smoke and fire

Ayesha Curry's smoky new restaurant has Rockets fans throwing shade

Why so serious, Rockets fans?

Some Rockets fans are not happy that Ayesha Curry is opening a globally-inspired barbecue restaurant in Houston. International Smoke, the restaurant Curry is opening in CityCentre with celebrity chef Michael Mina, doesn't open until July 5, but that hasn't stopped #RedNation from losing their collective minds.

Still stinging from their team's loss in the Western Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors — a team led by Curry's husband Stephen Curry — Rockets fans have bombarded the restaurant's Yelp page with about 100 one-star reviews, as NBA writer Tomer Azarly first noted on Twitter. Warriors fans have responded with over 60 five-star reviews.

The reviews — again, for a restaurant that hasn't opened yet — contain the typical smack one would expect from a fanbase that hasn't won a championship in over 20 years. Consider the following from "Brenda A." with the [sic] in place throughout: "BBQ? Yeah no...Not sure why they didn't try to open a restaurant in a different state or at the very least, a different city? Can't say anyone I know would eat there. As for me, I'll be eating at Killians BBQ...or anything besides this place. #rednation #letsgorockets."

Or how about this from "Alanis O.," again, insert [sic] liberally throughout: "Really trying to understand why she would bring this business here..... lol GET OUT OF OUR CITY. Keep your nasty bay area food out of Texas. We don't want it. Any real rockets fans will NEVER step foot into this place. Disgusting."

Really? Have Rockets fans forgotten that the world "Texas" means friends? That we welcome strangers from around the world — especially when they want to sell us their food. Or that a bunch of talented Houstonians, led by executive chef E.J. Miller, will be preparing and serving the food created by Curry and Mina?

Maybe a team that aspires to win a NBA championship shouldn't go 0-for-27 from the three point line in game seven at home. Just a thought.

Presumably, Yelp will delete the reviews at some point to allow International Smoke to start with a clean slate [UPDATE: Yelp has placed the page on Active Cleanup Alert status; a Yelp spokesperson tells CultureMap that "Yelp reviews are required to describe a firsthand consumer experience, not what someone read in the news. Our user support team ultimately removes reviews that violate these guidelines."]. For the record, the restaurant's San Francisco location maintains a respectable three-and-a-half star rating.

CultureMap has contacted the restaurant to see whether it has an opinion about this nonsense. We'll update the story if they respond.

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Domo Arigato

Award-winning Texas ramen shop sets opening date for Meyerland location

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.

Houstonians had to wait seven years for a second location of Ramen Tatsu-ya, but the Austin-based restaurant’s third Houston outpost is coming much more quickly.

The restaurant’s Meyerland location will open on Saturday, October 31, in the former Boston Market location at 4672 Beechnut St.

Known for its signature tonkotsu broth, which takes up to three days to prepare, chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto opened the original Ramen Tatsu-ya in 2012. It quickly earned wide acclaim, including a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2013.

Since then, the restaurant has grown to six locations in Austin and two in Houston — a Montrose store that opened in 2017 and a Town & Country outpost that debuted in December 2025. More could be on the way.

“There's certainly room and good trade area dynamics to support more Ramen Tatsu-Ya locations in Houston,” CEO Todd Coerver writes in an email. “I have no magic number or timeline in mind for such growth. A lot will depend on the performance of the newer locations we are opening in Houston. Community reaction will dictate the answer to how many, how fast.”

In addition to its noodles, Ramen Tatsu-ya also serves small plates such as its signature Sweet and Sour Yodas (aka, Brussels sprouts), karaage, and gyoza. They can be paired with a full range of drinks, including beer, sake, frozens, and non-alcoholic sips such as lemongrass-cucumber limeade and strawberry-yuzu lemonade.

The company operates three other concepts: Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya, a casual patio bar; Tiki Tatsu-Ya, a tiki bar and restaurant; and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, a Texas-inspired izakaya that holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Could they be headed to Houston, too?

“I wouldn't rule out the possibility for a version of Kemuri to expand to Houston one day. But we are really just focused on Ramen Tatsu-Ya at the moment,” he writes.

Ramen Tatsu-ya will celebrate its Bellaire grand opening with free t-shirts for the 25 customers, the chance to win free ramen for a year, a free popsicle with purchase for anyone in costume, and a DJ set from 6-8 pm. It will also give out treats to trick-or-treaters.

“We’re excited to bring a new location to the Bellaire area,” Coerver added in a statement. “And having our grand opening on Halloween gives us a chance to really ratchet up the fun!”

Ramen Tatsu-ya is only the latest addition to the Bellaire/Meyerland area. The second location of Tex-Mex restaurant Candente opened in late 2025. Pudgy’s Fine Cookies and Underground Creamery will open their second location across the street from Ramen Tatsu-ya this Sunday, October 25.

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.