A figment of Linsanity

New York's hottest chef is "looking" to open a new Houston restaurant? Cue thefoodie frenzy?

MomoFuko Noodle Bar in New York City
Photo by Noah Kalina/Momofuku/Facebook
Momofuku/Facebook
Chef David Chang
Photo by David Shankbone/Wiki
Momofuku/Facebook
Momofuku/Facebook

It's hard to think of a chef that's had a bigger impact on the new restaurant culture than David Chang.

Chang took traditional ramen noodles to the next level when he opened Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York in 2004, has established an unconventional dessert empire with Momofuku Milk Bar and created New York's hardest-to-get reservations with the 12-seat, two Michelin star Momofuku Ko, earning a couple James Beard Awards in the process. He's also written one of the world's most challenging cookbooks and published Lucky Peach magazine, which immediately became a foodie obsession.

Chang took traditional ramen noodles to the next level when he opened Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York in 2004.

Now Chang might be bringing the Momofuku magic to Texas. Or just toying with us. On Sunday, Chang tweeted that "@momofuku is looking to sign a three year lease in Houston, Texas." Cue the excited frenzy?

Not so fast.

Chang — a fanatical backer of Jeremy Lin, who appears to be on the verge of ending up in Houston himself (for three years) — could just be having fun with everybody.

Chang doesn't have any U.S. restaurants outside of New York. He does have a restaurant in Sydney and a forthcoming Momofuku in Toronto.

If Chang was serious, I think Momofuku would be a natural fit for Midtown, where a history of Vietnamese culture meets modern food and drink haunts like Reef and Mongoose versus Cobra. Of course, the Lower Westheimer restaurant row always has room for one more, and there's always the chance for an unconventional location like Oxheart's on the fringes of the downtown warehouse district.

On the other hand, New York chefs don't have the best track record with Texas openings in recent years. Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Bank inside the Hotel Icon didn't last long, and Tom Colicchio just announced that Craft Dallas will close this summer after six years.

unspecified

two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q