This Week's Hot Headlines

Houston hot dog shop's sudden shutter leads our top 5 stories

Owners Amalia Pferd and Daniel Caballero closed Good Dog Houston after 15 years.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week. We begin with the sudden closure of a favorite casual restaurant, but there are many openings to look forward to as well. Read on for the five most popular CultureMap stories of the week, then check out our guide to the best weekend events.

1. Beloved Houston hot dog shop announces abrupt closure after 15 years. One of Houston’s most revered casual restaurants has served its final meal. Good Dog Houston close after dinner service on Sunday, April 27.

2. 7 new luxe Houston lunch deals that make the midday meal memorable. A luxury lunch doesn’t always require a splurge — at least not a major one. These Houston restaurants’ prix fixe menus and bento boxes allow diners to sample curated, high-caliber cuisine for a fraction of the cost of a full dinner.

3. Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr serves up a new pickleball bar in Midtown. A new destination for cocktails, bar bites, and social gaming has arrived in Midtown. After a quiet soft opening, Solarium is officially open for service daily.

Solarium pickleball court Play pickleball or padel. Photo by Becca Wright

4. Canadian comfort food restaurant puts down roots in prime Houston spot. One of Canada’s most popular restaurants is coming to Houston. Cactus Club Cafe will open its third U.S. location in the BLVD Place development.

5. Bun B opens new Spring location of his smash hit smash burger joint. The wait for Houston’s second location of Trill Burgers has come to an end. Bun B’s acclaimed smash burger restaurant opened its Spring outpost on April 25.

This Week's Hot Headlines

Predicting Texas Monthly's 2025 best BBQ list and more popular stories

Courtesy of Truth BBQ

Houstonians might riot if Truth BBQ falls out of the top 10.

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with our predictions on an anticipated barbecue ranking. Plus, two Houston suburbs find the spotlight, and a fancy burger joint says goodbye. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head to this guide to find the best Memorial Day weekend events.

1. Predicting 13 barbecue joints that could make Texas Monthly's new top 10. On May 27, Texas Monthly will publish its latest ranking of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints. Before the list drops, CultureMap's Eric Sandler shares his predictions on who will make the cut.

2. 10 Houston restaurants spicing up brunch with fresh new flavors. A wave of new and established Houston restaurants are rolling out fresh takes on everyone's favorite weekend indulgence. These 10 new options are delivering bold brunches with global influences and tipsy tinctures.

3. East Coast-inspired tavern shakes up Rice Village with 'World's Coldest Martini'. The “World’s Coldest Martini” has arrived in Rice Village with the opening of Hudson House's second Houston-area location.

4. 2 Houston neighbors shine as top-10 best places to live in the U.S. The Houston suburbs of Pearland and League City have landed among the top three best places to live in 2025, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Pearland water tower All eyes are on Pearland. City of Pearland - Government/Facebook

5. Ben Berg's New York-inspired, fancy burger joint will soon shutter. The original location of Ben Berg’s fancy burger joint will soon serve its last meal.