gather your kin

River Oaks’ new fine dining Thai restaurant tempts with inventive dishes and lavish space

An ambitious new Thai restaurant opens in River Oaks next week. MaKiin will launch dinner service beginning this Monday, October 23.

Located at the Hanover River Oaks luxury high-rise, MaKiin comes from restaurateur Lukkaew Srasrisuwan, who also created Heights favorite Kin Dee and ghost kitchen concept M Express Thai Kitchen. Leading the kitchen are co-executive chefs Aphassorn (Bell) Predawan and Eakkapan (O) Ngammuang. Most recently of Yao restaurant in Atlanta, each brings an extensive resume to their new project.

To bring her vision for a fine dining Thai restaurant to life, Srasrisuwan worked with Houston’s Gin Design Group. The 4,500-square-foot restaurant takes inspiration from Thai temples and night markets. Details include a canopy paying homage to Thai mythological creatures Galuda and Naga, hand-painted murals depicting scenes from Thailand, and custom bronze mesh curtains.

Overall, MaKiin seats 94 in its main dining room, 17 at its bar, and 56 on its patio. Three private dining rooms seat 10 each.

Chefs Bell and O have created a menu that draws upon northern and southern Thai flavors. Dishes include:

Tenderloin Temptation, tenderloin tips on a crispy baguette topped with a quail egg yolk and edible flowers, and the
Duck Garden Oasis, lemongrass-seasoned duck breast cooked sous vide and served with microgreens, edible flowers, celery, pine nuts, and pomegranate seeds.
Flavors of Siam, seared wagyu steak with charred eggplant, lemongrass, bird’s eye chili, and grilled romaine hearts
Award-Winning Chicken, deboned chicken wings stuffed with ground chicken, carrots, potatoes, and Massaman curry over potato pave
Majestic Ocean Medley, poached lobster tail, scallops, crispy soft shell crab, calamari, and bean vermicelli noodles
Tomahawk Tango, grilled tomahawk pork chop stuffed with spicy pork sausage and served with vegetables and pan-fried rice vermicelli noodles
Sizzling Northern Adventure, sliced short ribs in yellow curry broth served on a hot stone with crispy egg noodles, pickled green mustard, red onion, quail egg, and chili oil.

Pairing options include a 50-bottle wine list and 10 house cocktails. Happy hour, available daily from 4-6:30 pm, will feature Thai twists on classic cocktails and a separate bar bites menu.

“MaKiin means ‘come to eat,’ an invitation that in Thailand is viewed as the highest honor one can bestow,” Srasrisuwan said in a statement. “I’m excited to offer Houston diners an invitation to come eat and celebrate the culture and beauty of Thailand. Our carefully curated menu of authentic Thai dishes, I feel will really resonate with Houston’s diverse clientele while introducing the Bayou City to an entirely new culinary experience.”

Photo by Sean Rainer

The Flavors of Siam is a seared wagyu steak with charred eggplant.

openings dinner news-you-can-eat

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.

news-you-can-eat openings honest mary's