where to eat on christmas day

Where to eat on Christmas Day: 14 restaurants showcase Houston's diverse dining

Phat Eatery will be serving a wagyu Wellington.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Most people will spend Christmas Day at home with their families. To them we say, Merry Christmas!

On the other hand, not everyone wants to spend a Sunday fussing over pots and pans. For those people, a select group of Houston restaurants will be open for at least part of the day. Diners who do venture out should be mindful that a restaurant’s staff has given up their holidays to feed customers. Show some appreciation with generous tipping.

Of course, this list isn’t comprehensive. Many restaurants that serve cuisines from different parts of East Asia will be open on Christmas, particularly those that are located in Chinatown or in Asian-oriented shopping districts in other parts of greater Houston. Call in advance to confirm availability.

The Burger Joint
All three Houston-area locations of this better burger spot will be serving sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes from 11 am until midnight on Christmas.

Cleburne Cafeteria
The Houston institution will be open on Christmas Day from 11 am-8 pm with all of its comfort food favorites like chicken fried steak, roast turkey, and liver and onions. Save room for the freshly-baked cakes and pies.

Cucharita
Start Christmas morning off with coffee and breakfast at this cafe from Cuchara owner Ana Beaven. It also stocks gifts for ultra last minute shoppers.

Davis St. at Hermann Park
Chef Mark Holley’s globally inspired restaurant will be open beginning at 1 pm. Indulge in a seafood tower to share or focus on signature dishes such as grilled lamb chops and Thai-style crispy snapper for two.

Hamsa
Rice Village’s modern Israeli restaurant will be open Christmas Day to serve its hummus, falafel, and other Mediterranean-inspired fare.

Himalaya
A meal built around chef Kaiser Lashkari’s staples like chicken hara masala, Himalaya fried chicken, and Hunter’s Beef offers a well-spiced alternative to a traditional Christmas feast. Plus, Himalaya’s BYOB policy makes meals there even more affordable.

Kin Dee
The popular Thai restaurant in the Heights will serve its usual menu along with a new item from chef Miranda Loetkhamfu – the Tiger Cry Salad (Yum Nue, $25) that consists of sliced steak with shallots, green onion, cilantro, fresh basil, and roasted rice.

Kiran’s
The beloved Indian fine dining restaurant’s decadent Christmas buffet ($95) offers a wealth of choices including paneer or lamb tamales with tomatillo salsa, leg of lamb, tandoori salmon, coconut shrimp, a range of vegetable sides, and seven desserts. Seating at 12 pm and 2 pm.

The Palm
In addition to its regular menu, the downtown steakhouse will serve a three-course prime rib dinner that includes a choice of appetizer, sides, and dessert for $99 per person

Phat Eatery
Katy’s acclaimed Malaysian restaurant will add a couple of Christmas specials to its regular menu — Wagyu Rendang Wellington and Lobster Mee, a street noodle soup that’s been fancified with a 5-ounce lobster tail.

The Red Lion Pub
Head to the Anglo-Indian pub for dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie, fish and chips, and chicken tikka masala as well as a Christmas Day turkey dinner special. It will be open for regular hours on Christmas Day (11 am-1 am).

Shun
The River Oaks-area Japanese restaurant will honor a popular Japanese tradition by serving fried chicken on Christmas. Order a $45 dinner for two with chicken and sides or opt for a la carte options include a fried chicken sando.

The Taco Stand
Since any day is a good day for tacos, this Heights restaurant will be open from 9 am until midnight.

Three Brothers Bakery
Grab a rye bread or some gingerbread cookies from the Braeswood location of this Jewish community staple. It will be open from 10 am-2 pm.

news-you-can-eat

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.