Mi Cocina shutters

Dallas Tex-Mex staple shutters only Houston location after less than 2 years

The Mambo Taxi has rolled out of Houston.

Courtesy of Mi Cocina

A Dallas-based Tex-Mex restaurant has quietly closed its only Houston location. Mi Cocina shuttered on Thursday, March 20.

A note on the restaurant’s website addressed to “Dear Valued Guests” reads as follows:

Thank you for your support of Mi Cocina in Houston. As we wrap up operations at this location, we want to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who dined with us and to our incredible team who brought the Mi Cocina experience to life.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Effective Thursday, March 20th, this location is closed. Please visit any of our 23 locations in DFW or Tulsa, OK. We hope to serve you again in the future.

Mi Cocina opened the Houston location in November 2023 near River Oaks District (4410 Westheimer Rd.). It was the company’s third attempt at establishing a foothold in Houston, following a Memorial location that opened in 2004 and a Woodlands outpost that opened in 2011. Prior to the opening, Edgar Guevara, president and CEO of Mi Cocina parent company M Crowd Restaurant Group, told CultureMap that the company felt confident that the third time would be a charm.

“I don’t know what happened with the past openings we had in Houston. I think when you’re going into a market you want to pick someplace that’s similar to where you operate,” Guevara said at the time. “I happen to like the location we’re in. That’s why we landed there. It was data driven and then there were similarities to what we do in Dallas.”

A Dallas staple for more than 30 years, Mi Cocina is known for its upscale Tex-Mex fare and the Mambo Taxi, a frozen margarita with a swirl of sangria. Signature items include the brisket tacos, Mama’s tacos, and the Rico salad that’s topped with sliced chicken fajitas.

CultureMap has contacted Mi Cocina’s representatives for more information about the company’s decision to close the restaurant. We will update this article when they reply.

news-you-can-eat closings

steakhouse switcheroo

River Oaks restaurant fields a new menu devoted to prime and wagyu steaks

Courtesy of Fielding's Steak

The new menu includes steak and sides such as onion rings.

A River Oaks restaurant is switching things up. After a year of operations, Fielding’s River Oaks has rebranded as Fielding’s Steak with an all-new menu that will launch on Tuesday, January 27.

While the restaurant has always served steaks from Texas ranch 44 Farms, Fielding’s Steak leans more heavily into beef with more cuts and more kinds of beefs, including both American and Japanese wagyu. Similarly, diners can pair their steaks with steakhouse sides such as lobster mac and cheese, creamed spinach, and onion rings.

The new menu starts with four prime steaks — filet, ribeye, NY strip, and bavette — along with a dry-aged cuts including a 35-ounce cowboy ribeye, a porterhouse, a 12-ounce bone-in ribeye, and a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye. Those seeking the most luxurious experience may opt for a wagyu tasting that features four ounces each of Japanese, Australian, and American striploin.

Appetizers and salads include a number of familiar dishes, such as lobster bisque, wedge salad, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail, and an imperial crabcake. Non-steak entrees include maple-brined salmon, lobster risotto, lamb chops, and a grilled Kurobata pork chop with apple mostarda.

Fielding’s River Oaks opened in December 2024. Part of Fielding’s Culinary Group, The Woodlands-based hospitality company behind Fielding’s Local Kitchen & Bar and Fielding’s Wood Grill, the restaurant served a European-inspired menu that included pizzas, pastas, steaks, and seafood.

“Fielding’s Steak represents the natural evolution of who we are and where we’re going,” said CEO Cary Attar said in a statement. “We wanted to create a true steakhouse experience — one that’s chef-driven, ingredient-focused, and worthy of the River Oaks dining scene — while still feeling warm, welcoming, and unmistakably Fielding’s. This new menu allows us to showcase exceptional proteins, refined flavors, and a level of execution that reflects our passion for hospitality and culinary excellence.”

Fielding’s Steak will be open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch from 11:30 am-3 pm and dinner beginning at 5 pm. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

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steakhouse switcheroo

River Oaks restaurant fields a new menu devoted to prime and wagyu steaks