goodbye, good dog

Houston's most well-regarded hot dog restaurant to shutter in Montrose

Good Dog's Montrose location closes this week.

Courtesy of Good Dog Houston

Houston's most well-regarded hot dog shop is closing its Montrose location, but The Heights original will live on. Good Dog Houston owners Amalia Pferd and Danny Caballero announced that their last day of service in Montrose will be this Sunday, November 22.

Citing the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the couple have decided not to renew their lease at 1312 W. Alabama St., the location they opened in 2016. Good Dog's original brick-and-mortar location in The Heights (903 Studewood St.) will remain open, and that is where they'll concentrate their focus.

"This decision comes with a heavy heart, but I want everyone to know we tried everything possible to keep our Montrose store open," Caballero said in a statement. "We love you, Montrose. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Our Heights location is only a hop, skip, and a jump away! See y’all on the other side of the bayou.”

To lure diners to make the trip, Good Dog will offer a 15-percent discount for the rest of the year to anyone who resides in the 77006, 77019, or 77098 zip codes (proof required).

“Montrose has been a wonderful community for us to call home for many years, [and] we have met so many awesome people and happy to have become part of this neighborhood," Pferd added. "We have put our heart and soul into this building and haven’t left an inch unturned for the better; it is very sad to have to let it go."

Good Dog Houston started as a food truck that featured Pferd's creative toppings and housemade sauces. They quickly built a devoted following for dishes like the Ol' Zapata (bacon, Muenster, onions, etc) and the Guac-A-Dog that featured a housemade garlic aioli. When its first brick-and-mortar location opened in 2013, Pferd expanded the menu with more non-hot dog options, including the signature Gulf fish and chips. Caballero contributed his love for Texas craft beer with a well-curated tap wall.

Some employees at the Montrose location are being offered positions at either The Heights location or on the Good Dog food truck. Others will be offered assistance in finding new employment.

closings

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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