more than turkey legs

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo rustles up exciting eats and tempting treats for 2022

Deep fried cookie dough is one of many treats served at the Rodeo.

Courtesy of RodeoHouston

Beginning February 28, Houstonians will return to NRG Park for the first full rodeo season to happen since 2019, and that means lots of new food to try.

Of course, all that time away from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo grounds means people will likely gravitate to old favorites like turkey legs, corn dogs, and funnel cakes. Still, the new options are pretty tempting.

The most exciting addition is The Ranch Saloon & Steakhouse. Operated by Berg Hospitality, the pop-up restaurant will occupy an almost 16,000-square-foot, climate-controlled tent near the southeast corner of the Astrodome. The Ranch will be divided into the Saloon, a casual restaurant that's open to walk-ins, and the Steakhouse, a more upscale concept that takes reservations and serves a mix of dishes from Berg restaurants B&B Butchers and The Annie Café.

Another new restaurant that should draw plenty of attention will be Trill Burgers, Houston hip-hop legend Bun B's smash burger concept. First introduced at the 2021 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, diners will find Trill Burgers at the Rodeo Plaza.

Some of the rodeo's other new dining options include Darlin's Fried Chicken, Southern Fried Saloon by Gourmet Royale, Red Barn Biscuits, and Joe's Crab Shack. Attendees will also find second locations of Tad’s Bodacious Burritos and Fredericksburg Mini Donuts. Boba tea fans will find refreshment at The Teahouse Tapioca and Tea.

No visit to the rodeo would be complete without feasting on creative, over-the-top dishes. Consider the Southern Fried Chicken Alfredo Ball, a tempting snack filled with fettuccine alfredo, Southern fried chicken bites, and fresh mozzarella cheese that's topped with alfredo sauce and served with garlic bread. Similarly, the Deep Fried Jambalaya Roll combines Cajun-spiced chicken, sausage, and rice in a crispy wrapper.

Island Noodles has a slightly healthier option with its Island Slaw, a cole slaw variation studded with mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and snap peas that's topped with teriyaki chicken.

As always, media members will select their favorite bites at the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards. Look for a full list of winners in the coming weeks.

rodeo news-you-can-eat

a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

news-you-can-eat openings mexican sugar