Sugar Shack

Sizzling new Shake Shack Sugar Land location revs up with first drive-thru in Texas

Shake Shack opens in Sugar Land next week.

Photo by Emily Dorio

Houstonians have become well acquainted with Shake Shack. The New York-based, global burger juggernaut has opened several restaurants across the Bayou City since making its debut in the Galleria in 2016, but a new location coming to Sugar Land next week will be a little different from anywhere else in Texas — for now.

Scheduled to celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, June 22, the new location at 2515 Town Center Blvd N. will be the first in Texas to offer a drive-thru. Look for a digital menu board, two drive-thru lanes, and a dedicated pickup window that’s designed to expedite service.

Some may recall that Shake Shack tore down an existing Burger King location with a drive-thru to build its Montrose store without one, but the company has shifted its stance in recent years, introducing its first drive-thru in Minnesota in 2021. Developed primarily for the company’s suburban locations, the drive-thru format has been a hit. Restaurant Business reported last year that drive-thru stores generated above average weekly revenue.

"As a company, we are continuing to evolve and meet our guests where they are. The drive-thru adds much desired convenience and is a new format and platform for Shake Shack in the past two years,” Shake Shack chief development officer Andrew McCaughan said in response to CultureMap's request for comment. “We are still in the early days of our drive thru journey, and we are focused on building these formats to provide our delicious, freshly made, high quality, burgers, fries and shakes in a convenient experience for guests.”

Whether ordering dine-in or drive-thru, customers will experience the same food that’s made the chain a worldwide success. The company's iconic ShackBurger starts with premium beef from celebrated butcher Pat LaFrieda that's cooked on a griddle, topped with both the signature ShackSauce and vegetables, and served on a potato bun. Fries, shakes, and frozen custards round out the experience.

Houston locations also feature the Texas-exclusive Lockhart Link burger, made with jalapeño-cheese sausage sourced from legendary Texas barbecue joint Kreuz Market.

Shake Shack will celebrate the grand opening by donating $1 per sandwich sold to the Southern Smoke Foundation, the Houston-based non-profit that provides emergency assistance to hospitality workers in crisis situations. In addition, customers who arrive early may receive a voucher for tickets to a Sugar Land Space Cowboys game and a custom, Sugar Land-themed tote bag featuring a design by local artist Michael C Rodriguez who created the in-Shack murals for the Sugar Land, Montrose, and Galleria locations.

The Sugar Land restaurant joins Shake Shack locations in the Galleria, Rice Village, Montrose, downtown, and The Woodlands. A Katy location is currently under construction at 19300 Katy Fwy. Expected to open this summer, it will also offer a drive-thru.

openings burgers news-you-can-eat

say hey to Hypsi

Houston chef's hip new Italian restaurant now open in Heights hotel

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

A new Italian restaurant is now open in the Heights. Located within the newly opened Hotel Daphne, Hypsi marks chef Terrence Gallivan’s return to professional cooking in Houston.

Known for his time as the co-execuive chef of The Pass and Provisions and owner of ElRo Pizza and Crudo, Gallivan brings strong culinary credentials to Hypsi. Although he isn’t known explicitly for Italian fare, he has significant experience making pizza, pasts, and other Italian-inspired dishes. After closing ElRo last year, the chef says that working for Bunkhouse Hotels, the Austin-based company that operates the Daphne, had a lot of appeal.

“My wife and I always made it a point to stop at their places whenever we’re in Austin. They know how to make cool stuff,” Gallivan says.

Hypsi’s menu includes updated takes on Italian fare begins with starters such as lamb meatballs, black truffle arancini, and Caesar salad. A selection of house-made pastas include squid ink radiatori with rock shrimp, butternut squash tortellini, and lumache with vodka sauce that gets a little heat from nduja. Entree choices include a roast chicken, pork Milanese, and roasted snapper with salsa verde.

The restaurant is also open for breakfast during the week and brunch on the weekends with items such as a panatone waffle, frittata, and breakfast sandwich. Lunch will follow in January.

“We took inspiration from tradition without being traditional,” Gallivan says. Later, he adds, “For me, it’s about balance. You try to please everybody. I want my mom to enjoy herself as much as a 25-year-old foodie. It’s important to hit as many marks as you can.”

One of the restaurant’s signatures will be the mozzarella cart that rolls through its dining room. Gallivan says he’s sourcing a mix of both American and imported Italian cheeses that will rotate every week or two. The cheese is served with a range of pickled fruit and vegetables, olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, focaccia, and more. Of course, seeing a cart immediately grabs diners’ attention, making them want whatever is on offer.

“That’s the beauty of carts,” Gallivan says. “It’s a fun thing to do. I think sometimes we get a little too serious in restaurants. It’s supposed to be fun. People are here to enjoy themselves.”

All that eating and drinking takes place in a dining room that’s inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies, according to press materials. Details include blueberry lava stone on the bar, vintage velvet chairs, and custom Carimate dining chairs by Vico Magistretti. An outdoor patio features brick pavers, mosaic tables, and sculptures.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

news-you-can-eat openings the-heights hotels

Sugar Shack

Sizzling new Shake Shack Sugar Land location revs up with first drive-thru in Texas

2 Houston suburbs named top-10 best Texas cities to move to

Astros and Rockets finally launch streaming service for Houston sports fans

Esquire names Houston's West African eatery to best new restaurants list

say hey to Hypsi

Houston chef's hip new Italian restaurant now open in Heights hotel