Shop

This anticipated wine bar in the bustling Montrose Collective is finally open, offering dozens of varieties of wine and bubbly drinks by the half- or full-sized glass, or the bottle, meaning plenty of opportunity to sip, sample, or flat-out indulge. Sandwiches are also a major focus. One of the standouts includes the massive (and appropriately named) GOAT sandwich, in which genoa salami, mortadella bologna, applewood smoked ham, pepperoni, capicola, and provolone and American cheeses are stacked on a 14-inch baguette with a heap of condiments and the best of sandwich stuffers, including red onions, shredded lettuce, tomato, and pepperoncini.

Coco Crepes & Coffee

Billed as Houston’s first creperie, this cafe and coffee shop opened its ninth location at 3303 Richmond Avenue on July 24. The cafe is quite spacious, sitting nearly 100 people indoors, and offering a 400-square-foot outdoor patio where diners can unwind. Crepes run the gamut with sweet and savory options, like the marshmallow and graham-cracker loaded S’Mores crepe, and La Gallette, which is filled with roasted vegetables, tomatoes, spinach, cheese, and a roasted red pepper pesto. The on-site coffee bar offers a variety of drinks, including espressos, smoothies, and Coccocinos, iced coffees made with house gelato.

July

Quad HTX

NFL free agent and Houston native Michael Brockers has opened a new restaurant, sports lounge, and membership-based cigar lounge in Third Ward. Located at 4608 Almeda Road, the multi-faceted establishment offers indoor seating for 140, plus a private tasting room for special events that doubles as an indoor hookah and cigar patio. The onsite restaurant offers a flavorful menu of cocktails and appetizers like salmon sliders and Southern-style entrees, including shrimp and grits, a blackened salmon stuffed with dirty rice and topped with a Cajun cream sauce, and a 12-ounce Main lobster tail broiled in garlic pepper and sweetened butter and wrapped in 24-karat gold. Outside, the restaurant and lounge feature a patio and hookah lounge that can accommodate 860 people. Cigar enthusiasts can also take refuge in the Den, a membership-based cigar lounge that will open adjacent to the Quad. The restaurant, which is currently hosting limited soft opening hours, will host its grand opening weekend celebration starting on July 20.

Josephine’s

In the former location of sushi stalwart Izakaya, this new Midtown restaurant (318 Gray Street) celebrates all things Gulf Coast cuisine with a Southern twist, meaning homemade biscuits and hushpuppies are easily served alongside crabmeat melt po’ boys, deep-fried chicken tenders on a stick with buttermilk ranch dipping sauce, and seafood boils, including crawfish. Diners can also indulge in raw and roasted oysters at Josephine’s new oyster bar and its nostalgic takes on Southern-style desserts, with pastry chef Emily Rivas’ corn flan and her clever fusion of a Mississippi mud pie fused and an oatmeal moon pie. The restaurant will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays for lunch, and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Lick Honest Ice Creams

In the heat of summer, one of Austin’s favorite ice cream shops finally makes its Houston debut. Lick opened its first local outpost in Bellaire (3821 Bellaire Boulevard) on Sunday, July 16, offering free scoops of its everyday flavors, including its popular Caramel Salt Lick, Coffee With Cream, and its Texas Sheet Cake, along with seasonal flavors, like vegan banana pudding, cilantro lime, and spicy coconut peanut and strawberry swirl. The ice cream shop, which prides itself on using milk sourced from grass-fed cows from family-owned dairies, and scoops free of artificial colors and flavors, high fructose corn syrup, palm oil, and preservatives, will open its second location in Houston’s Autry Park (3737 Cogdell Street) in August.

Yukdaejang

Yukdaejang, a popular Korean restaurant chain known for its soups made with rice, opened its seventh U.S. location in Houston’s Asiatown, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Similar to its other locations in South Korea and Southern California, the restaurant’s local outpost (6650 Corporate Drive, Suite D) will serve a variety of yukgaejan soups made with diners’ choice of tofu, tripe, seafood, fresh pasta, and custom-made ramen — all available with varying levels of spice. In addition to three complimentary banchan side dishes, which often include kimchi, fish cakes, and marinated chives, diners can also explore Yukdaejang’s dishes meant to share, like bo ssam, a pork belly dish eaten in lettuce wraps and served with white, radish and pickled plum kimchi, fermented soybean paste, and slices of jalapeno and garlic. Another location is planned for Katy in the near future.

Benny Chows

Ben Berg, the New York native behind Berg Hospitality restaurant group, brings his latest passion project — a New York-style Cantonese restaurant — to Houston (1818 Washington Avenue, Suite 150). The swanky restaurant, an ode to the swanky Chinese restaurants in his hometown, boasts a 55-item menu, with dumplings, dim sum, a Beijing duck that takes three days to prepare, and a host of other popular dishes. Berg, however, was sure to impart a Texas flair to the lineup, with smoked brisket egg rolls made with Truth BBQ’s brisket, a Holy Trinity fried rice made with smoked meats and char siu, and General Tso’s, an American Chinese staple, reinterpreted as a tempura-fried half-chicken. The kitschy, amorphously mid-century American Chinese aesthetic is also something to behold, with hand-painted wallpaper depicting “Chinese landscapes” and sculptures of Foo Dogs, Chinese guard lions at the entrance, and a horseshoe-shaped bar with Lazy Susan towers filled with liquor.

Pastore

According to Underbelly Hospitality, Pastore serves up Italian coastal fare and decor that is the antithesis of its previous establishments, many of which offered a more pristine and moody atmosphere with meat-focused dishes. Here, seafood reigns supreme in dishes like swordfish amatriciana and scallop crudo. Sip breezy cocktails and drinks like aperitifs, spritzes, and frozen limoncello while taking in the soft hues of blues and greens that make you feel like you’re just steps away from the ocean. (1180 Dunlavy Street)

Four Region Thai Cuisine

Helmed by Kin Dee chef Miranda Loetkhamfu, this new Spring restaurant (8220 Louetta Road, Suite #100) allows diners to explore the breadth and flavors Thai cuisine by its regions. Starters run the gamut with grilled beef skewers, curry puffs, and som tom dishes — green papaya dressed in both Thai and Laotian flavors, but the entrees is where it gets even more diverse. Diners can explore the regions, with the North and Northeast sections of the menu bringing heat-packed num ngeaw, a rice noodle and pork dish made with a red curry saucy, and tom zab goong, a lemongrass soup with shrimp and shallots and lime leaves, while the South brings green curry; and Bangok, panang curry and crab fried rice. And for the perfect ending and cool down, the mango sticky rice.

Milk + Sugar Creamery

Known for its eclectic flavors, this Montrose ice cream shop has branched out with a second location in the Heights, which officially opened on Friday, July 14. The scoop shop announced the new outpost (1324 North Shepherd Street, Suite #110) on Instagram, offering 20 percent off scoops and cones from 6 p.m. until midnight. Flavors include its Sundae Funday, made with sweet cream ice cream, brownie chunks and a fudge ripple; Thai tea; but be sure not to miss out on its seasonal flavors. For the month of July, Milk + Sugar is scooping up a red, white, and blue number made with red velvet tres leches, sweet cream, and blueberry puree, while its Hello Summer, a combo of cream cheese and lemon ice cream with a blueberry swirl and graham cracker crust is available through August.

The Audrey Restaurant & Bar and Reel Luxury Cinemas

The Woodlands gets a two-for-one experience with Culinary Khancept's newest restaurant and movie theater. Situated in Market Square at 9595 Six Pines Drive, the Audrey Restaurant & Bar offers a dining experience inspired by actress Audrey Hepburn, with some of the actress's favorite dishes, including spaghetti pomodoro and white chocolate bread pudding, plus entrees like truffle mushroom ravioli, a Chicken Cordon Blue sandwich, and spiced tuna. The movie theater, located just steps away, is a true lap of luxury, with private viewing pods, each outfitted with complimentary blankets, heated seats, and a “service” button that allows you to order from a robust menu of entrees, appetizers, cocktails, and wine, beer, and classic movie theater snacks.

Incanto

With vibrant colors and floral backdrops, this playful, majestic-looking bar in the Heights (1426 Yale Street) is a sight to be seen and sipped. Drawing inspiration from European and Mediterranean cultures, award-winning mixologist Alexis Mijares offers a menu of aperitifs, digestivos, and gin-based creations, many of which are filled with fresh herbs and aromatics. Tazzi Tonico, Incanto’s twist on a G&T, is made with basil, apricot, Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, and Peychaud’s Bitters, and the fruity vodka-based Rosalina, a mixture of St. Germain, strawberry, lemon, rose water, and egg white. Groups of six to 10 people can also take part in the bar’s signature cocktails to share, which are served in creative vessels like 10-inch disco balls and flamingo-shaped bowls. The bar, which is housed in a bungalow, is also set to follow up its drinks menu with a debut of small bites, including East Coast oysters topped with cucumber mint granita and habanero tincture, yellowtail tuna ceviche, charcuterie boards, and pizza.

Pixel Studio Productions

Elro

Chef Terrence Gallivan, formerly of the shuttered Pass & Provisions, brings some nostalgia and a cool new combination to this restaurant that specializes in both pizza and crudo (2405 Genesee Street). Find wood-fired pizzas with handmade dough and a thoughtful selection of toppings, easily tapping into Houston’s appreciation for pizza and Provisions, plus refreshing dishes like smoked kampachi and Neptilla-cured salmon.

Stuffed Belly

MasterChef winner and James Beard Award-nominated chef Christine Ha gets into the more casual side of dining with this Spring Branch sandwich shop (8133 Long Point Road). Equipped with its drive-thru but also select indoor seating, the restaurant offers a shortlist of delectable handhelds, including its Belly smash burger, a Sichuan chicken sandwich, a crunchy tuna sandwich, a creamy Humpty Dumpty egg salad sandwich, and its Triple Cheese, Please grilled cheese made with three cheeses and a tomato confit. Choose between tater tots or potato chips, and make it a meal.

Stuffed Belly

Caps Supperclub & Bar

The late-night bar and supper club once known as Caps Piano Bar returned in early June with a new look and an updated menu (2610 Briar Ridge). Now the CAPS Supper Club and Bar, the live music venue newly features a center stage for live music, a private dining room that can seat up to 30 people, a drinks menu with a variety of cocktails and wine and whiskey, flights, plus dishes like grilled octopus, tender braised short ribs, and grilled seabass. What remains the same, though, is the original performers — the Tighten Up band makes its CAPS comeback.

Big Chicken

NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal attended the grand opening of the Houston outpost of his fried chicken sandwich restaurant, Big Chicken, in June, with lines reportedly wrapped around the building. Located at Woodland Square at 9660 Westheimer Road, Suite #250, Big Chicken’s first location in Texas stays true to its brand with a variety of chicken dishes and comfort foods — including crispy chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, Cheez-It-crusted mac and cheese, and shakes. Highlights include the “Shaq Attack” chicken sandwich, which is topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeno coleslaw, and spicy chipotle barbecue sauce; and the “Dirty” fries that are covered in cheese, bacon, banana peppers, and chipotle barbecue sauce.

Twisted Grilled Cheese

The gourmet sandwich bar, known for its variety of gooey grilled cheeses, opened its fourth Houston area location in Post Market’s food hall at Post Houston (401 Franklin Street) on July 8. Diners find its wide selection of signature sandwiches, which include its Five-Cheese Classic made with five cheeses, its halal Philly cheesesteak rendition, and its Smokehouse Brisket sandwich. But the Post Market outpost will also debut entirely new sandwiches, including the Twisted Pig, a grilled cheese stuffed with ham, bacon, pepperoni, and a Texas Classic grilled cheese made with turkey and ham. Sides include parmesan waffle fries and mac and cheese balls, desserts here translate into funnel cake fries and cheesecake donut holes. Adults can also indulge in alcoholic beverages, including frozen cocktails.

The family-owned, comfort food restaurant first launched as a food truck in the Galleria area in 2019 before expanding with brick-and-mortar locations in Memorial City, Katy, and two in Houston.

Twisted Grilled Cheese

Rakkan Ramen (Katy)

The Japanese chain known for its vegetable-based broths opened its third Houston-area location in Katy, serving up warm bowls of umami-filled ramen. According to a representative for Rakkan, the chain, which also has a location in the Heights and on Tomball Parkway, has plans to open outposts in Westchase, and the Galleria area.

Shipley Do-Nuts (Southwest Houston)

Houston’s beloved donut franchise opened another location in Southwest Houston (13646 Bissonnet Street) on June 28. The newest outpost, which is outfitted with a drive-thru, seats 15 people indoors and bakes up more than 60 types of donuts, including the classic plain glazed, plus kolaches, bear claws, and apple fritters.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (Montrose)

The Columbus, Ohio-based ice cream company hosted a grand opening for its third location in Houston’s Montrose (1719 Westheimer Road) on July 13, with free scoops. Jen’s, which also has a location in the Heights and Houston’s CityCentre, was originally launched by James Beard Award-winning ice cream maker Jeni Britton Bauer in 2002, and has since expanded, with locations in all 50 states, with flavors like Salty Caramel, Texas Sheet Cake, Brambleberry Crisp, and Gooey Buttercake.

Sugar Frk

Don Bowie, the chef behind Taste Kitchen + Bar, which now has a location Downtown, opened the latest dessert cafe in Midtown’s Post Midtown Square at 314 Gray Street, which serves up sweet and savory breakfast pastries, freshly baked donuts and cookies in a variety of flavors, frozen boozy cocktails, plus wines, coffees, and teas. Bowie has garnered some controversy in recent years with several lawsuits claiming that the chef has misused funds or neglected to upkeep his financial agreements in regard to his restaurants.

Sugar Frk

Yonutz

The South Florida-based shop that pairs donuts and ice cream together opened its first Houston-area location in Pearland (11200 Broadway, Suite 430, Pearland, 77584) in June, offering its signature ice cream-stuffed Smashed donut that’s hot-pressed and layered with toppings. In addition to its stuffed donuts, the restaurant also offers freshly baked donuts in regular or miniature sizes and in it Smashed milkshakes. Two locations are planned in the area for later this year.

Yonutz

Benihana (Conroe)

The Japanese teppanyaki and sushi chain restaurant opened its fifth Houston area location in Conroe on July 13 (3061 Interstate 45 North in the Teas Crossing Shopping Center).

Green Fork and Straw

Known for its green juices, smoothies, and diet-inclusive menu, this health-focused, counter-service restaurant opened its new location in River Oaks (3601 Westheimer Road) on July 10, replacing its now-shuttered location on Shepherd Drive.

Coffee Fellows

One of Germany’s top coffee houses opened its first North American store in the Bellaire in June, serving a variety of hand-made coffees, teas, smoothies, and juices, plus bagel sandwiches, pastries, and salads.

June

Trill Burgers

Bun B has already built a name for himself in the world of music, but in the past few years, burgers have been the focus. After years of managing a traveling burger pop-up, the Houston hip-hop artist puts down some roots for Trill Burgers, opening a temporary brick-and-mortar in Houston’s Montrose area on Wednesday, June 4. The restaurant, located at 3607 South Shepherd Drive — the former location of Houston’s oldest James Coney Island outpost, will serve up its signature burgers, including the OG Burger, which is made up of two smashed all-beef patties and topped with pickles, caramelized onions, American cheese, and Trill sauce, plus a vegan version made with vegan cheese and mayo and a Baby G burger for kids. The burger joint, which is painted in a bright yellow with black accents, is a fun celebration of Bun’s career, with various illustrations and murals, including a dedication to his fellow UGK rapper, Pimp C.

Dylan McEwan

Citizens of Montrose

The Australian coffee shop opens its first outpost outside of New York in Houston’s Montrose, offering beer and coffee available from self-serve taps, cocktails, specialty drinks, like the classic flat white coffee — an Australian favorite, and all-day breakfast, with items like Banana Bread French Toast with miso butterscotch, barbecue pulled pork Benedicts using cheddar biscuits, and cast-iron chorizo baked eggs.

Roswell’s Saloon

Restaurateur Shawn Bermedez’s newest establishment is like stepping into another world. From floor to ceiling, the black-lit Montrose bar is decorated in neon, intergalactic-themed decor with cosmic cocktails. Find zodiac-inspired sips, Crop Circle formation-topped drinks mixed with homemade elote syrup, the Earthy-y Pale Blue Dot that’s served in a planet-like sphere glass, and Lithium Crystal shots that glow bright orange in iridescent space capsule-shaped glasses. Here, you can also trade in the traditional happy hour for “sunset hours, watching the bar transition to night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. with half-priced cocktails, and draft beer, wine, and bubbles for $2 off.

Becca Wright

Little’s Oyster Bar

After years of the space being void, the Montrose location of the now-shuttered Little’s Pappas Seafood House finally has a replacement. Pappas’ newest restaurant Little’s Oyster Bar is offering an upscale menu of seafood fare. Chef Jason Ryzcek brings a touch of California starting with solid appetizers like oysters and entrees like a buttery Yellowedge grouper and lobster ravioli. The caviar service, is also top-notch, using roe that the chef harvests from his six California white sturgeon and pairing it with radish butter, creme fraiche topped with chives and onion jam, and warm, pillowy fried dumplings for the perfect bite.

Arturo Olmos

Th Prsrv

James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan “G” Jabthong Painter, of Houston’s Street to Kitchen, and eculent chef David Skinner have teamed up to open a new Thai and Native American tasting menu that takes diners on what feels like an archeological excursion. With a menu organized in chronological order, diners start at 2400 BCE where ancient cooking techniques like pickling and fermenting and Indigenous and foraged ingredients are in full display. A platter of pickled ferns, peppers, and green beans, is soon followed up by items like Chef G’s Gaeng curry made with seasonal fish, and Skinner’s dry-aged duck with wild greens and a Wojapi sauce. As colonialization makes its mark, different flavors are imparted, making for meals that span the ages. Diners can also indulge in an optional pairing of Indigenous wines, led by Street to Kitchen co-owner Graham Painter.

Annie Mulligan/Eater

The Chelsea Bistro and Bar

One of the newest additions to Houston’s Montrose Collective, the Chelsea invites diners in for an experience that’s inspired by the owners' travels to Europe, according to a report by Culturemap. The menu starts with a selection of raw bar eats, snapper and salmon crudo, and a shrimp and scallop verde, made with coconut tiger milk, Thai basil, cilantro, chili crisps, black sesame, and Persian cucumbers. Small, easy-to-share plates follow, with charred octopus and jambon iberico, plus larger entrees like the seafood pot pie, Thai-curry poached lobster, and steak frites.

Ojo de Agua

An import from Mexico City, this all-day cafe and restaurant opened in the River Oaks District on May 17, offering a colorful and massive menu of Mexican fare, with its hallmark being fresh ingredients. Find fresh juices, fruit-packed acai bowls, and a robust breakfast menu, featuring everything from its guava pancakes and chilaquiles, available in rojos or verdes, to a cinnamon roll French toast. Lunch and dinner are also a treat, with tacos with grilled proteins, like tender rib-eye coated in chimichurri, or its curry-marinated lobster topped with mango — all of which is served with mini jars of smoky salsa, plus a creative offering of sandwiches, salads, and drinks, including frothy dragonfruit wine margaritas, Micheladas, and so much more. Those looking for a quick bite can also take advantage of their coffee service, ready-made pastries, and the onsite mini market.

Jennifer Hasbún

Lady M

After years of hosting pop-ups in Houston, Lady M is finally here to stay with its first Texas location now open in Houston’s Galleria. The boutique bakery is serving its delicate, multi-layered mille crepe cakes (by the slice and whole), in around 10 flavors, including green tea, guava, chocolate, and its popular signature — a true classic.

Lady M Cake Boutique/Facebook

Lankford’s Bellaire

This iconic Houston burger joint recently expanded, opening its second location in Bellaire on May 15. The new spot is serving up the same fan favorites, including juicy burgers like the macaroni-and-cheese-topped Grim Burger, milkshakes, and fries, but has added some new tech. Lankford’s Bellaire now offers a self-serve tap system, with more than 20 beers, ciders, and wines to choose from.

Los Tios

With its claim to fame being what might be Houston’s first frozen margarita and its “puffy” creations, this family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant chain opened its sixth location at 5192 Buffalo Speedway in West University area on June 5. The indoor-outdoor 6,000-square-foot space, which seats 150 people, will continue serving four generations of family recipes, including its puffy queso — a combination of fajita chicken or beef, served with refried beans, shredded lettuce, and guacamole topped with crispy tortilla strips and chile con queso; Katie’s T-Sip Dip, a homemade chile con queso topped with guacamole and ground beef; and its Golden Tacos, made with puffy shells. The newest outpost incorporates Mexican design and uses original decor from the first Los Tios, including its iron front door handles, a hand-carved hostess stand, Saltillo floors, hand-painted scones, agave plates, and Mexican oil cloths. The restaurant outdoors channels a traditional mercado, or market, with a bubbling fountain and a bar area that seats 40 people.

Rachel Alyse Photography

Nauti Crab

This Viet-Cajun casual restaurant, which opened on June 3, hails from New Jersey, bringing an East Coast spin to a city cuisine staple. Find seafood fried rice, crab fries, po’ boys, crab cakes, crab cake sandwiches, and buckets of boiled seafood, including crawfish, shrimp, and crabs, drenched in sauces with seasonings of your choice — ranging from Nauti Cajun to lemon pepper and Old Bay. The Briar Forest restaurant also offers a sports bar with plenty of cocktails and beers to enjoy.

Rebekah Flores

Bari

This River Oaks Italian restaurant opened on May 15, with a patio prime for drinking and dining al fresco, pasta dishes like a rich tagliatelle carbonara, entrees like a whole roasted branzino plated in salt, and perfect-for-summer drinks like Negronis and peach nectar bellinis.

Big Casino’s Bar

By day, this new Downtown bar offers a chill hangout spot with wines, beers, and Texas-focused small plates made for sharing including chicharrones served with caviar creme fraiche, clams casino, and chicken skewers — all of which can be enjoyed on its 3,600-square-foot patio, which is outfitted with its own bar, lounge, and massive 16-by-10-foot video wall that’s perfect for game watching. By night on Fridays and Saturdays, the Big Casino transforms into a late-night destination with bottle service and a live DJ.

Thunderbirds HTX

Chef Sunny Vohra helps fulfill Houston’s fried chicken sandwich fascination, adding some Sichuan spices to the mix. Located in the Railway Heights Market, the restaurant offers chicken sliders, sandwiches, loaded fries, wings, tenders, and more — all of which are complemented by a chile oil infused with Sichuan peppercorns, dried chiles, cumin, white pepper, and star anise.

Rockhouse Southern Kitchen

Formerly home to Billy Blues and the Diablo Loco Sports Bar, Rockhouse Southern Kitchen opened in March, offering a new destination for live music and Southern cuisine. The venue features an outdoor patio, a large bar area, and an outdoor stage that will welcome live musicians. Diners can indulge in a fusion of dishes like oxtail egg rolls, creole pizza, Cajun rib-eyes topped with a creamy sauce, and soul food staples like fried chicken or catfish with sides like smoked collard greens, mac and cheese, and dirty rice. The cocktail menu, too, takes notes from the venue’s music and Southern themes, offering an Apple Pie Old Fashioned and its Lady Sings the Blues cocktail, made with Bacardi Superior, Hennessy VSOP, blue curacao, toasted coconut, and pineapple.

Raydon Creative

May

Andiron

Julie Soefer

From the founders of barbecue joint Pit Room and its neighboring Tex-Mex sister Candente, Andiron, a swanky wood-burning steakhouse, finally got its opening day. Hospitality group Sambrooks Management Company opened the Allen Parkway restaurant on April 19, welcoming diners to a steakhouse experience like none else in Houston. Led by Michelin star-experienced chef Louis Maldonado, the steakhouse takes grilling seriously, giving its dining room a full preview of its 22-foot live-fire grill as it prepares its nightly bevy of steaks, including Australian and Japanese wagyu steaks, seafood, and vegetables. The menu entices with items like oysters and bluefin tuna from the raw bar, a classic wedge salad amped up with black truffle and grilled A5 wagyu short rib and foie gras from the robata, plus complimenting sides, like whipped potatoes, white asparagus, and caramelized onion tarts. Looking to try a fan favorite? Try the pristine-looking wagyu sandwich.

Passerella Italiano

Helmed by Houston’s Gr8 Plate Hospitality, Passerella’s second location will open on Tuesday, May 9, at 6011 Washington Avenue. Taking over The Union Kitchen’s former space, the restaurant will offer its standout dishes, like its mushroom tart, stuffed flounder with smoked lemon butter, and its fan-favorite lobster mac and cheese. The restaurant will also be firing up its woodstone pizza oven, offering four styles of pies, including a classic margherita, a prosciutto and pear, and fungi. Dessert will be a decadent affair, with the chef’s dessert lasagna, a 10-layered, caramel drizzled situation featuring cream cheese, brown sugar, pecans, and vanilla sauce. Passerella’s extensive wine offerings will also continue, with $5 glasses and $15 bottles offered during happy hour.

Dante’s River Oaks

Dante’s River Oaks

Replacing the former restaurant Concura Italian Bites, Dante’s will open on May 16, bringing the flavor of Italy to a quaint and intimate space in River Oaks. The restaurant, which can seat roughly 80 people indoors and 30 on its patio, offers a classic spread of antipasti, with items like charcuterie and cheese boards, tartare, and Mediterranean-style octopus, plus salads that take inspiration from some of the most popular regions of Italy. The menu would not be complete without pasta, which includes pappardelle bolognese and a rigatoni cacio e pepe, plus tender rib-eyes, duck breasts, and a catch of the day. Summer at Dante’s will also bring on exciting specials, with staff gifting each diner with a complimentary spritz with lunch orders, plus a monthly board and bottle special from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Albi

Michael Antony

Joining restaurants like Zanti Cucina Italiana and Brasserie19 on West Gray’s buzzy corridor, Albi opened its doors on May 4. Named after the popular Arabic phrase that translates to “my heart,” Albi is dishing out Mediterranean cuisine in a romantic and intimate setting. The 220-seat restaurant, which is housed on the second floor of its building, is replete with deep and moody jewel tones, glistening chandeliers, and red, silk shade lamps that set the mood, plus an indoor-outdoor terrace that offers a charming setting day or night.

Michael Antony

The restaurant seeks to bridge the cultures and cuisines of Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece, with dishes like shrimp falafel with tarator sauce, beets bil tahini — a combination of salt-baked beets and yogurt topped with tahini powder and pickled berries, a king trumpet mushroom shawarma with tzatziki and charred lemon, and jidori chicken roulade that’s stuffed with homemade chicken sausage and a rice dish inspired by Lebanese biryani. Albi’s drink menu and pastries will also pay homage to the Levant region, with a sesame-based lemon halvah tart served with a lemon-olive ice cream, and a pistachio tiramisu.

FRNDS

Pronounced “friends,” FRNDS, a tapas-style restaurant and cocktail lounge, recently opened in Rice Village and is already dishing out flavorful fare and flirty cocktails to match. Dishes run the gamut of cuisine, ranging from coconut curry shrimp skewers and truffle pasta, to baby back ribs and Greek meatballs. Cocktails are also festive with a fruity Pineapple Patron and a popcorn cocktail that comes with a sidecar of kernels. This new hangout spot is the latest from the Alife Hospitality Group, which also owns several restaurants, bars, and late-night spots throughout the city, including Prospect Park restaurants, Fourth Ward’s Lost & Found, Kamp Houston, Bungalow in Downtown, Southside Sporting Club, and Stick Talk Cajun-Hibachi.

Verde Garden

Dustyn Zenner

This Tex-Mex beer garden is the first restaurant to open in Montrose’s Harlow District, the dining quarter that’s expected to welcome even more establishments, including a coffee shop and the sushi restaurant Katami. Offering a dozen made-to-order frozen margaritas, an extensive beer list, Tex-Mex staples like tacos, enchiladas, and ceviches; plus a 10,000 square-foot patio equipped with both fans and heaters, Verde Garden could be the Montrose area’s newest year-round hangout.

Picnik

Joining fellow dining establishments like Marmo, Van Leeuwen, La La Land Kind Cafe, and Graffiti Raw, Austin’s latest health-conscious shop opened on April 24 in Montrose Collective, slinging lunch, dinner, and all-day brunch in the mixed-use space. Find items like starters, salads, bowls, and mains, with the option to add superfoods and adaptogens, like CBD or the Lion’s Mane additive for focus, to your meal. Brunch items include the Picnik benedict, which layers sugar-free bacon, organic cream cheese, and Vital Farms on a homemade biscuit, and lunch brings the ever-popular bacon jam burger, composed of a grass-fed beef patty topped with organic raw cheddar and bacon jam on a homemade sesame bun. The restaurant also offers a well-rounded beverage menu, with beer, local cider, hard kombucha, cocktails, and zero-proof zips.

Postino Woodlands

Jenn Duncan

Offering another way to wind down in the Woodlands, restaurant and wine bar Postino opened its sixth location in the Houston area on April 24. Like other locations, the most-Northern outpost will offer its charcuterie and bruschetta boards, and its famous happy hour, with $6 glasses of wine and pitchers of beer daily until 5 p.m. What’s different? Located in the Hughes Landing mixed-use district, the wine haven takes notes from some of its Woodlands neighborhood. The restaurant features an endearing, shaded patio that’s steps away from Lake Woodlands, and beverage director and sommelier Brent Karlicek has set out to create a beer, wine, and cider list tailored to residents. This most recent location also plans to unveil a summertime wine list with 30 new bottles and options by the glass this May.

Manditos

A little brother to Upper Kirby’s Tex-Mex restaurant Armando’s, Mandito’s second location arrived in Bellaire on April 13, offering a slew of scratch-made Tex-Mex classics, like cheese enchiladas and fajitas, crispy tacos, and its “world famous” burrito bowls. Most impressive are Mandito’s agave spirits offerings, which include raicilla, bacanora, and mezcals; sotol from Chihuahua and Durango; and 18 different types of tequila from the Los Altos and El Valle regions of Mexico. Diners and imbibers can make the most of this by ordering from the frozen menu or customizing their experience through the “Make it a Margarita” option, which allows them to pick any agave spirit or sotol on the menu for their marg, plus one of its five specialty salts to line the rim. Be sure to catch a glimpse of Mandito’s state-of-the-art BE&SCO press and oven. Visible by all guests, the machine produces 900 tortillas per hour.

Padre’s Wine Shop

This boutique wine shop opened this past April, offering Houstonians a chance to experience wines from around the globe, with selections from South America, France, Italy, the United States, and pours from lesser-known regions, including family-owned wineries with sustainable operations. Though this boutique wine shop is known for selling wine by the bottle, visitors can also enjoy its menu of light bites, including a variety of bread from local bakery Cake & Bacon, a cheese and charcuterie board, and its fried beef bologna sandwich that’s served with a white balsamic aioli.

Echoes Cafe

Rebekah Flores

With chefs Armando Ramirez and Ana Stanciu at the helm, this Montrose cafe and bar takes notes from Echoes owner Georgeos Kazilas’ Greek and Mexican heritage, offering sharable bites that merge the two cultures. Find spanakopitas made of buttery phyllo stuffed with fresh spinach and feta, souvlaki plates and skewers, and potato croquettes, alongside rib-eye tacos and Mexican brunch favorites, like chicken chilaquiles. The restaurant will also offer a steak night every Tuesday, featuring a 10-ounce rib-eye, served with creamed spinach and fries with a side of salsa verde.

Hongdae 33 Korean BBQ

Opened in April, Bellaire’s newest Korean barbecue spot is all-you-can-eat and very hands-on. For $33, diners score all the sides, including kimchi and seafood pancakes, and proteins like brisket pork jowl, and baby octopus — all of which can be grilled and enjoyed at their table, which is equipped with a gas grill. Looking to kick it up a notch? The restaurant offers the option to upgrade the experience, with prime meat selections, like New York strip, ribeye, and American wagyu beef from R-C Ranch for an added price, plus a bevy of South Korean spirits and cocktails. The only catch is diners only have a 90-minute window per reservation, so be sure to pace yourself.

April

Campesino

A new outpost of this popular Montrose coffee shop is now open Downtown, taking up residence in the former home of Hubcap Grill on Prairie St. Visitors looking to escape the mundane setting of their corporate offices can take to the well-appointed open-air patio for coffee, or a full meal. Like its Montrose counterpart, Campesino serves up Katz coffee and offers a large menu of specialty drinks like a cafe Cubano, horchata, and a Maya mocha latte, among others, plus a food menu with Latin flair. Find Salvadorian-style tamales, breakfast tacos, and sandwiches like the choripan — pork sausage on a bolillo, served with plantain chips.

Chi’Lantro

This Austin-based Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant opened its first Houston outpost in the Heights this month, with more locations planned for the future. The original kimchi fries, topped with meat, caramelized kimchi, shredded cheese, onion, cilantro, Magic Sauce, Sriracha, and sesame seeds, are the restaurant’s call to fame, but the menu also features customizable bowls built with a base of rice or japchae noodles, salads, ssams (wraps), and homemade agua Fresca. Choose your own adventure, or pick from an option from the menu of curated bowls.

Chi’Lantro

Eau Tour

Benjy Levit’s hip new French restaurant opened last month in the same Rice Village development that houses his Local Foods and Local Foods Market concepts. Helmed by chef Kent Domas, Eau Tour features a seafood-heavy menu with dishes prepared in the restaurant’s wood-burning Josper oven. Find dishes like tuna tartare, Parisian gnocchi, a gruyere cheeseburger, and seared duck breast with celery root and pistachio, alongside a bevy of wines and cocktails.

Jenn Duncan

The Heights Social

As the first fully enclosed bar to open on West 20th St., the Heights Social combines a chic and sexy, chandelier-bedecked space with a playful cocktail program that includes espresso martinis served on tap. Guests can look forward to live DJs performing late into the night, a hearty menu of pizzas and sandwiches, plus a spirited weekend brunch.

Dylan McEwan

Kyuramen

The seats have hardly had a moment to cool at Kyuramen since opening its first Houston outpost last month in Asiatown. The popular ramen chain restaurant has drawn in the crowds in recent weeks and is known for its three styles of ramen: Hokkaido miso, Central Japan’s Tokyo Shouyu, and southern Japan’s Kyushu Shio. Go for the ramen, but stay and explore the attractive space, which features a wishing tree, complete with well-wishes written on note cards, hanging from its branches.

Muse

Sundown Entertainment (Sugar Room, Sporting Club, Todos Santos), along with chef-partner EJ Miller, opened MUSE in the West Dallas space that previously housed Emmaline last month. The restaurant has been completely transformed and boasts a sexy, dimly-lit dining room dotted with cherry blossom trees. Miller strays from tradition with a dynamic menu, including standouts like caviar service accompanied with brown butter potato madeleines; grilled pork belly, served cold, with marinated cucumber, melon, Fresno chili, peanuts, and fresh herbs; and a post-oak grilled RC Ranch bone-in-ribeye, presented with chili eggplant. Desserts are paid equal attention with several hard-to-resist offerings, like a yuzu tart built atop sesame shortbread; and a jujube cake topped with grilled pear and served with pine nut brittle and pear sorbet.

Adrian Barboza

Oheya by Uchi

Hai Hospitality’s new 12-seat omakase counter opened in an intimate space neighboring Uchi in Montrose last month. The restaurant offers two seatings per night, priced at $175 per person, during which guests can enjoy a 15-course omakase experience. The menu changes often, as a different Hai Hospitality chef helms the kitchen each month. The guest chef works in tandem with Uchi Houston’s in-house talent, chef de cuisine Stephen Conklin and head sushi chef Kevin Le, resulting in a menu made up of hot and cold dishes, with a focus on hyper-seasonal and hyper-local ingredients.

Oheya by Uchi

PS21

Chef Philippe Schmit, aka “the French Cowboy”, and Houston hospitality veteran Sebastian Laval opened PS21 last month in the former Queen Vic space in Upper Kirby. A standout among the menu’s classic French offerings is the raclette experience for two, which is a table-side presentation of warm raclette cheese showcased on fingerling potatoes and served with salad crudité and charcuterie. Save room for even more cheese, with desserts like the cheese monger board, or something rich and decadent like the Grand Marnier souffle.

Se7en

Newly opened in Upper Kirby, Se7en combines a menu of Asian-Mediterranean cuisine with a vibey dining room, complete with live entertainment and an extensive beverage program. Guests can explore the dinner menu, which features sushi and hand rolls, and a 45-day aged 42-ounce tomahawk, or they can linger around during the late night hours for bottle service, while a live DJ plays on.

Se7en

March

The Blind Goat

After shuttering the Blind Goat food stall at Downtown’s Bravery Chef Hall, MasterChef champ, Christine Ha, has reopened the restaurant as a brick-and-mortar in Spring Branch. At Blind Goat 2.0, Ha has the advantage of a much larger kitchen, and as a result, she’ll be introducing guests to new offerings, not previously available at Bravery. Expect whole roasted turmeric fish, crawfish and noodles, and a curated list of cocktails. While operating a much larger restaurant in a new neighborhood will undoubtedly come with its own set of challenges, it isn’t the only thing Ha is juggling at the moment. Along with her business partner Tony Nguyen, Ha has been nominated for a James Beard in the Outstanding Chef category for her restaurant Xin Chao, and she is gearing up for the opening of Stuffed Belly, a sandwich shop that will also debut in Spring Branch later this season.

The Blind Goat Facebook

Jun by Kin

One year after appearing on Bravo’s Top Chef, Evelyn Garcia opened Jun by Kin in the Heights earlier this month. The 1950s-era washateria was revamped by Gin Braverman, the lauded hospitality designer of the Gin Design Group, and serves as a cozy, ultra-sleek destination in which to explore the small, but mighty menu created by Garcia and her culinary partner Henry Lu’s. Drawing inspiration from their diverse upbringing, offerings include whole fish, lamb curry, and fried chicken.

Claudia Casbarian

The Crack Shack

Popular Southern California-based fried chicken chain, the Crack Shack opened its first Texas outpost in Katy’s LaCanterra shopping development this month. The family-friendly restaurant, known for its golden-fried birds, is working with local purveyors, including using artisan-baked sandwich bread from Bread Man Baking Co. and shakes made with Amy’s Ice Cream, to showcase the freshest ingredients possible. Linger around after you eat — the Katy location has a dog-friendly patio and serves up local brew from Eureka Heights and Saint Arnolds.

The Crack Shack

Eight Row Flint

A second outpost of Agricole Hospitality’s popular Heights patio bar has opened in the East End. While guests can expect to see familiar cocktails like the bar’s many ranch water and old-fashioned choices, this location differs from the Heights in that it is spread over two levels and offers Downtown views from its rooftop patio.

Mikah Danae

Xalisco

Beatriz Martines, the former corporate chef and culinary director of H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi) has opened Xalisco in the Woodlands. Operating her restaurant has long been a dream for Martines, who previously worked as a cafeteria lunch lady at Cy-Fair ISD in Houston, and now it has come to fruition. The large, 5,500-square-foot restaurant is neatly appointed and attractive with furnishings brought in from Mexico. On the menu, Martines takes a modern approach to traditional eats, with her pride and joy being the Trompito al Pastor, a mini vertical rotating spit showcasing adobo-marinated pork.

Xalisco

Primo Hoagies

Beloved South Philly sandwich restaurant, Primo Hoagies, has opened a location on Washington Ave., making it the second Texas outpost for the time-honored brand. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the casual restaurant serves up its iconic hoagies, layered with Thumann’s gourmet meats and cheeses, a secret blend of spices, and locally sourced vegetables on seeded rolls that are baked fresh throughout the day.

The Ranch Saloon & Steakhouse

Berg Hospitality’s Ranch Saloon & Steakhouse is officially back for its second year at the Houston Rodeo. Located at NRG Park on the southwest corner of NRG Astrodome near the Championship Wine Garden, the sprawling concept houses two restaurants under the same tent — the Saloon, a casual, first-come, first-serve restaurant with a bar and covered patio coined the Porch; and the Steakhouse, a more formal alternative that accepts reservations. This year, the Ranch boasts a new and improved layout, adding 80 additional seats, plus lounge seating for guests who want to partake in the “Ranch After Dark” — a late-night experience with live music and bottle service.

Jenn Duncan

February

Bayou Heights Biergarten

Five years after opening Heights Biergarten, the Kirby Group launched Bayou Heights Biergarten on Washington Ave., a sprawling concept made up of four buildings anchored by a large courtyard. Each building offers its dedicated beverage program, including wine and beer, cocktails, and coffees and teas. Chef Teddy Lopez led the charge on the culinary side, putting hard-to-resist items like house-made pretzels and a pulled pork sandwich on the menu.

Dustyn Zenner

Brett’s BBQ Shop Katy

The new Katy location of Brett’s BBQ Shop is now open, holding court on Kingsland Boulevard in a space that is much larger than its previous locale on Mason Road, which shuttered last year. The lauded barbecue restaurant is known for its smoked meats and traditional sides, but the new location will likely have guests lounging around well after they’ve eaten. Brett’s 2.0 boasts bar games, a full bar, and a patio.

Cafe Express Woodlands

This Houston-based counter-service cafe is expanding its footprint in the city with a new outpost, open now, in the Woodlands, and another slated to open in Baybrook this summer. Like its newly remodeled River Oaks location, the Woodlands restaurant has an aesthetic reminiscent of classic European cafes, with Paris metro-style lighting, Italian furniture fabrics, and Spanish gold finishes. In addition to its all-day menu and happy hour specials, Cafe Express has family meals for four, with items like Mediterranean salmon and chicken pesto Alfredo pasta.

Michael Anthony

Graffiti Raw

The latest concept from Big Vibe Hospitality (Coppa, Gratify, Flora) is now open in the Montrose Collective. The all-day kitchen and bar offers a diverse, approachable menu, inspired by owners Grant and Jacy Cooper and Josep Prats’ world travels. Expect caviar with chips, an Angus cheeseburger, cod croquettes, shrimp fried rice, and margaritas in a relaxed, California cool-type setting.

Killen’s BBQ Cypress

Following its original location in Pearland and a follow-up in the Woodlands, Ronnie Killen opened a new outpost of Killen’s BBQ in the former Burro & Bull space in Cypress. Since opening at the end of January, the restaurant has drawn in crowds from Cypress and beyond with guests waiting in line for a taste of the brand’s signature beef ribs, brisket, and old-fashioned desserts.

Kriti Kitchen

This West U retail strip gem is helmed by chef Mary Cuclis, a native Texan who honed her chops at Alvin Leung’s three-Michelin star molecular Chinese restaurant Bo Innovation in Hong Kong, and as part of Pondicheri’s opening team in Houston. Cuclis draws inspiration for the menu from her Greek heritage, with the counter-service cafe featuring a mix of homestyle Cretan dishes and prepared meals. Highlights from the all-day menu include meat and vegetarian mezzo boards, wraps, and protein bowls, while a refrigerated section is stocked with family-size platters of dishes like chicken souvlaki and moussaka giving guests convenient takeaway options for weeknight dinners.

Ajna Jai

Local Table Cinco Ranch

Local Table’s revamped Cinco Ranch location is now the brand’s flagship and the first to feature a Local Table and Local Bar combo. The 14,500-square-foot building has a large patio, a private room that can accommodate up to 75 guests, and the Local Bar, which will likely be a hotbed for happy hours and game day watch parties. The menu is consistent with Local Table’s other locations, featuring several vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes, wood-stone pizzas, sandwiches, pitas, and more.

Jenn Duncan

Sixty Vines Woodlands

A new outpost of this wine-centric restaurant is now open at Market Street in the Woodlands. Like its other locations, the menu is influenced by wine countries around the world, including shareable plates and entrees, and the beverage program includes beer, cocktails, and 60 wines on tap. Pours are available by the flight, half glass, full glass, or bottle. At more than 12,000 square feet, complete with private dining spaces, the new Woodlands locale offers lots of comfortable space to wine and dine to your heart’s content.

January

Ciel

One of the most hotly anticipated Houston restaurant openings, Ciel combines fine dining with live entertainment. The River Oaks-area restaurant opened in mid-December in the floor-level space of a new boutique commercial building. It may look all business from the outside, but it’s a full-on party on the inside. A towering statue of Zeus holds court in the main dining room surrounded by marbled tables and banquettes conjoined together to create a stage where singers and dancers perform throughout the night. Under the direction of California native, chef Joseph Geiskopf, the menu is a mix of Japanese and French cuisines and incorporates fresh fish imported daily from Japan and New Zealand, prime steak cuts, and premium non-GMO caviar.

4411 San Felipe St Suite 101, Houston, TX 77027

Julie Soefer

d’Alba Midtown

This Garden Oaks neighborhood gem has unveiled a new outpost in Midtown. Like its sister restaurant, this locale boasts a comfortable outdoor patio and a menu of all-day eats like wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, and Gulf oysters paired with wine and cocktails.

3304 Milam St, Houston, TX 77006

Gatsby’s Grill

Gatsby Hospitality Group continues its rapid expansion with the addition of a third new concept, following Gatsby’s Steakhouse and Gatsby’s Seafood, coined Gatsby’s Grill. The casual neighborhood restaurant opened days before the new year in the El Segundo neighborhood near iconic Houston restaurant the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation. The 7,000-square-foot space is fitted with TVs and boasts an expansive bar area that leads to an outdoor patio featuring lounge seating and fire pits. In addition to hearty staples like chef Erick Anaya’s sunny-side-up egg-topped burger, and chicken fried steak, the menu pays homage to the neighborhood with Latino-driven offerings like crab-avocado queso, street corn, and tacos.

2929 Navigation Blvd Suite 100, Houston, TX 77003

Raydon Creative

Gypsy Poet Heights

A second outpost of the wildly popular Midtown pizzeria, Gypsy Poet has opened in the Heights. The Gypsy Poet Studio, as it is known, moved into the building, which previously housed Fegen’s on Studewood. Like at its original location, guests can dine on artisan pies while taking in a live music rehearsal or jam session from local bands.

1050 Studewood St. Houston, TX 77007

La Diabla Retro Bar

The team behind La Calle Tacos opened La Diabla Retro Bar on Downtown’s Main Street. The late-night throwback bar puts the spotlight on Latino pop hits of the 80s and 90s, with live music acts taking to the stage every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

300 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

Little Hen

River Oaks District is now home to the first Texas location of dreamy Miami-based brunch boutique, Little Hen. Marble and gold tabletops with blue velvet bucket chairs, dark leather couches, floral prints, and blooming bouquets decorate the romantic, chandelier-bedecked space, and a 1,050-square-foot outdoor Champagne garden is set to debut this spring. Open daily at 8 a.m. Little Hen offers a full breakfast and brunch menu, along with an upscale afternoon tea service.

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite H-110, Houston, TX 77027

Little Hen

Money Cat

Money Cat, from the team behind Cinco Ranch standout Tobiuo Sushi & Bar, opened at Kirby Grove on January 7. Chef-owner Sherman Yeung and chef de cuisine Jiolo “Jio” Dingayan have coined the cuisine “new Japanese”, which is meant to reflect the interpretations of first- and second-generation Asian Americans with dishes meant to tickle all five senses. Steamed egg custard is presented with savory taiyaki made from corn and chive, and a dessert called the chocolate bonsai appears as if it is growing directly from the plate it is served on.

2925 Richmond Ave. Suite 140, Houston, TX 77098

Kimberly Park