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    Get twisted

    Melty grilled cheese food truck opens first restaurant on Washington Avenue

    Eric Sandler
    Nov 17, 2020 | 3:50 pm

    One of Houston's smash hit food trucks will open its first brick and mortar in Rice Military. Twisted Grilled Cheese will open in the former Coco's Crepes space at 5555 Washington Ave. this Saturday, November 22.

    Although it only opened in 2019, Twisted has developed a devoted following that includes a whopping 60,000-plus followers on Instagram. The new restaurant joins two trucks, one that can be found at the Galleria Food Truck Park and another in Katy.

    Since it's so easy to make a good grilled cheese sandwich at home, serving one to paying customers can be tricky for restaurants. Twisted ups the games with multiple cheese blends and fillings that include Philly cheesesteak, smoked beef brisket, and Buffalo chicken. The brick and mortar restaurant raises the game even higher with three new additions — Avocado BLT+E, taragon lobster, and smoked salmon — as well as gluten-free bread.

    Opening a restaurant allows Twisted to sell cocktails for the first time. Look for riffs on classics such as the "Sassy Old Fashioned" and the "Creamsicle Martini," as well as a couple of boozy milkshakes.

    Other new options include loaded french fries topped with either brisket or halal steak and sweet potato fries. New dessert options include double chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake doughnut holes, and a peanut butter cup milkshake.

    Founded by entrepreneur Ahmad Fobbs, local attorney Erinne Willrich and landscape designer Paige Palmer manage the restaurant's day-to-day operations. In a release, the group expressed excitement about taking this next step in Twisted's growth.

    “We love coming up with new ways to make comfort food for foodies,” Willrich said. “We are so grateful for the support that has encouraged and enabled us to open our first brick and mortar, and we can’t wait to introduce even more people to the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.”

    To handle the design, Twisted turned to Gin Design Group (Eunice, Ginger Kale). Custom, triangular ceramic tiles are a focal point of the design for both the 2,300-square-foot interior and the 800-square-foot patio.

    "For this concept, we drew inspiration from the design details of the notorious British nightclub The Hacienda Manchester: colors that scream, patterns that blur your vision and surreal touches that elicit double-takes to create a space that reinforces the unexpected nature of the Twisted brand,” added Gin Braverman, founder and creative director of Gin Design Group.

    Serious cheese pull.

    Twisted Grilled Cheese sandwich pull
    Photo by Becca Wright
    Serious cheese pull.
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    shining star

    New chicken restaurant flies into Houston with 'gluten-friendly' tendies

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 10, 2026 | 10:00 am
    Starbird chicken restaurant
    Courtesy of Starbird
    Starbird sells chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and more.

    A local restaurant group is bringing a California-based chicken concept to Texas. Mac Haik Restaurant Group announced it has reached an agreement with Starbird to open locations in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

    Founded in the San Francisco area in 2016, Starbird is a fast casual restaurant with 19 locations in California and Colorado. It serves fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, and salads that are made with chicken that’s “all-natural, never-frozen, antibiotic-free” and covered in a “gluten-friendly breading” that’s cooked fresh to order, according to a press release.

    Pair them with sides such as cole slaw, french fries, crispy Thai Brussels sprouts, or elote. Diners can dip their tenders in 11 sauces, including Greek yogurt ranch, Thai herb aioli, honey mustard, honey chipotle bbq, and more.

    Part of Mac Haik Enterprises Ltd, Mac Haik Restaurant Group operates a number of franchised restaurants, including breakfast concept First Watch Daytime Café, the Original ChopShop, and Due’ Cucina. It will open Kirkwood, an upscale supper club, later this spring in a West Houston office building that’s also owned by MHE.

    “We evaluate opportunities through the lens of long-term brand relevance, not just unit growth,” MHRG COO Dan Anfinson said in a statement. “Starbird delivers a level of culinary quality and operational sophistication that we believe is still underserved in the premium fast-casual chicken category, particularly in Texas. The brand has a clear point of view and the systems to scale responsibly. That combination is rare, and we’re excited to introduce it thoughtfully across our markets.”

    The company intends to open as many as 36 locations beginning in 2027, but MHRG is still in the process of securing specific locations. It will announce which city will be first to receive a Starbird at a later time.

    “This agreement reflects the strength of our business model and the clarity of our long-term vision,” added Starbird CEO Greg Levin. “As we mark our 10th anniversary, this is shaping up to be our biggest year yet in terms of expansion. Texas is a critical market for us moving forward, and partnering with an experienced organization like Mac Haik Restaurant Group allows us to grow thoughtfully while staying true to what makes Starbird special.”

    Starbird chicken restaurant

    Courtesy of Starbird

    Starbird sells chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and more.

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