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    Halal Guys Preview

    First taste: At Halal Guys' new Houston outpost, it really is all about the white sauce

    Eric Sandler
    Jan 25, 2016 | 11:43 am

    Houston is only days away from the arrival of the city's first location of The Halal Guys, and diners are buzzing about the opportunity to get their first taste of the New York-based sensation. Over 1,600 people have RSVPed on Facebook for the restaurant's grand opening on Saturday, and a contest to attend an invite-only preview dinner has generated hundreds of comments, likes and shares.

     

    For those who have yet to travel to New York City to sample the restaurant's cuisine, the format is simple. Diners order Chipotle-style. Start by choosing either a sandwich wrapped in pita or a rice platter. Select falafel, gyro meat, chicken, or a combination of meat and chicken. Finally, choose whether or not to add veggies, add sides like hummus or french fries, and choose a sauce.

     

    Prices are reasonable: $6.29 for a sandwich, $7.29 for a small platter, and $8.29 for a regular.

     

    True to its history as both a Starbucks and a Snap Kitchen, Halal Guys doesn't have much seating beyond a short counter, a few tables, and a small patio, which means most ordering will be to-go. The restaurant has a bright red and yellow color scheme that's reminiscent of a certain other global icon.

     

    On Friday, local franchisee Masroor Fatany invited a select group of media members to preview the restaurant's offerings. I opted for a rice platter with both chicken and gyro meat topped with a healthy squirt of white sauce and a judicious dab or spicy sauce. The chicken and gyro meat compare favorably to other Middle Eastern restaurants, but that's not what has turned Halal Guys into a phenomenon.

     

    Rather, the white sauce sets Halal Guys apart from its competition; the tangy, yogurt-based sauces tastes like a lighter version of tzatziki. While Texans are rightfully skeptical of anything New Yorkers consider "spicy," the companion hot sauce packs legitimate heat that blends a Tabassco-style vinegar base with a heavy chili punch. Stirring some into the container will give the whole meal a serious kick.

     

    A consensus from other media members at the tasting is that the meal compares favorable to the New York original. Blogger Zain Mohammed ranks Halal Guys ahead of Jones Fried Chicken, a locally-owned restaurant that's attempted to replicate the white sauce.

     

    While it's hard to use such a meal to predict what the dining experience will be like when the line is out the door, the good news is that the Houston version of Halal Guys seems poised for success. Fatany certainly thinks so. He has plans to open a dozen restaurants across the Houston-area and has plans to bring the concept to San Antonio in 2017.

     

    Expect to hear about new locations in March or April. For now, get ready for a major line on Saturday.

    Prices are reasonable at Halal Guys.

    Halal Guys Houston
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    Prices are reasonable at Halal Guys.
    lunchdinnernews-you-can-eatopenings
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    something to talk about

    Country star Koe Wetzel opens new location of his lively bar in Houston

    Eric Sandler
    Jul 1, 2025 | 4:15 pm
    Koe Wetzel Riot Room Houston
    Photo by Motion Theory Media
    The pickup truck on the front of the building makes it easy to spot.

    One of Texas country’s rising stars has brought his lively bar to Houston. Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room opened last month in Midtown.

    Located at the former Electric Feelgood space (2416 Brazos Street), the Houston location of Riot Room builds on the success of the Fort Worth original that opened in 2023. Known for his outlaw country swagger, including his 2022 release, Hell Paso, that debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, Koe Wetzel partnered with Fort Worth hospitality veteran Emil Bragdon to bring the Riot Room to life. It consistently ranks as one of Fort Worth’s highest-grossing bars.

    At over 8,000 square feet, the Houston Riot Room has considerably more space than the original. Wetzel and his team have used that to their advantage, expanding on the country music dance hall theme with details such as:

    • A seating area made from a full-sized pontoon boat
    • A DJ booth in the engine bay of a Ford pickup
    • Photo ops in a “jail cell” and a life-sized bucking bull
    • Neon signs that display Wetzel’s song lyrics.

    A full kitchen allows the bar to serve a menu of Southern-inspired bar fare such as chicken wings, Texas chili, potato skins, Southwestern egg rolls, burgers, salads, and more. Signature dishes include smoked beer can chicken and the Trailer Park Sandwich, featuring two breakfast sausage patties topped with cheddar cheese and served on a biscuit with strawberry jam. Houston will also be the first city to experience the bar’s take on weekend brunch.

    Bragdon told CultureMap that the bar’s name references someone who’s fun to be around, as in a laugh riot.

    "It's about who Koe is and what he represents," he says. "He has a carefree party attitude, that whole persona, which is so infectious. He's a true Texas guy, a good old country boy who's hospitable and likes to have fun - that’s what the place is about."

    ----

    Teresa Gubbins contributed to this article.

    Koe Wetzel Riot Room Houston
      

    Photo by Motion Theory Media

    The pickup truck on the front of the building makes it easy to spot.

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