Just in time for Spring Break and summer travel, Hobby Airport has unveiled the first phase of its 20 planned restaurants and dining options for busy travelers passing through the only 5-Star Skytrax airport in North America.
This week, the airport officially opened The Spot/The Spot Bar, Velvet Taco, Fat Cat Creamery, and Dunkin Donuts. This mix of familiar local favorites and national, go-to names represents a desire to “celebrate Houston,” per a Houston Airports announcement.
Opening this first phase of restaurants also marks the beginning of Phase 2 of a four-phase food and beverage transition at Hobby. The four phases, which will roll out Summer 2024 through Spring 2025, will include instantly recognizable names such as Common Bond, Dish Society, Killen’s Barbeque, Landry’s Seafood, Pink’s Pizza, SpindleTap, The Rustic, and Throughgood Coffee.
The first phase of openings follow the plans laid out in two separate food and beverage concessions contracts between Houston Airports and Areas HOU JV and LaTrelle’s Management that Houston City Council approved early last year. The contracts mark a Houston Airports initiative to create a sense of community for local travelers, showcase Houston as a world-class dining destination to visitors, and create a five-star experience overall, per press materials.
Not that many locals will need a description of these local and national mainstays, but here’s a quick refresher on the newly opened destinations.
Velvet Taco
As CultureMap’s Eric Sandler notes, Velvet Taco serves up a variety of globally inspired fillings such as tikka masala chicken tenders with cilantro basmati rice, falafel with tahini crema, and shrimp and grits with Cajun remoulade.
Fat Cat Creamery
A Heights and Houston favorite, the shop scoops out artisanal, made-from-scratch ice cream in signature brown butter waffle cones. Look for shakes, sundaes, and other sweet escapes on the menu.
The Spot/The Spot Bar
Galveston’s “island famous” Seawall landmark has grown to other areas, dishing out comfort food faves, burgers, and more, with a fully stocked bar.
Dunkin' Donuts
Early-morning flyers who need a host of sweet, iced, and savory offerings and a massive hot or iced coffee can look for this iconic coffee-and-doughnut beacon.
Velvet Taco is coming to Memorial.
Velvet Taco has travel meals all wrapped up.
As for the restaurant phase rollout, plans call for the following schedule (with local denotations):
Phase 2 (Summer 2024)
- The Rustic (local)
- Starbucks
- Throughgood Coffee (local)
- Chick-fil-A
- Pei Wei
- Starbucks
Phase 3 (Fall 2024)
- Killen’s Barbeque (local)
- Common Bond Café (local)
- Yard House
- SpindleTap Brewery (local)
Phase 4 (Spring 2025)
- Pink’s Pizza (local)
- Wendy’s
Jersey Mike’s - Dish Society (local)
- Landry’s Seafood House (local)
Personal CD mixes had something that playlists today just don't. Photo courtesy of the Bullock Museum 
