we all meow for ice cream

Pioneering Heights ice cream shop scoops up cool new Garden Oaks locale

A pioneering Heights ice cream shop has expanded to Garden Oaks. Fat Cat Creamery's second location is now open in the Stomping Grounds (1225 W 34th St.), a new retail development built on the site of a former HISD bus barn.

Fat Cat's two-story space means more room for its signature scoops. The shop will have 14 flavors, which is five more than the original location in The Heights. Upstairs, a 1,000-square-foot kitchen will allow Fat Cat to increase production to satisfy both locations and expand its wholesale offerings. Customers may eat their ice cream inside, on the shop's dedicated patio, or anywhere along Stomping Grounds' 8,000-square-foot lawn.

Fat Cat opened its first retail shop in 2013. Founded by Sarah Johnston, The Heights location has a retro vibe with a menu to match. Customers can get scoops — best served in one of Fat Cat's signature brown butter waffle cones — as well as shakes, sundaes, and novelties. Ice creams are made with Texas-sourced eggs, dairy, and produce. Flavors frequently incorporate ingredients from other local businesses, such as Yellow Rose whiskey and Saint Arnold Brewing Company's Pumpkinator Imperial Stout.

“Opening our first location in The Heights was a dream come true, and our Garden Oaks location in the Stomping Grounds is such an exciting next step,” Johnston said in a statement. “We love our community so much and are grateful to bring more sweetness into the world with our expansion.”

Fat Cat will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, November 14 by debuting its expanded menu. In addition, the shop will pass out complimentary cocktails from Galveston cocktail bar Daiquiri Time Out.

“We were fortunate to partner with Fat Cat Creamery for their first retail location,” Monica Danna, director of leasing and development for Stomping Grounds owner Revive Development of Revive Development, added. “We are thrilled to continue that partnership with their Garden Oaks expansion.”

Fat Cat Creamery has opened its new location.

Courtesy of Fat Cat Creamery

Fat Cat Creamery has opened its new location.

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Rumor no more?

Global dim sum powerhouse Din Tai Fung may finally be coming to Houston

Din Tai Fung/Facebook

Din Tai Fung is known for its soup dumplings, noodles dishes, and more

One of the world’s most famous Chinese restaurants could be coming to Houston. Global dim sum powerhouse Din Tai Fung appears to be moving forward with a location in the Galleria.

According to an entry on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation website, the restaurant will replace Japanese restaurant Nobu, along with some adjacent suites, to create a total area of almost 16,800 square feet. The project is expected to begin in February 2027 and end in mid-June, although that timeline is only an estimate and is very likely to shift significantly. Its projected cost is $1 million, although that is also an estimate that could change. TDLR filings are preliminary and may not indicate an official lease has been signed.

At this time, Nobu's Houston location is still open and has not announced plans to close. The restaurant debuted in 2018 with a splashy grand opening party that featured an appearance by its three co-owners: chef Nobu Matsuhisa, co-founder Meir Teper, and legendary actor Robert De Niro.

Founded in Taipei, Taiwan in 1958 as a cooking oil shop, Din Tai Fung rose to prominence on the strength of its xiao long bao (soup dumplings) that are known for their delicate skins and savory, aromatic broth. Since then, the restaurant has grown to more than 165 locations worldwide, with U.S. outposts in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, and New York. Four of those locations hold Bib Gourmand designations in the Michelin Guide.

In addition to their massive size, Din Tai Fung’s location are known for the sheer quantity of food they can produce. Its New York location reportedly makes more than 10,000 dumplings per day — by hand. In addition to dumplings, the restaurant is also known for its vegetable plates, noodle dishes, and other dim sum-style fare.

CultureMap has contacted representatives for the Galleria, Din Tai Fung, and Nobu to learn more information about this development. We will update the article when they reply.

Axios Houston was first to report on the TDLR filing.

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