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National ice cream shop scooping more than 140 flavors opens in Garden Oaks

Handel's has opened on Ella Blvd.

Photo courtesy of Handel's

Garden Oaks/Oak Forest has a fresh new ice cream option that’s opened just in time for the peak of Houston’s summer heat. Handel’s Ice Cream has opened its fourth Houston-area location in the bustling neighborhood.

Located at 3425 Ella Blvd., the new Handel’s offers both walk-up and drive-through service. It joins the brand’s existing Houston-area stores in Spring and Cinco Ranch. Local franchisees Tim and Kesha Chatman bring experience from the fashion and IT industries to their new endeavor.

"We were regular customers, always eager to try new flavors and menu items," said Kesha Chatman in a statement. "The idea of opening our own Handel's franchise just kept making more and more sense over time. We're incredibly excited to bring this beloved brand to our community."

Founded in Ohio in 1945, Handel’s is known for serving more than 48 flavors daily, including Peach, Black Cherry, Coffee Chocolate Chip, Graham Central Station, Chocolate Ooohh Dough, and Salty Caramel Truffle. Overall, the shop offers a roster of more than 140 flavors that vary throughout the year.

In addition to scoops, the shop serves banana splits, sundaes, milkshakes, and “hurricanes” — Handel’s term for vanilla ice cream mixed with candies such as Heath Bar, M&Ms, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Handel’s comes to Texas via Ohio. Founded in 1945 by Alice Handel, it maintains her methods and recipes. That means making ice cream fresh daily — using a base supplied by the home office — and including fresh ingredients. Overall, the company has more than 100 locations across 11 states, including a significant presence in the Dallas area.

Handel’s enters a busy part of Houston that’s flush with restaurants such as The Union Kitchen, Gatlin’s BBQ, Saigon Hustle, and recently-opened French restaurant BeauSoleil.

"We live here, eat here, and shop here daily," added Tim Chatman. "There's such a great mix of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, attractions, all nestled in with single-family homes. We can’t wait to welcome our neighbors and become a go-to spot for ice cream lovers across Houston."

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the pho will flow

Growing Houston Vietnamese restaurant hustles into hot Katy neighborhood

Courtesy of Saigon Hustle

Saigon Hustle's new Cinco Ranch location is now open.

A growing Houston Vietnamese restaurant has arrived in Katy. Saigon Hustle is now open in Cinco Ranch.

Located at 23703 Cinco Ranch Blvd., the Houston area’s third Saigon Hustle began a quiet soft opening this Monday, May 11, and will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, May 14. Like its siblings in Garden Oaks and Spring Branch, the restaurant will serve its familiar menu of banh mi, egg rolls, spring rolls, and rice dishes, as well as the pho that was added to the menu when Spring Branch opened in October 2024.

Beverage options include both Vietnamese iced coffee and freshly-brewed jasmine teas.

The Cinco Ranch location seats approximately 60 people. It also offers curbside pickup and delivery via third-party apps. Co-founder Sandy Nguyen said the restaurant had been looking at Cinco Ranch for awhile.

“Our guests out here have been asking us to come to them, and it finally felt like the right moment to plant a flag in Katy,” Nguyen said in a statement. “We grew up in Houston, and bringing the food we love to a community we love is everything. This is more than a new address — it's a hometown moment for us.”

As part of its continued growth, Saigon Hustle recently hired chef Justin Yoakum as its vice president of operations. Yoakum previously served as director of operations for Culinary Khancepts, the Houston restaurant group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, Leo’s River Oaks, and others.

“Justin has been wonderful,” Nguyen writes in an email. “He's been the leader we have been needing to further the next steps in our expansion. We are excited to have him. He's already proven to be such a great asset to the brand and brings a lot of energy!”

Originally opened by Nguyen and her business partner Cassie Ghaffar, Saigon Hustle is now backed by Savory Fund, a Utah-based venture capital firm that’s invested in a diverse range of concepts including Austin-based, Detroit-style pizzeria Via 313; breakfast concept Hash Kitchen; and Pincho Burgers & Kebabs, a Miami-based restaurant with locations in Memorial City, Conroe, and Cypress. Savory has committed to helping it grow to as many as 40 units in Texas and the Midwest.

To celebrate its grand opening, the Katy location will offer a number of promotions and giveaways, including:

Free banh mi for the first 100 customers on May 14.
A block party with a lion dance beginning at 6:30 on May 14.
Free Saigon Hustle for a year sweepstakes: All visitors to the location are eligible to win. See store or website for contest rules.
Buy-one-get-one-free Banh Mi: For customers who sign up for the Saigon Hustle Rewards loyalty program
Red envelopes: In a nod to the restaurant’s Vietnamese heritage, customers may receive a red envelope containing a discount, giveaway, or prize.

“We wanted opening week to feel like a block party, not just a ribbon cutting. Free food, music,

neighbors, and the team that's going to be feeding this community for years to come,” Ghaffar added. “From the lion dance to the red envelopes, every detail of opening week is a love letter to our culture and to Cinco Ranch.”

Saigon Hustle Cinco Ranch is open daily from 11 am-11 pm.

Courtesy of Saigon Hustle

Saigon Hustle's new Cinco Ranch location is now open.

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