Shake Shack Arrives

Rumor no more: Shake Shack confirms it's coming to Houston later this year

Whether it looks like this remains to be seen, but Shake Shack is officially coming to Houston.

Simon Properties

The rumors are true. Shake Shack is coming to Houston.

In an email sent Tuesday afternoon, a Shake Shack representative writes that the company is "coming to The Galleria in Houston, TX late 2016. We don’t have any additional info to share at this time."

It's the first official word from the New York-based burger chain that's grown from its first outpost in New York City's Madison Square Park into a global phenomenon with revenues that have grown at an astonishing rate. Houston will be the company's third Texas outpost. It is expected to be located in the Galleria's new addition, near the new Saks Fifth Avenue.

In addition to two locations in Austin, the company announced in October that it will open in Dallas in 2016.

Now that the company has committed to Houston, let the speculation begin about how it will customize its menu for the Bayou City. What will the equivalent be of the Kreuz Market sausage patty and Uchi-sourced concrete that are the company's special items in Austin?

Between the addition of Shake Shack and Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant Yauatcha, The Galleria is suddenly emerging as a culinary destination. These new additions will help it keep pace with River Oaks District, which is set to open seven new restaurants by this summer.

Whether Houstonians will brave Galleria traffic to stand in line for shack burgers remains to be seen, but the mall draws enough tourist traffic that it's almost guaranteed to be a success. Besides, the company could always open a few additional locations in other parts of the city to share the wealth.

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riel returns

Shuttered Houston restaurant revived for 1 night only at Canada Day pop-up

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

One of the saddest restaurant closures of 2025 will get a one-night-only revival. Favorite dishes from Riel will return at Chardon on Sunday, June 28 for an event being called “Booze Can Sunday.”

While a French fine dining restaurant might seem like an unlikely host for a Riel revival, Chardon executive chef E.J. Miller once served as Riel’s opening sous chef. Miller invited his former boss, Riel chef-owner Ryan Lachaine, to join him for a pop-up that honors Canada Day.

Together, the duo will serve some of Riel’s most popular dishes, including:

Truffle and Caviar Pierogies
Steak Au Poivre Poutine with Cheese Curds
Deli Dog
Montreal Smoked Meat Sliders
Torche Kolaches
Mushroom Empanadas
Gator Karaage
Maple Whiskey Soft Serve with Foie Caram

The day will also feature drink specials such as Canadian Jell-O Shots, Molson X, Canadian Club, Old Grand-Dad, and more. Robin Wong, a co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and a successful DJ, will spin throughout the event.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

"Riel was a special place for a lot of people, and Booze Can Sunday was always one of the most anticipated events of the week," said Miller. "Ryan and I wanted to bring back that energy for one day, celebrate the restaurant that meant so much to us, and give guests a chance to revisit some of the dishes and memories they loved."

Riel Restaurant Ryan Lachaine E.J. Miller A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by Eric Sandler

Riel opened in January 2017 and closed in August 2025. In between, it earned wide acclaim for the way Lachaine blended his Canadian upbringing and Ukrainian heritage with the modern Gulf Coast cuisine he learned while working at restaurants such as Reef and Underbelly.

Currently, Lachaine works as the executive chef at River Oaks restaurant State of Grace. He added two Riel signatures to State of Grace’s menu — the caviar tater tots and signature butter burgers.

Chardon, which earned a Best New Restaurant nomination in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for its blend of classic French fare with Texas ingredients, opened in February 2025. In addition to Riel, Miller’s resume includes SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, International Smoke, and Muse.

Booze Can Sunday takes place from 3-9 pm. Attendees are encouraged to register on Eventbrite.

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