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Hustling Houston Vietnamese restaurant signs 24 unit franchise deal

Saigon Hustle is opening new locations in Florida, Tenessee, and the Carolinas.

Courtesy of Saigon Hustle

A Houston-based Vietnamese restaurant will grow significantly after signing its first major franchise agreement. Saigon Hustle will open as many as 24 locations in Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas via its partnership with the Florida-based Virentes Partners Group.

Founded in 2020 by Houstonians Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, Saigon Hustle pitches itself as a the Chipotle of Vietnamese food. Its wide-ranging menu includes banh mi, vermicelli bowls, rice plates, appetizers, and pho. It currently has locations in Garden Oaks and Spring Branch.

“When we launched Saigon Hustle, our goal was simple: share Vietnamese flavors in a way that’s fun, approachable, and unforgettable,” Ghaffar said in a statement. “This partnership opens the door to reach so many more guests, while keeping the heart and energy of our brand alive in every location.”

The restaurant has been on an upward track since it won the Million Dollar Restaurant Launch competition from Savory Fund, a venture fund that helps restaurants grow. Other Savory Fund concepts include Austin-based pizzeria Via 313, Arizona-based restaurant Hash Kitchen, and Miami-based burger concept Pincho.

Virentes Partners Group has experience operating franchised restaurants, including locations of Houston-based concepts Shipley Do-Nuts and Sweet Paris Creperie.

“There’s truly nothing like Saigon Hustle — the flavors, the energy, and the experience are completely one-of-a-kind,” said Andrew K. Smith, co-founder and managing director of Savory Fund. “We’re thrilled to partner with the incredible Virentes team to bring this unique concept to new cities and communities. We can’t wait for more people to discover and fall in love with what Cassie and Sandy have built.”

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Innovative Houston steak restaurant flames out after only 2 years

Medium Rare/Facebook

Medium Rare serves a steak dinner for $28.95.

A Washington, D.C.-based restaurant that only serves one entree is closings its Houston outpost. Medium Rare will close after service this Sunday, September 6.

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“After two incredible years, we’re sorry to share that this Sunday night will be our last service in Houston,” the post reads in part. “To our Houston community, thank you for welcoming us and supporting us over the past two years.”

Founded in Washington, D.C. in 2011 by chef and restaurateur Mark Bucher, Medium Rare serves a very simple, prix-fixe menu. Every diner receives bread, a green salad, and steak frites — a coulotte (top sirloin) topped with a Bordelaise-style sauce and paired with hand cut fries — for about $30. Vegetarians may replace the steak with a grilled portobello topped with a roasted red pepper sauce. Even better, the price includes a second serving of steak and fries.

Diners could enhance their meal with oversized desserts like apple pie, a hot fudge sundae, or chocolate cake. The restaurant also served weekend brunch, which drew a following for its bottomless mimosas.

The restaurant opened in The Mix at Midtown development (3201 Louisiana St.) in November 2024. Its closure follows that of its neighbors, fast casual concepts Bol and Pok Pok Po, both of which closed last month.

Like both of those concepts, Medium Rare might not be gone for good. “It’s not goodbye. Just goodbye for now,” the post states. The restaurant's Dallas location remains open.

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