Becks is back

River Oaks favorite burger joint reopens after renovations

An Upper Kirby burger institution will return to service this week. Becks Prime will reopen its original Kirby Drive location this Thursday, December 22 (2902 Kirby Dr).

First opened in 1985, the Kirby location needed a refresh after 37 years of continuous use. Changes include an all-new, 48-seat patio and a digital menu for drive-thru customers. Inside, customers will find wooden tables, new wallpaper, leather banquettes, and framed photographs from the restaurant’s history.

“Our classically designed restaurant had remained frozen in time for 37 years since first opening on Kirby in 1985 so it was time for a refresh while still holding onto reminders of where we started,” Becks Prime president Molly Voorhees said in a statement. “We have missed our neighbors in River Oaks and cannot wait to welcome everyone back just in time for the New Year.”

Becks Prime serves burgers made with beef that's ground fresh in-house and grilled over mesquite. A diverse menu that also includes salads, steaks, and sides like queso and guacamole has allowed the company to grow to nine Houston-area locations. In an appearance on CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, Voorhees credited part of Becks Prime’s success to the restaurant's willingness to tailor an order as to suit each person's tastes.

"Something like 50 or 60 percent of the people who come in our doors customize some part of the meal . . . If you want two pieces of bacon, mustard on the top, prime sauce on the bottom, I want to put a hot dog in that sandwich instead of a burger, it's okay," she said. "Most of the time it comes out exactly as our customers like it. If it doesn't, bring it back to the counter, and we'll fix it. Becks does that well and always has, and our customers expect us to keep doing it, so you better not change a darn thing."

Beginning Thursday, the restaurant will be open daily from 11 am-10 pm. It will close at 4 pm on December 24 for Christmas Eve and be closed on Christmas Day.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Becks Prime will reopen its Kirby location this week.

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a very fine house

Houston bakery known for pumpkin spice conchas to open new location

La Hacienda Bakery pumpkin spice conchas

La Hacienda Bakery/Facebook

It will soon be a little easier to purchase La Hacienda's pan dulce.

The bakery behind Houston’s viral pumpkin spice conchas is ready to grow. La Hacienda Bakery has leased a new location that’s scheduled to open in spring 2027.

Located in the Bingle Crossing shopping center at the corner of Bingle Road and the Northwest Freeway, La Hacienda will occupy an approximately 4,000-square-foot location, which is significantly larger than its current store. The bakery is also considering adding a drive-through lane, according to a press release from commercial real estate firm NewQuest.

In 2024, La Hacienda had Houstonians flocking to its current location in the Timberwood neighborhood (180 Uvalde Rd.) for its viral pumpkin spice conchas. The treats proved so irresistible that it earned La Hacienda an appearance on Good Morning America, where owner Leslie Rangel served them to the show’s hosts.

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More recently, La Hacienda has embraced other viral trends, including Dubai chocolate and soccer-themed conchas for the FIFA World Cup. The bakery also produces other sweets, such as Biscoff cheesecake, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and more.

Eater Houston notes that the bakery has leaned into its viral success by posting behind-the-scenes clips that showcase its staff at work as well as customers’ reactions to its creations.

“It’s an opportunity for La Hacienda to personalize space and set the stage for the evolving brand’s future,” NewQuest executive Lara Lee LaMendola said in a statement.

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