in the zone

Houston's newest soup dumpling house sets opening date in familiar Midtown space

The wait for Houston’s newest soup dumpling option has almost come to an end. Dough Zone Dumpling House will open its first Houston location in Midtown on October 2.

Courtesy of Dough Zone

Dough Zone serves Chinese comfort food.

Founded in in Bellevue, Washington in 2014 by Jason and Nancy Zhai, Dough Zone serves Chinese comfort food that includes dumplings, noodles, vegetable dishes, and more. Currently, the restaurant operates 16 locations in Washington, Oregon, and California.

For its first Texas location, Dough Zone selected the former Ibiza space (2450 Louisiana St.) in Midtown. At least two additional confirmed locations are in the works — one in the BLVD Place development near the Galleria (1700 Post Oak Ste 250) that’s scheduled to open in January 2024 and one in Sugar Land (2715 Town Center Blvd N) that’s scheduled for April 2024. From there, the restaurant plans to look at other Texas cities but has not yet identified specific locations.

“Houston was selected as our debut location in Texas thanks to the enthusiastic support and numerous requests from the public,” Dough Zone’s Jin Hu tells CultureMap in an email. “Moreover, we were fortunate to secure prime locations that align with our restaurant's mission: they are situated in diverse areas, exhibit a strong interest in Chinese cuisine, and cater to our target customer demographic.”

True to its name, Dough Zone’s menu contains more than 50 items that are made with a dough or batter. That starts with three varieties of soup dumplings — Berkshire pork, Berkshire pork with crab, and chicken. Dough Zone’s signature Q-Bao are pan-fried soup dumplings that add a crispy element.

It also includes various noodle dishes from different regions of China such as Sichuan-style Dan Dan Noodles, hot and sour glass noodles made with sweet potato flour, and beef stew noodles topped with braised brisket. Other highlights include sweet and sour cucumbers, green onion pancakes, and pan fried chive dumplings. Those looking for even more traditional tastes will find marinated pig ears and braised eggs.

As CultureMap noted previously, Seattle’s food writers have compared Dough Zone to Din Tai Fung, the globally renown dim sum restaurant that has two Seattle locations. The local option more than holds its own.

“Dough Zone is better than Din Tai Fung,” Bethany Jean Clement wrote in a 2017 Seattle Times review. “The dumplings at the brand-new branch of the Zone were significantly hotter, juicier and more tender (tenderer?) than my most recent batches of Din Tai Fung ones — which, to be clear, were really good.”

Considering the closest Din Tai Fung is in Las Vegas, Houstonians’ more immediate concern will be how Dough Zone compares to neighbors such as Wanna Bao and Taste of Mulan (formerly One Dim Sum). If that means eating a whole bunch of dumplings to determine a favorite, challenge accepted.

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Bowling over Houston

Gluten-free Austin restaurant picks River Oaks for first Houston store

Rendering of Honest Mary's in River Oaks

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

It will be a Houston homecoming for restauranteur Nelson Monteith with the fall 2025 debut of Honest Mary’s in River Oaks.

“It’s a joy and honor to bring a brand we’ve worked hard to create in Austin and finally be able to share that concept with friends and family in Houston,” Monteith said in a statement. “There’s a bit of built-in comfort in knowing there are folks here who are already fans of Honest Mary’s. They’ve been asking us for years to open a location in Houston, and now it’s happening.”

Located at 2047-A West Gray St., Honest Mary's will occupy the current La Madeleine space. It is not known at this time when La Madeleine will close, but construction on Honest Mary's is expected to begin in May 2025.

Monteith and his wife, Mary, launched Honest Mary’s in 2017 after embracing mindful eating to improve their health. Since then, the Austin-based eatery that describes itself as serving "life-giving fast food" has expanded to four locations, with the upcoming River Oaks spot marking its arrival in Houston.

“There’s healthy food, fresh food, and fast food,” he said. “We wanted to create something that fits into that sweet spot without sacrificing quality or convenience. The trend towards healthy eating and the reality of busy lifestyles aren’t slowing down. We offer a place that caters to both.”

At the center of Honest Mary’s menu are five signature bowls ranging from poke to vegetarian, including the smoky poblano ($10.25) that features a basmati rice base with fresh vegetables of wild arugula, sweet corn, and pickled onions in a creamy poblano sauce. Co-partner and chef Andrew Wiseheart, known for Austin’s Contigo and Ladybird Taco, leads the kitchen.

Honest Mary's menu features healthy, gluten-free bowls. Guests can choose from five signature bowls at Honest Mary's, or create their own.Courtesy of Honest Mary's

Diners can build their own bowls by selecting a base like quinoa, proteins including grilled chicken and tuna, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes. Pickled onions, cucumber salad, and avocado are among the topping selections, with sauces like lemon garlic and cashew-lime crema.

Scratch-made sipping broths round out the menu, with the chicken bone broth packed with celery, carrots, onions and parsley, or an umami-rich seaweed and mushroom broth.

A selection of house-made aguas frescas and teas, local craft beer, wine, kombucha, and organic cold-pressed juices will be available, as will Honest Mary’s popular almond butter cookies sweetened with maple syrup and topped with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

With its fully gluten-free menu, Honest Mary’s caters to a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free. To align with Monteith’s dedication to nutrition, Honest Mary’s uses seed oils sparingly and prioritizes local and organic ingredients when possible.

“River Oaks Shopping Center has a unique blend of history and vibrant new concepts, making it the ideal home for us,” Monteith said. “We aim to be a neighborhood spot where people can enjoy delicious, healthy food.”

Lunden McGill and John Frazier of Baker Katz brokered the deal for the 2,200-square-foot space and additional patio with seating for 38 inside and 44 outside. Mark Odom Studio is responsible for architecture and design.

Honest Mary’s signature elements of terra cotta and blue tilework will be incorporated to provide consistency between all five locations, while Art Deco-inspired decor of lush greenery, warm wood tones and natural light will align the space with the River Oaks Shopping Center’s structure.

Takeaway, delivery, and dine-in will be provided daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

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