where to eat and drink on halloween

13 lucky Houston bars and restaurants serving Halloween specials

Sample the Lilith's Lullabye at the Cursed Cauldron.

Photo by Angie Cavazos

Halloween is here, which means you’ll either be spending the evening trick-or-treating with the kids or going to some haunted house/hotel/breakfast nook and getting the bejesus scared of you by an costumed actor with a chainsaw.

For those who are less into spooky shenanigans than they are into dressing up and having a good time, here is a rundown of spots where you can do that and not get scared out of your wits. All events are taking place on October 31 unless otherwise noted.

At 8th Wonder, guests dressed in their Halloween costumes will enjoy 25 percent off all to-go purchases. All taproom offerings — including beer, THC seltzers, gummies, tinctures, t-shirts, and hats — are all available and will be discounted at checkout. Noon.

Auden is getting into the Halloween spirit with special spooky drinks and an all-day happy hour. Patrons can toast to All Hallows’ Eve with the Purple People Eater with blue Curacao and white rum, or the Witches Brew, an elixir of pear liqueur and smoked jalapeno tequila. 5 pm.

Aye Candy is offering a wickedly fun time with a costume contest. Taking place at 10 pm, judges will vote based on creativity and overall look, awarding $1,000 to the 1st place winner, $500 to 2nd place, and $250 to 3rd place. 5 pm.

Best Regards, located in the Heights, is hosting the Nightmare On 11th Street from Halloween to Sunday, November 3. Highlights for Halloween night include themed cocktails and The Cesar Casanova as the headline DJ, setting the vibe for an unforgettable Halloween celebration. 4 pm.

Betelgeuse Betelgeuse invites customers at both locations to enjoy new, spooky specialty cocktails. The limited time menu includes the Frozen Gravedigger for $14, This is Halloween for $15, the Purple People Eater for $16, and more. 4 pm.

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Black Lagoon, the highly acclaimed Halloween pop-up that’s happening at Nickel City in EaDo, will have hauntingly delicious cocktails, each crafted to embody the eerie spirit of Halloween. With its unique blend of spooky ambiance and expertly crafted drinks, it’s an event that’s not to be missed. Noon.

Caracol will celebrate Halloween with a Noche de Brujas party. The “monster mash” includes passed bites as well as food and drink stations throughout the restaurant and patio, live DJ music, and prizes for best costumes. 7 pm.

Over at The Cursed Cauldron, guests can compete in a spellbinding costume contest with first place receiving a $250 cash prize for the most impressive/elaborate costume. This traveling pop-up is at Aero Cocktail Co. for its second year, bringing enchanted vibes to Houston. 4 pm.

Dandelion Cafe’s three locations will serve whimsical ube lattes to celebrate the holiday. Guests can choose between the Witches Brew, a purple ube latte with oat milk served hot or cold, or the Spooky Ube, an ube-flavored frozen drink with crushed Oreo cookies and topped with crushed Oreos and whipped cream. 7 am.

Over at Holey Moley, the Caddy Shack bar and mini golf course will be serving Halloween-inspired cocktails. There will also be live entertainment including magicians and DJs, and guests who dress up will receive a ‘treat’ from the team of spooky staff. Noon.

La Calle Tacos is celebrating Halloween and Dia de los Muertos with a traditional Mexican beverage and daily specials. From Halloween to Sunday, November 3, customers at all La Calle locations can purchase a pumpkin horchata for $4.99. On Halloween, Niñas Thursday (ladies only) features frozen margaritas and micheladas for $5.99 until 7pm. 7 am.

Customers at both Pizaro’s Pizza locations can enjoy the Trick or Treat Detroit Pizza, Franken-Mummy Cannolis, and a special surprise reveal. The pizzeria will also offer a free mini Franken-Mummy Cannoli with purchase when customers arrive in costume on Halloween. 11 am.

All the Willie’s Grill & Icehouse locations are treating tricksters this Halloween. Kids in costume eat free (with purchase of adult entrée). Willie’s Rewards members will enjoy free kids’ meals with the purchase of an entrée, if they order online and use the code sent to them via Willie’s Rewards. 11:00 am.

news-you-can-eat halloween holidays

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.