• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    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.

    The Halal Guys location was formerly a Snap Kitchen and Starbucks.

    Halal Guys Houston
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    The Halal Guys location was formerly a Snap Kitchen and Starbucks.
    lunchdinnernews-you-can-eatopenings
    news/restaurants-bars

    most read posts

    Houston haunt earns only Texas spot on Bon Appètit best new bars list

    New Korean cafe serves up viral breakfast sandwiches in Spring Branch

    40-year old Houston pub reopens in Montrose with pizza and patio power

    all day and all of the night

    Pizzeria owner opens new all-day poolside bar and restaurant at Heights hotel

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 3, 2025 | 4:15 pm
    Soluna Heights House Hotel sandwiches
    Photo by Antony Guerrero
    Come for chilaquiles or a chicken milanese torta.

    A hotel in the Heights has refreshed its poolside bar. Soluna is now open from morning until late night at the Heights House Hotel.

    Opened last week, Soluna replaces Space Cowboy, which opened in 2021. The new name, a combination of the Spanish words for “sun” and “moon,” also indicates new management, with Betelgeuse Betelgeuse owner Chris Cusack stepping in to oversee the concept.

    Intended to serve both hotel guests and visitors — day passes to the pool are available for purchase — Soluna opens daily at 9 am with breakfast tacos such as steak and egg and a breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, bacon, smashed potatoes, refried black beans, oaxaca cheese, pico de gallo). Weekend brunch adds chilaquiles.

    The all-day menu starts with tacos such as fried oyster mushrooms, al pastor, and tilapia seasoned with a “Chili-Cajun spice rub.” Shareables include smashed and fried potatoes with jalapeno ranch, chicharrones and queso, and wings al pastor. Keeping with the casual theme, the menu rounds out with sandwiches such as a chicken milanese torta, a cheeseburger, and a Cuban.

    Pair them with cocktails such as the Miami Vice (a frozen strawberry daiquiri), an espresso martini, a spritz, and, of course, margaritas (both frozen and on the rocks). Non-alcoholic options include a full coffee program, juices, sodas, and teas.

    “Soluna is a quintessential neighborhood bar that caters to hotel guests and non-hotel guests who are looking for a great spot to enjoy some amazing food and drinks,” Cusack said in a statement. “The team has put a lot of hard work into our menu and we can’t wait for folks to come visit, try out some of our mouthwatering creations, and make us their weekly stop for delicious bites and cocktails.”

    Soluna Heights House Hotel sandwiches
      

    Photo by Antony Guerrero

    Come for chilaquiles or a chicken milanese torta.

    news-you-can-eatopeningshotelssolunathe-heights
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...