Moo Allen Center

Decadent California-based sandwich and salad shop opens second downtown location

Mendocino Farms will open its second downtown location next week.

Photo courtesy of Mendocino Farms

California-based fast casual restaurant Mendocino Farms will open its fifth Houston-area location in downtown’s Two Allen Center on Tuesday, April 26. First announced in 2019, the opening represents the company’s commitment to downtown as workers return to their offices.

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, Mendocino Farms offers a seasonally inspired menu that utilizes locally sourced ingredients to make creative salad, sandwiches, bowls, and other healthy fare.

The menu includes dishes such as the newly introduced Thai Mango Salad — shaved, roasted chicken breast with ramen noodles, Napa cabbage and kale slaw, sliced mango, honey roasted almonds, pickled daikon and carrots, scallions, Thai basil, mint, cilantro, lime, and fried shallots with Thai almond dressing — or the signature “Not So Fried” Chicken Sandwich, made with shaved, roasted chicken breast, krispies, herb aioli, mustard pickle slaw, tomatoes, and pickled red onions on toasted ciabatta. Other popular dishes include the Avocado and Quinoa Superfood Ensalada, the Chimichurri Steak & Shishito Bowl, the farm club, and chicken pesto caprese.

To mark the grand opening, Mendocino Farms will transform itself into “Moo Allen Center.” Patrons can receive a free entree by downloading the company’s app and selecting “Houston-Two Allen Center” as their favorite location before opening day. It will also donate 50 percent of opening day sales to Bike MS and The National Multiple Sclerosis Society in support of Houstonians participating in the upcoming Texas MS 150.

“We are always looking to better serve our existing communities, and our Two Allen Center location was built with professionals in mind as more return to downtown,” CEO Kevin Miles said in a statement. “With our diverse menu satisfying any culinary craving, we look forward to welcoming Two Allen Center tenants to our new restaurant, whether they are grabbing a bite with coworkers, seeking a quick pick up or delivery option, or feeding a crowd with our catering spreads.”

Mendocino Farms opened its first Houston location in Rice Village in 2019. Its other locations are in Uptown Park, the M-K-T mixed-use development in the Heights, and downtown on Main Street.

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Meet the Piña Loca

Vibrant Mexican food stand opens new restaurant near downtown

Photo by Marco Torres

Gazpachos' menu includes tacos, micheladas, and more.

A street-style Mexican eatery has finally found its brick-and-mortar home. Gazpachos Mexican Bites is now open for lunch and dinner in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood.

Located next to Meow Wolf at 2103 Lyons Ave., the new Gazpachos is the latest evolution of a concept that chef-owner Jennifer Perez founded as a trailer 10 years ago to serve Gaspacho Moreliano, a fruit dish inspired by her hometown in Michoacan. Since then, Gazpachos has grown into a series of food trucks as well as a kiosk at Upper Kirby’s Levy Park that opened in 2023.

Perez worked with Houston-based architecture and design firm Architangent to turn the 2,500-square-foot space into Gazpachos. Details include Equipale chairs sourced from Tequila, Jalisco, a U-shaped bar inspired by street-facing bars in Mexico, and four TVs that will be used for movie nights, loteria game, and other happenings.

The restaurant will serve Gazpachos’ diverse menu of sweet and savory offerings. That starts with its signature over-the-top fruit bowls such as the Piña Loca, a hollowed-out pineapple that’s filled with chopped fruit, chamoy, Tajín, lime juice, and candy. On the savory side, Gazpachos serve ceviches as well as street-style tacos and tortas filled with proteins such as Michoacán-style carnitas, pastor, birria, and asada. Kids of all ages will find options including quesadillas, hot dogs, and snow cones.

Having a brick-and-mortar allows Gazpachos to add alcoholic beverages to its offerings. Diners will be able to sip micheladas, margaritas, tequila-spiked aguas locas, and other familiar Mexican cocktails.

“Opening this space is a meaningful reflection of how far we’ve come over the last 10 years,” Perez said in a statement. “We started with a simple idea to share the flavors we love from a small trailer. Seeing it grow into a place where people can enjoy the same treats I grew up with, and come together as a community, is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the support we’ve received along the way. It’s very special to me.”

Photo by Marco Torres

Gazpachos' menu includes tacos, micheladas, and more.

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