Killen's Steakhouse Moving

Houston's king of meat finds bigger location for steakhouse — new burger joint is next

Ronnie Killen has done it again.

For months, the chef/owner of two of the Houston-area's most well-regarded meat-centric restaurants, Killen's Steakhouse and Killen's Barbecue, has been planning to open a burger joint that would both expand his growing empire and cement his status as the city's undisputed king of meat.

On Friday morning, Killen announced on Facebook that he will be moving his steakhouse to a new, larger location in Pearland. The current steakhouse building will then be converted into Killen's Burger. While Killen had planned to locate the burger joint in a former gas station, the opportunity to grow the steakhouse proved to be the better decision.

Will Killen give Texans superstar J.J. Watt his own private entrance? "If he wants," Killen jokingly replies. "At least we won't have to worry about the guys hitting their heads on the ceiling."

The chef tells CultureMap that he has put down $50,000 in earnest money to secure the deal on on the new location, which was recently Malibu Steak & Seafood. Closing on the new location will happen in 30 days, and Killen estimates the steakhouse will open in its new home a month or so later in September.

"We'll need one month to put our touches on it," the chef writes in a text.

For Killen, the opportunity to secure a larger space for his steakhouse comes with several advantages: "large bar, wine room, a place at the entrance for a dry aging room, banquet room. I will be able to do my own laundry and linens. NO CREASES IN MY LINEN," he writes.

Will Killen give Texans superstar J.J. Watt his own private entrance? "If he wants," Killen jokingly replies. "At least we won't have to worry about the guys hitting their heads on the ceiling."

As for the burger joint, Killen estimates it will open five months or so after the steakhouse moves. He's planning an extensive set of renovations that includes an open kitchen, adding more windows and installing a rear patio. "It will be very 50s," the chef explains.

"Honestly, I can't wait for the burger place," Killen continues. "Burgers and barbecue was my first restaurant. I did burgers better than my barbecue."

"Honestly, I can't wait for the burger place," Killen says. "Burgers and barbecue was my first restaurant. I did burgers better than my barbecue."

Just like at the barbecue joint, the focus at Killen's Burger will be squarely on the meat. The signature patty is a mix of brisket, pork belly and bacon, but diners will also have all beef, grass fed beef, turkey and chicken patties to choose from. More exotic meats such as elk and buffalo are also possibilities.

Those seeking lighter fare will have the option of a Hawaiian-style grilled tuna or even a vegetarian patty.

Beverage options will include craft beer, milkshakes and "an old-fashioned fountain system."

Killen built excitement for the barbecue joint with a series of pop-ups. Look for items from the the burger menu to start appearing as specials at the barbecue restaurant as soon as Killen installs a proper grill.

"We had one burger day already. People went nuts over them. Sold 80 burgers in 30 minutes," the chef writes.

Arguing over where to find Houston's best burgers is as much a local past time as griping about traffic or speculating about the Texans' playoff chances. Killen is certainly entering a competitive landscape, but it sounds like he's bringing the same passion for delivering high quality that led the Food Network to name his barbecue joint No. 2 in the country.

If he delivers, we'll all be driving to Pearland even more often than we already are.

Whether J.J. Watt gets his own entrance remains to be seen.

Killen's Steakhouse Facebook

Whether J.J. Watt gets his own entrance remains to be seen.

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NYT best dishes

Houston Mediterranean restaurant makes NY Times' best desserts list

Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen/Facebook

Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen is the only Houston restaurant on either list.

The New York Times included four Texas restaurants among its favorite dishes of 2025. Divided into two lists — The 23 Best Restaurant Dishes We Ate Across the U.S. in 2025 and The 14 Best Restaurant Desserts We Ate Across the U.S. in 2025 — the dishes are:

Bad Honey Bunny at Mercado Sin Nombre (Austin)
Ketan Hitam at Yeni’s Fusion (Austin)
Konafa Naama at Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen (Houston)
Picadillo Macaroni and Cheese at 2M Smokehouse (San Antonio)

Times food writer Priya Krishna, who authors the entries for all four Texas dishes, traveled to far west Houston to visit Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen. “The konafa, a signature here, arrives with a molten layer of cheese under a sticky-sweet layer of golden, nutty semolina. The craft is evident, the konafa gone in a few bites,” she writes.

Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen Konafa Naama Don't skip dessert at Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen.KSayad Mediterranean Kitchen/Facebook

In Austin, Krishna praises the rice pudding at Yeni’s Fusion. “This barely sweet version, lush with coconut milk, aromatic with pandan and as soothing as warm porridge, is the gentlest way to end a meal,” she states.

Already hailed as one of America’s best breakfast spots by Bon Appetit, Krishna singles out a honeybun at Mercado Sin Nombre. “The coiled honey bun at this semi-clandestine cafe looks almost cartoonishly perfect, and the heady scent of cardamom and honey hits you before you even take a bite. Somehow, it tastes every bit as plush and elegant as it appears,” she writes.

The picadillo mac and cheese at 2M Smokehouse showcases how the San Antonio restaurant incorporates Mexican flavors into traditional Texas barbecue. “Imagine Hamburger Helper, but spicier, punchier and even more luxuriously creamy. It’s not easy to one-up the singular, thickly spiced brisket here, but the picadillo mac and cheese — which runs as an occasional special — holds its own and then some,” Krishna writes.

The New York Times regularly shines its spotlight on Texas restaurants, In September, it named four establishments — ChòpnBlọk (Houston), Isidore (San Antonio), Lao’d Bar (Austin), and P Thai’s Khao Man Gai & Noodles (Austin) — to its list of America’s 50 Best Restaurants.

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