that's hot

Las Vegas ramen restaurant stirs up hot opening in The Heights

A Las Vegas-based restaurant will make its debut this weekend. Shokku Ramen begins a weeklong soft opening this Friday, June 4 with a grand opening scheduled for Friday, June 11.

Located in the former BCK space at 933 Studewood St., Shokku features dishes created by chef Louross Edralin, who was a contestant on season four of the Gordon Ramsay competition show Hell's Kitchen. Shokku offers a fusion approach to its noodle soups with dishes such as a surf and turf bowl with fried soft shell crab and steak, and a new BBQ Brisket ramen with brisket, fries, pickles, house-pickled onions, and barbecue spices.

Diners also have the option to build-their-own bowls by choosing from six different broths, four different proteins, and a wide array of toppings and spices. Non-soup options include shareable appetizers such as gyoza and kaarage as well as fried rice.

Shokku is perhaps best known for its Shinigami Challenge, a triple-sized bowl of ramen that packs a whopping 4 million Scoville units of heat. Diners who finish the bowl in eight minutes receive the $50 dish for free and get their photo on the restaurant's "Wall of Warriors."

Although the Houston location aspires to replicate the Vegas outpost's 24-hour operations, it will only be open for dinner (5-11 pm) initially with lunch service to follow later this summer, according to a press release.

To celebrate its opening, Shokku will serve free ramen to all diners on June 4. Those who attend the soft opening from June 5-10 will receive 25 percent off their meals with 50 percent off for the grand opening on June 11.

Shokku's arrival comes on the heels of the opening of Rakkan Ramen, a California-based restaurant that's in the M-K-T Heights development. Other nearby ramen-yas include Jinya Ramen in the Heights Waterworks development, Samurai Ramen at I-10 and Durham Dr., and Ninja Ramen on Washington Ave.

Diners only have eight minutes to complete the Shinigami challenge.

Courtesy of Shokku Ramen

Diners only have eight minutes to complete the Shinigami challenge.

openings news-you-can-eat the-heights

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.