Five things to know

5 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, kudos, and a must-hit Anti Burger Club night

Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. Even with ace food editor Eric Sandler enjoying a well-deserved vacation, we’d hate CultureMap readers to miss anything — so here’s all the latest news to know.

Openings and closings

7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee recently opened up shop in Spring's Town Center at 21420 Kuykendahl Rd. The brand looks to change how people think about their drive-thru brews, elevating the experience to include premium coffee selections, hand-crafted beverages, and exceptional service.

Photo of chef Willet Feng holding a double burger with lettuce, cheese, jalapenos, bacon and onion strings.

Photo courtesy of burger-chan

burger chan's Chef Willet Feng is partnering with Hidden Omasake for the next Anti Burger Club event, featuring a multi-course menu in an exclusive experience.

“Our goal is to bring joy and make a connection with every guest. As 7 Brew expands throughout Texas, we are excited to make lasting friendships with every drink we serve," said Lauren Farris, 7 Brew's general manager, in a release marking the opening.

The brand plans to open 80 locations across Texas. Java lovers can expect not only a wide selection of coffees, lattes, and hot and cold drinks, but opportunities to engage with the brand on upcoming "Community Hours" and "Charity Days." These activites are tied to 7 Brew's mission of making an impact in communities where it operates.

Tacos Y Tortas Adrian, long a Katy favorite for authentic Mexican street food, just opened a new location in Cypress at 20323 FM 529. The grand opening bash featured both a DJ and live band, along with the restaurant's signature dishes, free queso and giveaways. The new location marks the restaurant's sixth imprint and its first in the Cypress area.

“I love sharing my passion for the flavors of authentic Mexican street food and excited to bring those traditions to the Cypress area,” said Miguel Jimenez, the owner, in a press release announcing the opening. “We have been serving the Katy area for almost 20 years and the whole Adrian’s family is excited to be opening our first location in Cypress. We are looking forward to celebrating our grand opening with our new neighbors.”

Ono Poke, one of Houston's first poke spots, served its last dish on Saturday. Seven years ago, the restaurant opened in on Richmond Avenue in what was the former Bowl Cafe space. Serving up raw fish salads and signature bowls with rice, proteins and sauces, Ono offered serious poke at a reasonable prices. The restaurant announced the closure on its Instagram, noting that the One Allen location in downtown remains open for those needing a poke fix and teasing that its new concept was nearing its soft opening.

Upcoming events

Former Good Morning America “United States of Burgers” finalist and Galleria-area fave Burger-Chan is hosting a one-night Anti Burger Club event at at 6:30 pm August 16.

This exclusive dining experience is in partnership with Burger-Chan's neighbor Hidden Omasake; the multi-course menu is designed by Chefs Niki Vongthong and Willet Feng. Expect offerings drawing from the pair's love for Japanese food plus a sprinkling of Southeast Asian influences. The cost is $175 per person and reservations can be made online.

National kudos

Beloved wild game and outdoor dining destination Rainbow Lodge has landed on Southern Living's Legendary Southern Steakhouses list. For 45 years, the Ella Boulevard mainstay has been the go-to for exotic game and seafood, served from its perch along Buffalo — and later White Oak - Bayou. "...[W]ild game like bison and elk take center stage in a log cabin-inspired dining room," noted Southern Living's entry on the restaurant, which also referenced the lodge's popularity as a spot for parties and celebrations.

hola, mayahuel

Netflix chef's modern Mexican restaurant opens in Houston this month

Photo by Bethany Ochs

Mayahuel's menu combines seasonal ingredients and heirloom corn.

The countdown is on to Houston’s newest modern Mexican restaurant. Mayahuel will officially open for dinner on Friday, July 18.

Located in the Autry Park mixed-use development, Mayahuel united Culinary Khancepts — the hospitality group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, and Leo’s River Oaks (among others) — with star chef Luis Robledo Richards. Known locally for his short-lived taqueria Comalito, Richards is the pastry chef behind Mexico City’s celebrated Tout Chocolat. His resume includes serving as a judge on the Netflix series Sugar Rush: The Baking Point and being named the Best Pastry Chef in Latin America by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

At Mayahuel, Richards will feature dishes made with seasonal ingredients and heirloom corn that’s imported from Mexico. At opening, it will be a tidy group of 16 savory dishes — divided into starters, “Tacos y Masa,” and entrees, as well as a separate tasting menu. The restaurant takes its name from the Mexica goddess of the maguey plant, which only blooms once, to emphasize its connection to Mexico’s land and culture.

“At Mayahuel, we’re not just preparing food — we’re honoring time, place, and process,” Richards said in a statement. “Our ingredients are chosen only when they’re at their best. We don’t force nature to fit our schedule — we follow its lead.”

Dinner at Mayahuel could begin with dishes such as bread and tortillas served with miso and salsa matcha butters, a bluefin tuna tostada with uni cream and yuzu aioli, salmon aguachile, or a beef carnitas croquette. The “Tacos y Masa” section includes beef cheek and shrimp tacos, a duck confit tamal, and a squash blossom tetela. Entree choices include filet mignon with mole negro, cochinita with black bean puree and tortillas, and sea bass with potatoes and salsa Veracruzana.

Brunch is a more casual affair built around items such as chilaquiles, French toast, enfrijoladas, and a Mexican take on eggs Benedict topped with salsa roja hollandaise.

Large format desserts each take inspiration from one of three ingredients — vanilla, coffee, or cacao. Priced at $28 each, the menu describes them as “a thoughtful, interactive finale that honors tradition through technique, seasonality, and imagination.”

Pairings include cocktails made with agave spirits, fresh juices, and house made syrups. Notably, all tequilas will be additive-free, which means some prominent brands may not be featured behind Mayahuel’s bar.

The restaurant occupies an approximately 5,100-square-foot space that’s divided into a 16-seat bar, a 40-seat dining room, an eight-seat chef’s table, a 36-seat, second floor dining room, and a 34-seat patio. It joins other concepts in Autry Park such as French restaurant Annabelle Brasserie, sushi spot Doko, fine dining steakhouse Turner’s Cut, Vietnamese restaurant Annam, and a still-unnamed concept from Austin’s Emmer & Rye Hospitality.

“Mayahuel is about creating a sense of place and story,” Culinary Khancepts founder Omar Khan said. “It’s a natural evolution for our group — rooted in culture, crafted with care, and designed to be as memorable as it is welcoming.”

Mayahuel will be open for happy hour and dinner Monday-Saturday and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

Photo by Bethany Ochs

Mayahuel's menu combines seasonal ingredients and heirloom corn.

news-you-can-eat openings mayahuel chefs

Five things to know

5 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, kudos, and a must-hit Anti Burger Club night

Growing burger chain slides into first Houston location

Houston is one of America's most overpriced cities, study finds

This Houston suburb had the highest apartment rent prices in June

hola, mayahuel

Netflix chef's modern Mexican restaurant opens in Houston this month