Ramen Boom

Food critic beloved California ramen chain jumps into the Midtown party scene

JINYA Ramen Bar, the California-based ramen chain that's expanded to locations in New York, Las Vegas and spots along the West Coast, now has an upcoming Houston location listed on its website. Set to open in March or April, the company confirms Eater's report that the restaurant's location will be in Midtown's The Mix complex at 3201 Louisiana.

In an email, JINYA CEO Tomo Takahashi tells CultureMap that they're looking forward to bringing JINYA's ramen/izakaya concept to Houston. "Houston is a place that has the potential to develop, and we believe authentic ramen will be accepted there," he writes.

He adds that the company's freshly made pork, chicken and vegetable broths help it stand out from its competitors.

James Beard Award winning food critic Jonathan Gold named Jinya as one of LA's 10 best ramen shops.

"JINYA Ramen Bar selected Midtown for it's first flagship location for many reasons," Takahashi explains. "Midtown is an area frequented by many young professionals, drinking aficionados, dining enthusiasts, and party goers. This is the area in Houston where you can find a great number of bars, pubs, lounges, and other night time venues where you can unwind, meet some friends, or just have a great night out."

To the extent that online reviews are any indication, ramen fans should probably be excited about this development. James Beard Award winning food critic Jonathan Gold named Jinya as one of LA's 10 best ramen shops, and the restaurant gets generally good Yelp reviews.

Although it's tempting to see the arrival of a national chain as some sort of tipping point at which any fad moves from hot to passe, let's welcome JINYA with open arms instead of cynicism. Hopefully the presence of an experienced, successful import will encourage the new wave of Houston's homegrown ramen shops to continue to improve their quality.

Shrimp tempura coming soon to Midtown.

Jinya Ramen Bar NYC crispy creamy shrimp tempura

Jinya Ramen Bar NYC Facebook

Shrimp tempura coming soon to Midtown.

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Locally Minded

Convivial Canadian sports bar sets opening date for new Woodlands pub

Local Public Eatery The Woodlands rendering

Courtesy of Local Public Eatery

Local Public Eatery will open August 21.

A growing sports bar and restaurant chain will soon make its Houston-area debut. Local Public Eatery will open at Market Street in The Woodlands on August 21.

Located in the former La Madeleine space (9595 Six Pines Dr., Ste 200), Local Public Eatery is owned by the same Canada-based hospitality group behind Joey Uptown, the casual, globally-inspired restaurant that opened at the Galleria in 2021. Founded in 2009, Local Public Eatery has 16 locations across Canada and two in America — one in Seattle and another in Dallas that opened last year.

"We're beyond excited to join The Woodlands community and bring the Local Public Eatery experience to our new neighbors," regional chef Oliver Lewis said in a statement. "Our team has fallen in love with this neighborhood, and we can't wait to create unexpectedly memorable experiences and new opportunities for the people of The Woodlands."

Known for its convivial atmosphere, Local Public Eatery serves what could broadly be considered modern comfort food. The menu includes everything from wings and nachos to burgers, steaks, a poke bowl, and thin crust pizzas. Weekend brunch includes a Dutch baby pancake, pork hash, and eggs Benedict.

LPE’s extensive beverage offerings start with draft beers. It also serves a range of cocktails, including a few different margaritas, along with highballs, martinis, and more. Wines and non-alcoholic options are also available.

Renovations to the 5,100-square-foot interior include Texas pine walls, vintage lighting, and “cozy area rugs,” according to a release. The 2,000-square-foot patio will feature a retractable roof with heaters and fans to keep it comfortable all year long. Flatscreen TVs are installed throughout the restaurant to allow fans to keep up with their favorite teams.

Prior to the opening, LPE intends to hire more than 100 people in all positions, including managers, cooks, servers, and more. A hiring event will be held at The Woodlands Mall on July 26 from 11 am-7 pm at stall 6520 near Kokee Tea. More information on the available positions is available here.

Courtesy of Local Public Eatery

Local Public Eatery will open August 21.

news-you-can-eat openings the-woodlands

Ramen Boom

Food critic beloved California ramen chain jumps into the Midtown party scene

Shrimp tempura coming soon to Midtown.

Locally Minded

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