keep it trill

Houston celebs show out in VIP sneak peek of Bun B's red-hot Trill Burgers first brick-and-mortar location

The wait for the opening of Trill Burgers has almost come to an end. Although Bun B and his partners aren’t quite ready to open to the public yet, they hosted a select group of friends, family, and VIPs for a sneak peek of the concept’s first brick and mortar location.

Held Thursday, June 1, the invite-only preview drew a who’s who of Houston sports stars, musicians, and other celebs for their first taste of the restaurant’s signature OG Burger that’s made with two smashed beef patties that are topped with Trill Sauce, pickles, caramelized onions, and American cheese and served on a potato bun. The restaurant will also serve a vegan OG burger with vegan cheese and vegan mayonnaise as well as single and triple-patty burgers, seasoned fries, and Dr Pepper.

Trill Burgers sneak peek party The OG Burger.Photo by Mark Champion

“I have to say seeing people in the building eating burgers for the first time put a smile on all our faces. We’re almost there,” Bun B tells CultureMap. “It’s a great feeling. Once we have all these dots connected and all these Ts crossed, it’s going to be amazing to tell people they can come and have a burger.”

Among the attendees who joined the Trill OG for the sneak peek were fellow Houston hip hop luminaries Slim Thug and Willie D of the Geto Boys. Slim shared this sneak peek with his 1.7 million Instagram followers.

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Texans legend Andre Johnson and former Rockets star Mario Ellie represented the sports world. Other notable names in attendance included artists Jorge "Jorgey" Casanova and Alex "Donkeeboy" Roman; musicians Rich O’Toole, Le$, and Kam Franklin; broadcaster Lance Zierlein; and chef Ryan Lachaine (Riel).

Photo by Mark Champion

Bun B and Willie D.

“The burger was great. Best one I’ve had yet,” Lachaine tells CultureMap. “I’m excited to have Bun and Trill Burgers in the neighborhood.”

Trill Burgers announced in December that it had claimed the former James Coney Island space at 3607 S. Shepherd Dr. for its first brick and mortar location. The building has received a number of upgrades to transform it into Trill Burgers, including bright yellow paint and an Instagram-worthy “Keep It Trill” neon sign.

When the restaurant opens, it should draw big crowds. Trill Burgers has earned wide acclaim since Bun B, restaurateur Andy Nguyen, and Houston publicist Nick Scurfield introduced it at the 2021 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. In 2022, Good Morning America named it America’s “Ultimate Burger Spot.”

Earlier this year, a panel of media judges recognized it with a coveted Gold Buckle Foodie Award at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

riel returns

Shuttered Houston restaurant revived for 1 night only at Canada Day pop-up

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

One of the saddest restaurant closures of 2025 will get a one-night-only revival. Favorite dishes from Riel will return at Chardon on Sunday, June 28 for an event being called “Booze Can Sunday.”

While a French fine dining restaurant might seem like an unlikely host for a Riel revival, Chardon executive chef E.J. Miller once served as Riel’s opening sous chef. Miller invited his former boss, Riel chef-owner Ryan Lachaine, to join him for a pop-up that honors Canada Day.

Together, the duo will serve some of Riel’s most popular dishes, including:

Truffle and Caviar Pierogies
Steak Au Poivre Poutine with Cheese Curds
Deli Dog
Montreal Smoked Meat Sliders
Torche Kolaches
Mushroom Empanadas
Gator Karaage
Maple Whiskey Soft Serve with Foie Caram

The day will also feature drink specials such as Canadian Jell-O Shots, Molson X, Canadian Club, Old Grand-Dad, and more. Robin Wong, a co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and a successful DJ, will spin throughout the event.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

"Riel was a special place for a lot of people, and Booze Can Sunday was always one of the most anticipated events of the week," said Miller. "Ryan and I wanted to bring back that energy for one day, celebrate the restaurant that meant so much to us, and give guests a chance to revisit some of the dishes and memories they loved."

Riel Restaurant Ryan Lachaine E.J. Miller A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by Eric Sandler

Riel opened in January 2017 and closed in August 2025. In between, it earned wide acclaim for the way Lachaine blended his Canadian upbringing and Ukrainian heritage with the modern Gulf Coast cuisine he learned while working at restaurants such as Reef and Underbelly.

Currently, Lachaine works as the executive chef at River Oaks restaurant State of Grace. He added two Riel signatures to State of Grace’s menu — the caviar tater tots and signature butter burgers.

Chardon, which earned a Best New Restaurant nomination in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for its blend of classic French fare with Texas ingredients, opened in February 2025. In addition to Riel, Miller’s resume includes SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, International Smoke, and Muse.

Booze Can Sunday takes place from 3-9 pm. Attendees are encouraged to register on Eventbrite.

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