rolling on the river
Game-changing East End waterfront development adds 2 diverse dining options
East River is taking shape.
The Fifth Ward’s massive new mixed-use development continues to take shape. East River announced two new restaurants and an office tenant that have joined its roster.
They are:- La Cantina by La Calle Tacos, a bar and restaurant from the growing local taqueria
- Kyuramen, a second Houston-area location of the global ramen restaurant
- Champions Mortgage, a company that finances residential mortgages
As its name implies, La Cantina by La Calle Tacos will be a restaurant and bar in a style similar to La Calle's three other locations in downtown, Garden Oaks, and Midtown. The East River location will occupy just over 3,300-square-feet along the development’s central plaza.
Founded by Mexico City native Ramon Soriano, the restaurant serves tacos, tostadas, and tortas alongside a full cocktail menu that includes margaritas, micheladas, and more. Highlights include birria made with 18-hour braised beef that’s topped with cheese and served with consomme for dipping. The 10 varieties of street taco fillings include carnitas, pastor, chicken, carne asada, and vegetarian guacamole.
Kyuramen will open an approximately 4,400-square-foot location next to Lick Honest Ice Creams. The restaurant, which has more than 120 locations throughout Asia and the United States, took Houston by storm earlier this year with a Chinatown location in the D2 shopping center that features booths in an unusual honeycomb design.
The restaurant serves three distinct styles of ramen: kyushu shio from southern Japan, shouyu from Tokyo, and Miso from Hokkaido. Other items include gyoza, popcorn chicken, and shrimp tempura. In addition, it serves omurice, an omelet served over fried rice. The gooey consistency makes it a must watch on social media, as illustrated by this clip from houstonsgotspice.
In addition to announcing the two new restaurants, East River also confirmed that popular wine bar and restaurant City Cellars HTX will relocate to the development. As CultureMap reported in October, the establishment will occupy just over 5,000-square-feet near East River’s greenspace. Moving into a larger space will allow chef-owner Daniel Wolfe to expand the restaurant’s menu with more dishes and cocktails. It will also have space for a companion “speakeasy concept” that will be announced closer to opening.
East River is real estate developer Midway’s massive mixed-use development that's currently under construction along Buffalo Bayou near the intersection of Jensen Drive and Clinton Drive in Fifth Ward. Phase one, which is nearing completion, will cover 26 of the development’s 150 acres. Previously announced tenants include Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries, Lick Honest Ice Creams, and URBN Dental. They'll join a 360-unit apartment building, office space, and a shopping district with a 13,000-square-foot greenspace. East River 9, a par-three golf course, and Riverhouse Houston, a family-friendly restaurant, opened last year. The project also includes 1,500-square-foot storefronts that are being offered to existing, Fifth Ward-based businesses at a discounted lease rate, according to a release.
“Leasing velocity remains strong as East River continues to attract local small businesses and industry-leading companies alike,” said Lacee Jacobs, an executive for commercial real estate firm Parkway, said in a statement. “We are proud to provide the curated, dynamic, and amenity-rich environment that tenants continue to want and need for their business to thrive, and we look forward to introducing these unique concepts to the surrounding community.”
