Jerry Built Shutters

'Homegrown' burger chain closes both Houston locations

Houston's turbulent restaurant scene has claimed another casualty. Both locations of Jerry Built Homegrown closed over the weekend.

On Tuesday afternoon, workers could be seen removing equipment from the West University location. The company's website and social media pages are offline.

In a conversation with CultureMap, Jerry Built CEO and president Chad Glauser called the move a "business decision" but declined to elaborate on the circumstances that led to it. He thanks the restaurant's patrons for their support during the company's five-year run in West University and the one-year tenure at its Memorial-area location.

The chain also had a location in The Woodlands that closed in February.

When it opened, Jerry Built seemed to offer a promising twist on burgers by committing to healthier eating. Patties used all-natural, hormone and antibiotic-free beef and chicken, and the glassed-walled kitchen allowed diners to watch their food being prepared. Reasonable prices, lots of parking, and spacious dining rooms made it popular with families and youth sports teams, too.

While the restaurant's closure is unfortunate, burger-obsessed Houstonians have no shortage of options to choose from. For Bellaire and West University residents, those options include the original brick-and-mortar location of Bernie's Burger Bus, a newly opened location of Hopdoddy in Rice Village, and Houston's second Shake Shack (opening later this year).

Jerry Built Homegrown has shuttered.

Houston, Jerry Built, November 2015, classic burger

Photo by Shannon O’Hara

Jerry Built Homegrown has shuttered.

burgers closings

sweet and spicy yodas

Austin ramen institution steams into Memorial with new location

Photo by Carla Gomez

Ramen Tatsu-ya is coming to Town & Country.

Memorial’s already red-hot dining scene will soon be home to another inner loop favorite. Ramen Tatsu-ya will open its second Houston-area location in Town & Country Village (600 West Sam Houston Pkwy North, #605).

Scheduled to open in "winter 2025," the new Ramen Tatsu-ya will build on the success of the restaurant’s Montrose location that opened in 2017. Ever since, Houstonians have lined up for steaming bowls of noodles built around the restaurant’s signature tonkotsu broth, which takes up to three days to prepare, according to a release.

The menu also includes small plates such as sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts, karaage, and gyoza. Tatsu-ya recently upgraded the beverage options in Montrose with Maine Root sodas, non-alcoholic sips such as lemongrass-cucumber limeade and strawberry-yuzu lemonade, and new frozen drinks.

“Almost immediately after joining the team in January 2021, I knew there was enough demand to expand the Ramen Tatsu-Ya footprint in Houston,” Houston general manager Todd Patterson said in a statement. “We’re stoked to have found a place to make our ramen accessible to more Houstonians while we continue to bring enhancements to our Montrose location.”

Founded in 2012 by chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto, Ramen Tatsu-ya took Austin by storm. Fans lined up an hour or more to get a bowl of soup, and the restaurant earned a spot on Bon Appetit’s 2013 list of the country’s best new restaurants. Currently, the restaurant has seven locations, including a Round Rock outpost that opened last year. “Many more” will follow in the years to come, according to a release.

The last year or so has been a busy time for new restaurants opening in the Memorial area. Ramen Tatsu-ya will join new eateries such as Bar Bludorn, Credence, Relish Restaurant & Bar, and a second location of Montrose barbecue favorite The Pit Room.

news-you-can-eat openings ramen tatsu-ya