bowled over

Houston Chopped champ's casual Indian restaurants will shutter in Midtown

Both restaurants were open for less than two years.

Courtesy of Pok Pok Po

Two Indian-inspired fast casual restaurants will soon serve their final meals. Midtown eateries Bol and Pok Pok Po will close after service on Sunday, August 29.

Opened in late 2024 (Pok Pok Po) and early 2025 (Boil) by Kahani Social Group — the Houston hospitality group behind Amrina, a fine dining Indian restaurant in The Woodlands, and Kitchen Rumors, an eclectic, Indian-inspired restaurant near downtown — Pok Pok Po is a fried chicken restaurant, while Bol is a build-your-own-bowl concept. Both restaurants featured menus created by chef Jassi Bindra, a Chopped champion and Top Chef contestant.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who embraced Pok Pok Po and Bol and gave us the opportunity to introduce a different, more casual expression of Indian cuisine to Houston,” co-founder Surpreet Singh said in a statement. “Our time in Midtown gave us invaluable insight into how guests interact with these concepts and, more importantly, reinforced our belief in both brands.”

While the brick-and-mortar locations of both restaurants are closing, Kahani Social Group still sees opportunities for both restaurants. In the short term, some of Pok Pok Po’s dishes will be available in The Woodlands for delivery via third-party apps. A Houston location with convenient parking and a drive-through is also under consideration, according to press materials.

“This isn’t goodbye to Pok Pok Po or Bol,” Singh adds. “We have a vision for their future and are looking forward to finding the right opportunities to bring them back in ways that make them even more convenient and accessible. We hope everyone will come see us one more time in Midtown and stay tuned for what’s next.”

All of the employees at both restaurants are being offered positions at the company’s other restaurants.

news-you-can-eat closings chefs

a very fine house

Stylish tavern known for 'World's Coldest Martini' adds 2 Houston locations

Photo courtesy of Hudson House

Hudson House's burger is one of its most popular dishes.

A restaurant known for its oysters, cheeseburger, and serving “The World’s Coldest Martini” will soon add two more Houston-area locations. Hudson House, an East Coast tavern-inspired restaurant from the Dallas-based Vandelay Companies, will double its Bayou City footprint in 2027 with this new outposts:

Katy, 2643 Commercial Center Blvd (LaCenterra) in early 2027
Memorial City/Spring Branch, 1085 Gessner Rd, in spring/summer 2027

Joining Hudson House’s existing Houston locations in the River Oaks Shopping Center and Rice Village, the new restaurants will have a similar look and feel as their siblings, with leather booths, brass accents, a wraparound wood bar, and an outdoor patio.

The menu includes items such as a cheeseburger, lobster roll, lobster mac and cheese, steak frites, entree salads, and chicken parm. Raw bar offerings include East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, and sushi rolls. The brunch menu features pancakes, eggs Benedict, and a bagel with lox and cream cheese.

Hudson House pairs its dishes with a selection of classic cocktails that is highlighted by the “World’s Coldest Martini.” To achieve the proper effect, the drink is poured from a frozen bottle and served in a frozen glass. Other martini options include the Bleu & Gold (made with olive juice and blue cheese-stuffed olives) and a Lemon Drop that’s topped with limoncello foam. Hudson House also offers wines by-the-glass, beer, and non-alcoholic options.

The Memorial City location is part of MetroNational’s Greenside development. It will join previously announced tenants such as Merit Coffee, the Original ChopShop, and Honest Mary’s.

“Since opening our first Houston-area Hudson House in 2023, we’ve seen a tremendous response from guests across the market,” Vandelay founder and CEO Hunter Pond said in a statement. “The success of our two existing Houston-area locations has continued to reinforce what a strong fit Hudson House is for the market, and with two more locations on the way, we look forward to bringing the experience to even more neighborhoods across the area.”

Hudson House burger