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    meat up here

    Sizzling new Brazilian steakhouse and churrascaria fires up in the Galleria

    Eric Sandler
    Oct 26, 2020 | 2:15 pm

    Houstonians with an appetite for meat on skewers have a new option in the Galleria area. Casa Do Brazil has fired up its rodizo.

    A Brazilian steakhouse with a sister location in College Station, Casa Do Brazil retained local firm Construction Concepts (BCK, Ninfa's Uptown) to transform the former Tango & Malbec space at 2800 Sage Rd. Changes include an all-new bar area, a custom grill for roasting meat, and, of course, the all-important salad bar that serves a selection of vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, and more.

    Still, a churrascaria is all about the meat. At Casa Do Brasil, the beef on the all-you-can-eat menu is USDA Prime and covers all the cuts one would expect from this style of restaurant: top sirloin, bottom sirloin, ribeye, filet, etc. Other selections include pork ribs, pork tenderloin, lamb, and bacon-wrapped beef and chicken. Pescetarians will find a wood-grilled salmon filet as their primary choice (or shrimp cocktail) with the ability to add access to the salad bar for an additional fee.

    For those who want a lighter experience, Casa Do Brasil offers a lighter menu in its bar and patio areas. Selections include an array of appetizers (empanadas, ceviche, smoked crab and kale dip, etc) along with a la carte meat and seafood entrees. A happy hour menu, served in the bar and patio daily from 4-7 pm, features an array of $7 bar bites, $7 cocktails, $7 wines by-the-glass, and $5 drafts. A 22-foot floor-to-ceiling wine wall displays the restaurant's inventory.

    “From the beginning, it has been our mission to deliver an authentic churrasco experience in a fine dining setting,” general manager and co-owner Israel Casas said in a statement. “Our newest restaurant perfectly delivers on both dining and design. We understand many people are familiar with Brazilian steakhouses, but the ‘Casa Experience’ goes beyond the ordinary. We pride ourselves on offering the finest cuts of USDA Prime beef and preserving these classic cooking techniques. Our team is very excited to be a part of the Houston restaurant community.”

    It will take something “beyond the ordinary” to stand out in Houston's crowded market for both steakhouses and churrascarias. In addition to all of the established players, Gauchos do Sul, a restaurant with a location in Vintage Park, opened in Highland Village earlier this year. King Ranch Texas Kitchen, a new restaurant from Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, will open near the intersection of Post Oak and San Felipe in the coming weeks.

    Casa do Brasil opened last week.

    Casa Do Brasil exterior
    Photo by Quy Tran Photography
    Casa do Brasil opened last week.
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    firing up Montrose

    New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

    Eric Sandler
    Dec 3, 2025 | 10:02 am
    Casa Kenji restaurant
    Photo by Becca Wright
    Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

    An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

    Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

    “My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

    The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

    “Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

    Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

    “It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

    One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

    Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

    “We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

    Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

    Casa Kenji restaurant

    Photo by Becca Wright

    Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

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