blowing into River Oaks

Sizzling Tex-Mex staple opening expansive patio bar-restaurant in River Oaks

A Houston Tex-Mex staple is ready for River Oaks. Cyclone Anaya’s will open its seventh Houston-area location this Tuesday, February 6, in the former Frank’s Americana Revival space at 3736 Westheimer Rd.

The restaurant enlisted the design talents of Gin Design Group, Tramonte Design Group, and Anchor Construction Managements to transform the over 6,000-square-foot space. Diners will immediately notice an all-new patio that also includes an indoor-outdoor bar.

Inside, customers will notice a window into the kitchen where they can observe flour tortillas being prepared. Other design details include custom artisan tile, locally sourced artwork, and a private dining room. A dedicated curbside/to-go entrance expedites takeout orders.

A Houston staple since 1966, Cyclone Anaya’s is known for its classic Tex-Mex fare — such as enchiladas, fajitas, and queso — and potent margaritas. The Sugar Land-based Dhanani Group acquired the restaurant in 2017 from Ricardo Valencia and Vienna Valencia Bement, the children of the restaurant’s eponymous founder.

“We are thrilled to continue growing the Cyclone Anaya’s brand in our hometown of Houston, Texas. We couldn't be more excited to be joining the River Oaks community,” owners Zo and Usman Dhanani said in a statement. “The new location brings an updated look to the Cyclone Anaya’s brand but the same homemade Tex-Mex favorites.”

The restaurant will be open for dinner daily. Lunch is served Monday-Friday beginning at 11 am. Weekend brunch begins at 10 am. It joins outposts in CityCentre, Midtown, The Woodlands, Rice Village, Briargrove/Tanglewood, and near the Heights.

As CultureMap has previously reported, Frank’s Americana Revival is moving to the nearby Alexan River Oaks building. The new location is expected to open this summer.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Cyclone Anaya's serves classic Tex-Mex fare.

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they're back

2 treasured Houston Mexican restaurants reopen after brief closures

Courtesy of Picos

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Two staple Houston-area Mexican restaurants are making comebacks after brief closures. Picos has already returned to service, while El Tiempo Cantina’s Webster location isn’t far behind.

After closing its Upper Kirby location on August 30, Picos reopened Saturday, September 12 in the former Cyclone Anaya’s space in River Oaks (3736 Westheimer Rd.). The move is only about two miles from Picos’ former home at Kirby and Richmond.

Chef-owner Arnaldo Richards partnered with Cyclone Anaya’s owners The Dhanani Group to transform the space into Picos. It allows Richards to preserve Picos, which opened on Bellaire Blvd. in 1984 and operated on Kirby Dr. for 12 years. Last year, Richards announced Picos would close due to declining sales but later stated his intentions to find a new, slightly smaller home for the restaurant. That dream was realized via a “last-minute agreement” with Cyclone Anaya’s owners The Dhanani Group according to press materials.

“After spending the past year searching for a new home, it truly feels like the stars aligned,” Richards said in a statement. “We were willing to do anything we could to keep Picos, and we finally found the right space for this next-generation evolution of Picos.”

Picos Westheimer River Oaks interior The new Picos features an indoor-outdoor bar.Photo by Becca Wright

At over 6,000 square feet, the new Picos still offers a spacious environment that includes an indoor-outdoor bar. It will serve the same menu as the prior locations, including fan favorites such as moles from all seven regions on Mexico, enchiladas, and the signature shaker margaritas.

“As native Houstonians, we understand what Picos means to this city and the generations of Houstonians who have supported the restaurant for more than 40 years,” said Usman Dhanani of The Dhanani Group, which still operates five other locations of Cyclone Anaya’s across Houston. “We’re excited to partner with Arnaldo and his family to carry the Picos tradition forward and ensure that a restaurant so deeply rooted in Houston remains part of the city’s dining community for years to come.”

The Houston Chronicle was first to report that Picos had reopened.

El Tiempo Cantina Post Houston El Tiempo is returning to Webster. Courtesy of El Tiempo Cantina

As for El Tiempo, franchisee Liquid Gold Hospitality surprised Bay Area diners when it abruptly closed the location at 20237 Gulf Fwy at the end of August. In a Facebook post, El Tiempo announced the location will reopen under direct management of the Laurenzo family, which founded El Tiempo and operates most of its other locations.

Notably, the post did not specify an opening date, merely that the restaurant is “reopening soon.”

El Tiempo’s Webster location opened at the end of 2017 after significant delays, including a lawsuit between the Laurenzo family and Liquid Gold. Overall, Houston is home to 18 locations of El Tiempo, with its outpost at The Post in downtown Houston being the most recent to open.

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