this weekend in dining

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Houston this weekend

Kenny & Ziggy's triple decker pastrami sandwich

This weekend kicks off with Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.

Courtesy of Kenny & Ziggy's

This weekend’s best food events features pastrami piled high, birria tacos, and a new farmers market. Options include both dine-in and to-go selections, so mask up and support some local businesses.

Thursday, January 14

Hot Pastrami Day at various locations
A few Houston’s restaurants are celebrating Hot Pastrami Day with specials. Kenny & Ziggy’s will feature its Triple Decker Hot Pastrami Sandwich — fully loaded with USDA Prime beef brisket that’s cured for 45 days then smoked — for $21.95. Two of the Creek Group restaurants are also participating. Onion Creek’s Country Ass Reuben includes house corned beef, havarti cheese, sauerkraut, and honey dijon that’s served on marble rye bread; Cedar Creek’s take on the classic Reuben combines grilled corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and “secret sauce” on a griddled pretzel bun.

Friday, January 15

Mexican-Filipino Street Food Pop-up at Xela Coffee Roasters
Taco purveyor Cochinita and Co. .and Filipino bakery pop-up Salvaje are teaming up to create dishes that honor both cultures. The menu includes a cochinita pibil taco; a kesong puti taco filled with fried, Filipino cheese; a Filipino sweet corn tamale; and a ube-flavor concha, 12-4 pm or until sold out.

No Label Brewery Dinner at State Fare Kitchen & Bar
The Texas comfort food restaurant has partnered with the Katy brewery on a three-course, $40 menu. Start with a rustic arugula salad with sausage and goat cheese paired with the 1980 Kolsch before dining on a Southern Surf & Turf of braised short rib and shrimp paired with Sittin’ Sidehaze. For dessert, it’s berry shortcake with El Hefe. The menu is available to all diners at both the Memorial and Sugar Land locations through January 24.

Saturday, January 16

Grand Opening at Juiceland Bellaire
Houston’s sixth location of the Austin-based juice shop will celebrate its grand opening with a fundraiser for the Southern Smoke Foundation. All proceeds from the day’s sales will be donated to the local non-profit that provides emergency cash assistance to restaurant industry workers in crisis. Other specials include a free fanny pack with the purchase of a juice, smoothie, or bowl, and customer will win a raffle for half-off drinks for a year, 7 am - 9 pm.

One Year Anniversary at Sticky’s Chicken
The food truck-turned-restaurant will celebrate one year of operations at Sawyer Yards with free wings. Get two free wings with purchase. Choose from OG (original Sticky's), Asian Tings, SLAB (Spicy Loud and Bangin'), Smoked Shallot, or plain. The special lasts all day and repeats on Sunday.

JQ’s Tex-Mex Barbecue at Fluff Bake Bar
The acclaimed purveyor of birria tacos will pop-up near The Heights with those signature tacos, carnitas tacos, brisket tacos, and more. Pre-order online or walk up and wait, 1-5 pm.

Sunday, January 17

Farmers Market at River Oaks District
The luxury shopping destination has partnered with the Your Neighborhood Farmers Market Association to bring together vendors selling produce, handmade condiments, baked goods, refreshments, and even dog treats — yes, it’s dog-friendly. Participants include Pain Train Salsa, Erbe Ranch, 4 Brothers New York Bagels, Biryani Hut Indian cuisine, and more, 11 am-3 pm.

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get lucky

Staple West Houston Chinese buffet reopens after glamourous makeover

Courtesy of Lucky Village Chinese Buffet

Lucky Village reopened last week.

One of Westchase’s dining staples has reopened after a lengthy renovation. Lucky Village Chinese Buffet is back and better than ever.

Located at 10755 Westheimer, Lucky Village has been a West Houston staple for more than 20 years. The restaurant closed earlier this year for renovations that were unveiled last week.

Tinggi Design, a Houston-based firm that’s designed and built restaurants in Texas and Louisiana, worked with sister company Golden Town Materials on sourcing and manufacturing many of the features. In the main dining room, look for fan-shaped ceiling coves with cascading crystal pendant lights and a hand-painted chinoiserie mural on one wall. A second dining room features floor-to-ceiling glass, cognac leather chairs, and a matte black ceiling. Overall, the effect is less affordable buffet and more full service restaurant.

While the look is fresh, the restaurant still serves hundreds of items in an all-you-can-eat buffet format that’s priced at $18.99 for dinner during the week and $19.99 for all day on Saturday and Sunday. Lower prices are offered at lunch ($15.99) and for kids.

The buffet contains hundreds of items, starting with a seafood section that includes Chinese dishes such as shrimp with lobster sauce and sweet-and-sour shrimp, and kung pao; boiled shrimp and crawfish; and a sushi station with nigiri and maki. Other sections include appetizers (dumplings, egg rolls, chicken wings, etc.), soup (wonton, hot and sour, egg drop, etc.), fried rice, beef (pepper steak, Mongolian, kung pao, etc.), chicken (sweet-and-sour, almond, black bean sauce, etc.), egg foo young, and more.

"Lucky Village has meant something to this community for 20 years. We wanted to honor that history while giving it a future, one that doesn't feel like a buffet at all," Lucky Village partner Jenny Xie said in a statement.

Courtesy of Lucky Village Chinese Buffet

Lucky Village reopened last week.

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