hands up

Heights favorite sushi spot now serving hand rolls in Spring Branch

A popular Heights restaurant has arrived in Spring Branch. Hando is now serving sushi hand rolls, small plates, and cocktails in the Spring Branch Village shopping center (8141 Long Point Rd.).

The new location is similar to the original Hando that opened in 2019. A slightly larger space means its sushi counter seats 30 people — six more than the Heights. The intimate restaurants found in Japanese train stations inspired the space’s design.

“We can’t wait to share the Hando experience with this neighborhood,” co-owner Jason Andaya said in a statement. “Everyone on the team has been working so hard to make sure Spring Branch gets the same friendly service, fresh food, and creative drinks that our Heights guests have enjoyed over the last four years.”

Chef Man Nguyen's menu is built around set offerings of three, four, or five hand rolls along with a la carte offerings. In order to ensure the nori wrapper stays crispy, rolls are prepared and served individually. Small plates such as Brussels sprouts, gyoza, and izakaya-style skewers round out the offerings. Limited time specials add a touch of novelty. They're paired with creative cocktails, sake, and beer.

The Heights location has a companion cocktail bar called Kanpai Club. Spring Branch has a similar, speakeasy-style spot, but it’s under wraps for now. A representative tells CultureMap details about it will be released soon.

“We’re very excited to announce that our second Hando restaurant has opened in Spring Branch,” co-owner Raymond Chan added. “We looked at other areas, but a number of factors, including the mix and caliber of restaurants in the neighborhood, made Spring Branch the logical choice.”

As he notes, Hando is located in the same shopping center as a number of other restaurants, including The Blind Goat, Feges BBQ, Stuffed Belly, Jinya Ramen, Slowpokes, and Barnaby’s. Spring Branch also recently welcomed Texas comfort food restaurant Wild Oats, a second location of Underbelly Burger, and The Decoy, a lively sports bar with volleyball courts.

Courtesy of Hando

The new Hando has a 30-seat counter.

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finally coming to H-Town

Michelin-recognized Austin restaurant group reveals first Houston project

Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group chef partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.

Photo by Jessica Attie

Emmer & Rye partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.

One of Texas’ most lauded hospitality groups is finally coming to Houston. Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has claimed the former MF Lobster space in Autry Park for a new restaurant that will open in late 2025.

At this time, Emmer & Rye isn’t providing any details about the restaurant, including its name or what kind of food it will serve. Given that the group serves everything from Caribbean food at Canje to Mediterranean fare at Ladino, it’s essentially impossible to predict how they’ll utilize the 2,200-square-foot, circular-shaped building.

Known for concepts such as Hestia, a live restaurant in Austin that earned a Michelin star, and Emmer & Rye, the only Texas restaurant to earn a Michelin green star for sustainability, Emmer & Rye Hospitality operates restaurants in Austin and San Antonio, including Pullman Market, recently named by Robb Report as the No. 3 best new restaurant in America.

Both chef-partners in the group, Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, have received prestigious Best New Chef awards from Food & Wine. Fink is a two-time James Beard Award finalist, and Bristol-Joseph earned a semifinalist nomination in 2023.

Southern Smoke Festival 2022 Kevin Fink Tavel Bristol Joseph Kevin Fink, left, and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, right, at the 2022 Southern Smoke Festival. Photo by Emily Jaschke

“We’ve had our eye on Houston — and specifically Autry Park — for quite some time,” Bristol-Joseph said in a statement. “When the opportunity to take over such a unique space came along, we couldn’t pass it up. Houston has such a vibrant and diverse culinary community, and we look forward to opening our doors and contributing to the city’s incredible culinary landscape.”

Located near the intersection of Allen Parkway and Shepherd Drive, Autry Park is a 14-acre mixed-use development with apartments, office space, and shopping. Its restaurants include Annabelle Brasserie, Turner's Cut, Doko, and Bar Doko. In addition to the unnamed Emmer & Rye concept, it will soon welcome Mayahuel, a Mexico City-inspired concept from State Fare owners Culinary Khancepts and chef Luis Robledo Richards. Vegetable-forward restaurant Auden closed there earlier this year.

As for MF Lobster, it closed on Tuesday, June 10, according to press materials. Owner Chris Kinjo has decided to focus on his other restaurants, including MF Sushi in the Museum District and Annam, a recent addition to Autry Park that serves elevated Vietnamese fare.

“As much as we loved MF Lobster, it sat in an American dining genre that’s outside our natural wheelhouse,” Kinjo said. “We decided it made sense to sell the restaurant and concentrate on culinary ventures that reflect our Vietnamese and Japanese heritage.”

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