sayonara, molihua

High profile Med Center sushi restaurant shutters after only 3 months

Molihua has closed, at least for now.

Photo by Brian Kennedy

One of this year’s highest profile new Japanese restaurants has closed after only three months in business. Molihua has served its last meal, CultureMap has learned.

A representative for Molihua provided the following statement in response to CultureMap's request for comment: "Molihua is currently closed as the restaurant undergoes a reconceptualization. We look forward to sharing new details soon."

Signs of Molihua's closure first appeared on Thursday, August 1. Its Instagram account has disappeared, it has been removed from the Houston Restaurants Weeks website, and it is no longer accepting reservations on OpenTable.

Located in the Blossom Hotel, Molihua opened to considerable fanfare in April. The restaurant is part of the Boon Group, a hospitality company led by chef Ho Chee Boon, who Houstonians may remember as the culinary mind behind Yauatcha, the short-lived dim sum restaurant in the Galleria. As the executive international chef for the global Hakkasan Group, Boon held one Michelin star for Yauatcha’s London Soho location.

Hideki Hiwatashi Ho Chee Boon Molihua Houston Chefs Hideki Hiwatashi and Ho Chee Boon teamed up to open Molihua.Photo by Brian Kennedy

To bring Molihua to Houston, chef Ho recruited Japanese chef Hideki Hiwatashi to lead the kitchen. He brought an impressive resume to the project, including time with the global Hakkasan Group and as head chef at Kikunoi Roan, a two-Michelin star kaseki restaurant in Kyoto. Together, they created a menu that focused on Japanese fare with a few dim sum-inspired dishes.

Why did Molihua close so quickly? Yelp reviews aren’t always reliable, but consistent complaints about service issues, high prices (also here), and a lightly-populated dining room suggest that Molihua did not meet diners’ expectations for a fine dining Japanese restaurant. Perhaps the new concept will be suitable for Houstonians.

Another confusing aspect of Molihua’s quick closure is that chef Ho planned to open a second restaurant at the hotel. Called Duck House by Boon, it was expected to serve a similar menu to his San Francisco restaurant Empress by Boon. Molihua's representatives did not comment on whether those plans are still on track.

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dine out and do good

Houston charity dining event returns with $15 lunches and $25 dinners

Photo by Michael Ma

Murray's serves a mix of pizza and shareable plates.

Houston Restaurant’s Week more affordable sibling has returned for 2026. Eat Drink HTX takes place from February 15 until February 28.

Similar to Houston Restaurant Weeks, participants in Eat Drink HTX serve two- or three-course meals at a set price of $15 for lunch and brunch and $25 for dinner. Whereas HRW is loaded with fine dining options, EDH’s lower price point allows more casual restaurants to participate. Restaurants will donate $0.50 per $15 meal sold and $1 per $25 meal sold to the Cleverley Stone Foundation, which will then make a contribution to the Houston Food Bank.

As recent closures demonstrate, Houston’s restaurants are struggling. EDH is intended to bring in customers as businesses emerge from the typically slow month of January.

“We have all seen the lists of restaurant closures that seem to be issued on a reoccurring basis – it’s heartbreaking,” organizer Katie Stone, president of the Cleverley Stone Foundation, said in a statement. “Restaurants are the heart and soul of our community. In times of crisis they step up, serve and support others. This is our time as Houstonians to support our restaurant industry by dining out. At the same time, you can ‘Do Good’ as proceeds benefit the Houston Food Bank.”

Stone has recruited dozens of restaurants to participate, including establishments that opened in 2025 such as Caribbean Jerk Palace, Honest Mary’s, Murray’s Pizza & Wine, and Traveler’s Cart. Diners will also find Tex-Mex well represented, with options including El Tiempo, Los Tios, and Molina’s.

Tourao Brazilian Churrasqueria will even give diners a slimmed down, $25 take on its traditional all-you-can-eat experience that includes a visit to the restaurant’s salad bar and a combo meat platter that offers picanha, garlic beef, Brazilian sausage, bacon-wrapped chicken, and two jumbo shrimp.

Also new this year is Galleria-area favorite Burger-Chan. Its $15 menu includes choice of a five-ounce burger, a four-ounce turkey burger, or a felafel burger, paired with choice of side and a non-alcoholic soft drink, iced tea, or lemonade (premium toppings such as bacon, spam, or fried egg are available for an additional charge).

Diners will find the full list of participants on the Eat Drink HTX/Houston Restaurant Weeks website.

"We’re participating in Eat Drink HTX because both the Houston Food Bank and our industry need support now more than ever,” added Craft Pita chef-owner Raffi Nasar. “It’s a meaningful way for us to give back while championing the restaurant community. For our guests, it’s an affordable opportunity to try new menu items.”

Photo by Michael Ma

Murray's Pizza & Wine is participating in Eat Drink HTX.

fundraisers eat drink htx news-you-can-eat