celebrate 420 in style

8 heady Houston restaurants and bars to party on 4/20 in style

April 20 has gone mainstream. Once primarily observed by jam band fans, the holiday devoted to recreational marijuana now draws fans from all elements of society.

Houston’s restaurants and bar are ready to help people celebrate with options that range from all-day affairs starring well known musicians to CBD ice cream. While recreational marijuana may not have come to Texas (yet?), people can still celebrate in whatever legal way feels most appropriate.

Bun B’s 420 Party at the Heights House Hotel
The unofficial mayor of Houston will celebrate the holiday with a major bash at the recently renovated property. DJ Gracie Chavez will spin from 8 pm-2 am, and vendors such as Oso Coffee, Segundo CBD, Third Coast Blends, Lost Range CBD, Mixer Elixir by Doctor G, and The Fortunate Cookies will sell wares from 4-8 pm.

The event will also serve as an unofficial debut for Space Cowboy, the tropical-inspired bar and restaurant from chef Lyle Bento and bartender Greg Perez’s Night Moves Hospitality. Tickets start at $40 in advance and $50 at the door with sleepover packages ($120 and up) and poolside tables and cabanas ($600 and up) also available: 3 pm-2 am.

Amsterdam Co.
The CBD coffeeshop has a number of events planned for Tuesday, including 100 free CBD rolls available on a first-come first-served basis. From 12-2 pm, patrons may receive a free slice of pizza from Love Buzz Pizza Pub. Beginning at 4:20 pm, Cowboy Pho will sell bowls of CBD-infused brisket pho for $4.20.

Bobcat Teddy’s
The ice house in The Heights will host a parking lot party featuring live music by by Matt Cash and Ojos Rojos, food by Tacos A La Madre, CBD treats by Bayou City Hemp Co., and swag giveaways. Event sponsor Highway Vodka will have a glassblower on site. The party starts at 4:20, prices vary by item.

The Flying Saucer
Downtown’s craft beer institution will have a 420 theme for its weekly Tuesday night trivia contest. On Wednesday, April 21, it will sell this glow-in-the-dark, Post Malone-themed beer glass for $10 (starts at 6 pm, supplies limited).

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Love Buzz Pizza Pub
Montrose’s 420-friendly pizzeria will debut a line of t-shirts ($25) and hoodies ($50) featuring its new pizza box design by Bakerduzen (see below). Those who buy apparel on Tuesday will receive goodies such as a free slice of pizza, a hand screen printed box, and other surprises.

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Rise Rooftop
The Midtown party spot will host Flower Fest featuring performances by hip hop artist Devin the Dude along with other bands and DJs. Look for live glassblowing, a 420-themed vendor market, food, and more. General admission tickets are $20, 3 pm-2 am.

Sweet Bribery
Head to The Heights to try the ice cream’s special 420 flavor. Dubbed The Munchies, it features Tahintian vanilla ice cream loaded with sweet and salty peanuts, caramel popcorn, sea salt potato chips, Chex mix, mini M&M’s — and 10 mg of CBD per scoop.

The Toasted Coconut
Fittingly for a restaurant that encourages diners to “get high and stop on by,” the tiki-influenced establishment will have a number of 420 specials. As an extension of its popular Taco Tuesday offering, The Toasted Coconut will serve three specials: fried chicken tender topped with queso; a nacho taco with ground beef, Doritos, and refried beans; and a ChocoTaco made with a waffle cone from Fat Cat Creamery and a passionfruit-mocha ice cream created by the Dough Cone. Pair them with one of two special cocktails: the Island Hippy (mezcal, cinnamon, pineapple, coconut cream, line) or the Mellow Mood, a cider-based concoction with a CBD hydro tincture.

Join Bun B at the Heights House Hotel.

Courtesy of Heights House Hotel

Join Bun B at the Heights House Hotel.

news-you-can-eat holidays

a CultureMap Exclusive

Houston's 'Chinese takeout bar from the future' touches down in Webster

Courtesy of The Rice Box

A rendering previews The Rice Box's new location in Webster.

Houston’s Chinese takeout bar from the future is coming to the Bay Area. The sixth location of The Rice Box will open in Webster later this summer.

Located at 114 El Dorado Blvd, the new location will be called Rice Box Space Center after NASA’s headquarters at the nearby Johnson Space Center. Founder John Peterson tells CultureMap that it’s a bit of a homecoming for him and his wife/business partner, Jenny Vo, as they grew up in the area. As with every new location, the restaurant created a movie-style poster to announce its opening.

Rice Box Webster movie poster The Rice Box Space Center is expected to open later this summer.Courtesy of The Rice Box

For its first truly suburban location, Peterson plans to offer a more efficient pickup system for to-go orders. Dubbed The Rice Box Pickup Reactors, the system applies Rice Box’s sci-fi aesthetic to curbside ordering. As seen in the rendering above, the building will have six slots that drivers will pull into to get their orders.

“The goal is to have guests in and out with food in hand in around 90 seconds,” Peterson writes in an email. “It’s still pickup, but we’re trying to make that moment feel more intentional and more connected to the digital side of Rice Box instead of treating it like an afterthought. We’re looking at this opening as both a new store and a prototype for how Rice Box can work in more suburban markets without losing the part of the brand that makes it feel like us.”

Bay Area-area diners can expect the same menu as the Rice Box’s other locations. That includes staples such as General Tso’s chicken, sesame chicken, beef with broccoli, and orange peel beef. The restaurant also serves traditional Chinese-inspired fare such as Chongqing chicken, cumin beef, mapo tofu, and chow fun noodles.

Recently, Peterson rolled out a new version of Rice Box’s dumplings. Available in chicken, pork, or vegetable, each style of dumpling comes with a different wrapper that enhances the filling’s flavor. They’re also available either steamed or fried.

The Rice Box started as a food truck in the early 2010s. After moving to a permanent location in the Greenway Plaza food court, it has opened brick-and-mortar locations in the Heights, River Oaks, Rice Village, and Memorial.

openings news-you-can-eat the rice box