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    What's Eric Eating Episode 117

    A delicious journey to South Africa, plus dishing on The Annie Cafe

    CultureMap Staff
    Oct 24, 2019 | 2:30 pm

    On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Peli Peli co-founder Thomas Nguyen and executive chef Ryan Stewart join CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss recent changes at the South African restaurant. Peli Peli recently opened its fourth Houston-area restaurant in The Woodlands, which is Stewart's first new location since replacing Paul Friedman as executive chef.

    Stewart talks about his decision to move from South Africa to America and what drew him to Peli Peli. Since coming on board, he's made a number of changes to the restaurants, including expanding the Portugeuse influence and making all of the restaurant's sauces from scratch.

    Although plans for an Austin location fell through, Nguyen still sees potential for the restaurant to open locations across the state.

    "I still would like to go back to Austin and develop into a regional favorite," he says. "We talk all the time about restaurants from Austin and Dallas coming to Houston. We'd like to be one of the restaurants from Houston that's able to expand to other cities. I think we bring a certain flavor that represents Houston well. We'll see what happens."

    Prior to the interview segment, Felice Sloan of Swanky Maven joins Sandler to discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Uchiko's plans to open a Houston location; the imminent arrival of upscale bowling and bocce restaurant Pinstripes; and Rachael Ray's recent partnership with UberEATS.

    In the restaurants of the week segment, they share some first impressions of The Annie Cafe, the refreshed take on Cafe Annie from Ben Berg, Sam Governale, and Robert Del Grande.

    ---

    Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Sunday at 1 pm on ESPN 97.5.

    Thomas Nguyen and Ryan Stewart are this week's guests.

    Thomas Nguyen Ryan Stewart Peli Peli
    Courtesy of Peli Peli
    Thomas Nguyen and Ryan Stewart are this week's guests.
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    Growing Houston Vietnamese restaurant hustles into hot Katy neighborhood

    Eric Sandler
    May 13, 2026 | 3:30 pm
    Saigon Hustle Katy Cinco Ranch
    Courtesy of Saigon Hustle
    Saigon Hustle's new Cinco Ranch location is now open.

    A growing Houston Vietnamese restaurant has arrived in Katy. Saigon Hustle is now open in Cinco Ranch.

    Located at 23703 Cinco Ranch Blvd., the Houston area’s third Saigon Hustle began a quiet soft opening this Monday, May 11, and will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, May 14. Like its siblings in Garden Oaks and Spring Branch, the restaurant will serve its familiar menu of banh mi, egg rolls, spring rolls, and rice dishes, as well as the pho that was added to the menu when Spring Branch opened in October 2024.

    Beverage options include both Vietnamese iced coffee and freshly-brewed jasmine teas.

    The Cinco Ranch location seats approximately 60 people. It also offers curbside pickup and delivery via third-party apps. Co-founder Sandy Nguyen said the restaurant had been looking at Cinco Ranch for awhile.

    “Our guests out here have been asking us to come to them, and it finally felt like the right moment to plant a flag in Katy,” Nguyen said in a statement. “We grew up in Houston, and bringing the food we love to a community we love is everything. This is more than a new address — it's a hometown moment for us.”

    As part of its continued growth, Saigon Hustle recently hired chef Justin Yoakum as its vice president of operations. Yoakum previously served as director of operations for Culinary Khancepts, the Houston restaurant group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, Leo’s River Oaks, and others.

    “Justin has been wonderful,” Nguyen writes in an email. “He's been the leader we have been needing to further the next steps in our expansion. We are excited to have him. He's already proven to be such a great asset to the brand and brings a lot of energy!”

    Originally opened by Nguyen and her business partner Cassie Ghaffar, Saigon Hustle is now backed by Savory Fund, a Utah-based venture capital firm that’s invested in a diverse range of concepts including Austin-based, Detroit-style pizzeria Via 313; breakfast concept Hash Kitchen; and Pincho Burgers & Kebabs, a Miami-based restaurant with locations in Memorial City, Conroe, and Cypress. Savory has committed to helping it grow to as many as 40 units in Texas and the Midwest.

    To celebrate its grand opening, the Katy location will offer a number of promotions and giveaways, including:

    • Free banh mi for the first 100 customers on May 14.
    • A block party with a lion dance beginning at 6:30 on May 14.
    • Free Saigon Hustle for a year sweepstakes: All visitors to the location are eligible to win. See store or website for contest rules.
    • Buy-one-get-one-free Banh Mi: For customers who sign up for the Saigon Hustle Rewards loyalty program
    • Red envelopes: In a nod to the restaurant’s Vietnamese heritage, customers may receive a red envelope containing a discount, giveaway, or prize.

    “We wanted opening week to feel like a block party, not just a ribbon cutting. Free food, music,

    neighbors, and the team that's going to be feeding this community for years to come,” Ghaffar added. “From the lion dance to the red envelopes, every detail of opening week is a love letter to our culture and to Cinco Ranch.”

    Saigon Hustle Cinco Ranch is open daily from 11 am-11 pm.

    Saigon Hustle Katy Cinco Ranch

    Courtesy of Saigon Hustle

    Saigon Hustle's new Cinco Ranch location is now open.

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