10 things to know

10 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, closings, and a new brewpub in Montrose

Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know.

Openings, closings, and coming attractions

Tres Tacos celebrated its grand opening on December 17. Located in Montrose at 212 Westheimer Rd, the restaurant, a sister concept to downtown’s La Fisheria, blends Middle Eastern and Mexican flavors to create dishes such as hummus with chipotle and pico de gallo, lamb kebab tacos, and baklava. More traditional Mexican fillings include birria, Baja-style fried fish, and carne asada; they’re available in both tacos and machetes, a griddled, extra-large format. A full list of cocktails, beer, and cider are also available.

Blue Lagoon Bar & Grill recently opened in Balmoral, a 750-acre community in Humble that features a two-acre crystal-clear lagoon; it is touted as the first restaurant with a view of the amenity. The menu focuses on a wide selection of familiar fare that ranges from smothered pork chops to chicken fried steak and blackened redfish with tomatillo salsa. Cocktails, wine, and beer are also be available.

Mala Sichuan has opened its fourth Houston-area location in Sugar Land. Located in the Jusgo Supermarket shopping center at 3412 Highway 6, the restaurant serves the same award-winning Sichuan fare that has made Mala a Houston institution. Like its three siblings in Chinatown, Montrose, and Katy, the new Mala will be open on Christmas Day.

Houston’s newest Tiff’s Treats has opened in Cy-Fair in the Cypress Crossing shopping center (13126 FM 1960). Known for delivering warm cookies in a range of classic flavors, the bakery will celebrate its grand opening on January 9 with a fundraiser for Lily’s Toy Box, a local non-profit that provides toys and books to children. Tickets for the grand opening cost $10 and come with a dozen cookies, a $5 gift card, and the chance to win a $100 gift card.

Click Virtual Food Hall has added yet another concept to its ever-expanding roster. Fair Game serves smoked, one-and-a-half pound turkey legs that can be topped with ingredients such as mac and cheese, tikka masala sauce, and Central Texas-style barbecue sauce. Like all of its Click’s other concepts, it’s available for take out or delivery within seven miles of its location near Washington Avenue and Durham Drive.

Texadelphia closed its location in Vintage Park on December 7, the restaurant announced on Facebook. Fans can satisfy their cravings from The Texican, Founder’s Favorite, and other signature items at the Texadelphia locations in Katy, Galveston, and Memorial.

The Toasted Yolk will open its 15th Houston-area location in League City on Monday, December 28 (2535 Gulf Freeway South). To celebrate the grand opening, the breakfast and lunch cafe will offer free churro donuts and $3 mimosas. Known for its classic American menu, The Toasted Yolk serves dishes such as Benedicts, salads, sandwiches, and pancakes.

The Nash will open in downtown Houston in mid-January. Located in The Star apartment building, the restaurant will feature a floor to ceiling bar, an open kitchen, and a dog-friendly patio. Owners Dora and Alvin Murgai turned to consultant Omar Pereney to create a menu of classic American fare that ranges from pizzas and salads to pastas and steaks. Although Pereney will not be a daily presence in the kitchen, he has trained the cooks who will execute the menu.

The former Good Dog space in Montrose won’t stay empty for long. Southern Yankee Craft House, a brewpub concept from the owners of Houston’s Southern Yankee Brewing Company, will open in the location this spring, Houstonia reports. The restaurant will expand on the wood-fired pizzas and wings served from the brewery’s food truck with sandwiches and salads, plus cocktails and plenty of Southern Yankee brews.

Other news and notes

Riel has named Peter Nguyen as its new executive sous chef. The chef comes to Houston from Boston where he worked for James Beard Award winners Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette at Little Donkey, a tapas restaurant in Cambridge. Expect more Italian and East Coast-inspired dishes on the menu as Nguyen settles in to his new role.

The Nash will feature an array of classic American fare.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The Nash will feature an array of classic American fare.

closings openings news-you-can-eat

Stay trill, owls

Bun B serves up smash hit smash burgers at Houston's Rice University

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Bun B is bringing Trill Burgers to Rice University.

Faculty, students, and staff at Rice University will have a fresh new dining option when classes resume for the fall semester. Trill Burgers will open its fourth Houston-area location on campus beginning Monday, August 17.

Located at the Rice Memorial Center, the new Trill Burgers will serve the restaurant’s signature smash burgers, which are available in either beef or vegan versions. That starts with the OG Trill Burger, made with two smashed beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a Martin’s potato roll. A vegan version uses plant-based smashed patties, vegan sauce, and vegan cheese. Burgers will be sold individually or as a combo with fries and a drink. Students will be able to use their campus dining dollars (Tetra) to purchase their meals.

Bun B, a Houston hip-hop legend and co-founder of Trill Burgers, has long had ties to Rice University. In 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as a distinguished lecturer, co-teaching Religion and Hip-Hop Culture with Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.

“This is truly full circle for me,” Bun B said in a statement. “To bring this brand to Rice University where I once taught is a major moment for Trill Burgers and for myself.”

In addition to Trill Burgers, Rice is also home to locations of breakfast favorite Dandelion Cafe and salad and sandwich concept Local Foods Market.

“We are excited to build upon this long-standing relationship while giving the Rice community an authentic taste of Houston,” Beth Leaver, Rice’s assistant vice president of housing, dining, and hospitality, added. “Trill Burgers brings a distinctive and celebrated part of Houston’s culinary culture to the Rice campus. I am often asked about adding a great burger option, and this partnership fills an important gap in our dining portfolio.”

While the restaurant is open to the general public, its proximity to the original Trill Burgers location (3607 S. Shepherd Dr.) means it will likely appeal primarily to people who are already on campus. Initially, the restaurant will be open from 11 am-5 pm.

Opening at Rice comes at a time of continued growth for Trill Burgers. In December, the restaurant opened in Missouri City. It is expected to open a new location at Westheimer and Hillcroft (7616 Westheimer Rd.) as soon as this month.

burgers rice university openings bun b trill burgers