While there are many excellent Houston restaurants, there are also some new places on the horizon. In the next few years, we hope to see more exciting additions to the local food scene.
With the economy still struggling, restaurants in Houston provide a ray of hope to residents. Houstonians love to celebrate special events in a nice restaurant, and the new menus and decor have given these spaces a new lease of life. You can find everything from upscale steakhouses to 1980s-themed bars in these exciting new Houston restaurants. But which ones are sure to be a hit? Keep reading to find out.
ChopnBlok
Two new steakhouses have landed in Houston this month, proving that the culinary scene in the city is thriving. From authentic coastal eats to fusion cuisine, Houston has something to offer every palate. And with new concepts popping up all the time, Houston is poised to be the foodie destination of 2022. Here are some of the new concepts that will be hitting the Houston scene in 2022.
One of the most exciting new restaurants in Houston is Chop N Blok. Located in Uptown Houston, the restaurant offers a diverse menu that combines flavors from all over the world. This cuisine is rich in protein, vegetables, and grains, and comes from a unique source of food integrity. Its quick-service concept makes it easy to eat on the go, and a wide variety of meats, vegetables, and soups will keep your stomach full and happy for hours. The restaurant is also expanding to include a full-service deli, allowing customers to purchase sliced meat and other items to take home. Desserts will also be available for purchase and served to go, too.
The restaurant’s interior is designed to evoke the ambiance of a tropical beachside cafe, similar to the famous Gulf Coast city of Tulum, Mexico. A delicious 16-ounce Hawaiian rib-eye showcasing the chef’s native cuisine is on the menu, and the rib-eye is complemented by roasted sweet potatoes and ginger. If you’re hungry, you can also try the nutty desserts at Return To Sender Cafe, where you can sip on a beer and enjoy an amazing meal.
Black-owned restaurants are becoming more popular in the Houston restaurant scene. Some are making the transition from food trucks to brick-and-mortar locations, while others are taking bold forays into innovative new dining concepts. But there are some noteworthy examples that will stay on the top of the Houston food scene until 2022. Here are some of them:
AB Sushi
With so many new openings, the Houston dining scene is becoming more diverse. There are new fusion cuisines and authentic coastal dishes popping up all over. As 2022 approaches, expect a burgeoning sushi scene to continue. AB Sushi and Postino are among the new restaurants coming to Houston in 2022. Los Tios and Adair Kitchen are also set to open new outposts. Finally, Mala Sichuan Bistro will open a fifth location in M-K-T development.
With so many new Houston restaurants in the works, it’s hard to keep up. With so many exciting openings, it’s hard to keep track of them all. Here’s a look at the top five new Houston restaurants for 2022. If you can’t get a reservation, don’t worry, there are plenty of other great options. You can find a new restaurant in the city each day.
The AB Sushi restaurant is opening in the Blossom Hotel. It will focus on upscale sushi and Japanese dishes. Chef Akira Back, a Michelin-star, will oversee the menu at AB Sushi. The restaurant will offer a high-end sushi experience with premium sashimi. There’s also a sushi bar at the Blossom Hotel that features a full bar and lounge area.
Another new restaurant in Houston for 2022 is K&Z Cafe. This Jewish restaurant will feature open-faced New York-style sandwiches, classic Jewish fare, and sushi. The menu will also feature soups made from golden noodles and a giant matzo ball. Desserts will also be available to go, as well as sandwiches and deli sandwiches. The good news is that Houston’s dining scene is getting even more diverse.
Another new restaurant coming to Houston in 2022 will be the AB Sushi, which is set to open in the Spring Branch area. Its menu will be influenced by the South of France. Chef Antoine Ware, a Louisiana native, is planning to serve chargrilled oysters and lamb chops. You can’t go wrong with these fusion dishes. You’ll have a good time at AB Sushi!
Passerella
Chef Edward Roberts is the executive chef at Passerella. He has worked at restaurants like Saltwater Grill in Galveston, Beaver’s in Houston, Tony’s in West End, and Masraff’s in New Orleans. His menu will feature dishes from across Italy. Matt Stevenson will curate the wine list. Audra Gottlieb will handle the business operations. Passerella will seat 100 people indoors and 60 outdoors.
Chef Edward Roberts will lead the kitchen at Passerella. Roberts has experience at high-end Houston restaurants such as Tony’s and Masraff’s. His experience spans a wide range of cuisines. The chef, who is also the co-owner, also has experience at Galveston’s Saltwater Grill. Chef Audra Gottlieb has been a part of other restaurant projects, including Vic & Anthony’s, Rudy & Paco’s, and Masraff’s. The Houston location will join three other Jax Grill locations in Texas.
The team behind Passerella, which is part of Gr8 Plate Hospitality, will open in Cypress this spring. Passerella will feature Mediterranean and Italian-inspired dishes and an extensive wine list. The restaurant will open at 9945 Barker Cypress Road and is scheduled to open in May. Located next to the Union Kitchen Towne Lake on the city’s east side, Passerella will offer a higher-end dining experience than the previous establishment.
The second-story portion of the building will be dedicated to a cocktail bar called Anvil Bar & Refuge. The restaurant has 5,000 square feet of patio-deck space, 40 televisions, and a large selection of liquors. The cocktail menu will focus on under-appreciated liquors. Anvil regulars will be happy to see familiar faces, as well as newcomers to the restaurant.
Urbe Chef Hugo Ortega’
If you haven’t heard of Hugo Ortega, you may be surprised to learn that he has two new Houston restaurants coming up. Both restaurants will be slated to open in Uptown Park. Urbe, a Spanish word meaning “city,” will serve a variety of street-food-inspired dishes. The menu will include everything from raw oysters and Mexican mignonette to queso, tortas on house-made bread, and charred brisket.
Backstreet Cafe, which was previously owned by Ortega, closed in January. But it is scheduled to reopen in February. Urbe, another new restaurant from the same chef, will focus on Mexican street food. The menu will also feature freshly made salsas and moles. The chef also uses house-ground masa, which he says is the purest form of authentic Mexican cooking. And don’t worry about missing dessert: there’s an on-site bakery.
Amid the downtown scene, the Midtown-based restaurant Late August will be spearheaded by two Texas restaurant industry titans – chef Hugo Ortega and restaurateur Thomas Stacy. The Midtown location will feature a tasting room and a Mexican street food concept from the Real Top Chef. The two Houston restaurants will be located within an historic post office. Their first vintage is set for release in 2020.
Money Cat restaurant owner Sherman Yeung
Tobiuo Sushi & Bar owner Sherman Yeung is planning a new location for his upcoming restaurant, Money Cat, in the Kirby Grove center. In addition to sushi and other traditional Japanese dishes, he plans to make his own miso, soy sauce and koji butter, and to create desserts that feature seaweed. Money Cat is expected to open sometime in the second half of this year.
The Houston community is looking for another Asian-inspired restaurant to join the city’s dining scene. Sherman Yeung has experience in the culinary field, having worked at Uchi, Yauatcha, and Izakaya Wa. He also recently completed stages at Birdsong in San Francisco and Smyth in Chicago. Yeung has assembled a staff that will include Le Chau, who worked at Roka Akor and Uchi in Houston. Money Cat will be open for dinner Monday to Thursday, and will offer a two-hour social hour on Sundays and Fridays. It will also offer street parking, valet service, and an on-site garage.
The name Money Cat will be prominently featured in the space. The entrance to Money Cat will feature a wall of gold. The silver cats will be on display for guests to view, and the owners hope that the presence of these exotic felines will bring good luck to the restaurant. Another new restaurant in Houston 2021 and 2022 is the upscale Thai-fusion Money Cat, which opened in February.
Toro Toro Richard Sandoval
Texas residents will soon have the opportunity to dine at Toro Toro, one of the newest restaurants from the award-winning Mexican chef. The new Toro Toro Houston will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The chef and restaurateur has restaurants in 15 countries and six in the United States. In addition to his Toro Toro Houston location, Sandoval is bringing his Bayou and Bottle whiskey bar to Houston.
A full bar is also on the menu at the new Toro Toro, and guests can enjoy smoky rum Old Fashions with Diplomatico Reserva rum or jalapeno-infused Altos Plata tequila. Cocktails are served in large glasses and come with a splash of hibiscus or rosemary.
The restaurant will be located in the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, where it will replace Quattro’s breakfast buffet. The concept will include a “bottomless” menu and be available for both breakfast and lunch. The restaurant will be designed by New York City-based Meyer Davis and will include a lounge area with a wood-burning grill and Houston-based female artists. It will have a 74-seat main dining room, a 10-seat private dining room, and an eight-seat “speakeasy.” It will also be available for private events and celebrations.
Wild Oats Texas cuisine director Nick Fine
A former Texas foodie, Fine spent his early years in the city. During middle school, he and his family moved to a different state, but they returned to Houston when he was eighteen. After graduating from Texas Tech University, Fine worked in Yellowstone National Park as a park ranger. He returned to Houston in 2015.
The menu at Wild Oats celebrates the culture and history of Texas with dishes that reflect the region’s distinctive style of cooking. Chef Fine intends to expand on his Texas roots by incorporating different flavors and styles. A few dishes on the menu are inspired by Mexican cuisine, including shrimp diablo (a twist on shrimp and grits). A classic Texas dish, chicken-fried steak is also on the menu, with the famous Texan meal having its origins in the South.
Underbelly Hospitality, owners of the popular Houston Farmers Market, are developing a new restaurant concept called Wild Oats. The chef and partner, Nick Fine, hails from Houston and has honed his cooking skills under several chefs. His dream is to have a restaurant that serves locals and tourists alike. The culinary director of the Houston restaurant, Nick Fine, dreams of a customer who orders a shot of chili for the entire restaurant.
Clark’s a seafood and oyster bar Larry McGuire
This Upscale casual seafood spot features an open kitchen, marble bar, and both indoor and outdoor seating. A large, colorful tile mural is a nice touch. The seafood is cooked over an open flame, and the upscale-casual ambiance makes it a good choice for a date night or a romantic date. The menu features local and seasonal fish, including oysters and other seafood favorites.
Aside from its seafood-centric menu, Clark’s also serves salads and New England clam chowder. The 32-year-old owner of the restaurant told TEXAS MONTHLY that he has been cooking and serving oysters for the last nine years. He says that he’s proud to offer fresh and delicious seafood, and he’s confident that Austinians will love it.
While the name may sound like a pun, the quality of Clark’s should come as no surprise. The chefs at this new Austin restaurant have already helmed other acclaimed restaurants in Austin. The upscale, casual restaurant opened only five years ago, but it’s already a favorite among locals and Clarksville residents alike. The lobster roll is the signature dish, but if you’re craving more, try the house burger. You’ll be feeling better than before you came.
The Warwick headed by Chef Antoine Ware
The Warwick, the first New American restaurant in Houston, will open soon in the space formerly occupied by Hillstone Houston on Westheimer. The menu features seafood and upscale New American dishes and draws inspiration from Ware’s Cajun background. Oysters come charbroiled and chargrilled, and there’s also a menu featuring steak and lamb chops as well as a lobster tail. Private patio dining is available.
The decor of the restaurant was designed by Nicki Dooms of NHI Design. Guests can expect marble flooring and black and white tile work throughout the space. The Warwick also features custom banquettes and an impressive beverage list that includes Pushing Daisies, Sidecar Royale, and Desperado. Ware will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily at the restaurant. Brunch will be added in July.
The restaurant will have a terrace and offer brunch on the weekend. The Warwick is set to open at 5888 Westheimer, and will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Antoine Ware will focus on American cuisine with a Southern flair. The Warwick marks a return for acclaimed chef Antoine Ware to Houston’s upscale dining scene. The new restaurant will be a destination for those seeking upscale dining.
Rare Steakhouse Chef Don Bowie
Houston has been experiencing a great restaurant boom over the past few years, with two new steakhouses opening in the city: Rare Steakhouse on Washington Avenue and Patton’s in The Heights. The restaurants will feature chef-driven menus, signature cocktails, and live entertainment, such as a jazz band, R & B singer, or DJ. Bowie recently partnered with Houston rapper Akon and former Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson to open these restaurants. The restaurants are decorated with lipstick red banquettes, alligator print seats, and white tablecloths.
Bowie met Akon and Johnson through an old business partner. The two have worked together in Atlanta for a few years, and he spent time there when he opened Rare. The new restaurant will follow the success of Taste Bar + Kitchen, which Bowie opened in Atlanta. The owners have since settled in Houston, so the two have a clear vision for the concept. Bowie is promising his fans a world-class experience. In addition to the great food and drinks, he will be offering a unique environment with art and architecture. The restaurant will open in March 2022, and it will have an extensive music lineup.
Johnny Good Burger by Johnny Hoang and Paul Qui
The pop-up Johnny Good Burger by Johnny Hoang and Paul Qu opened in POST Houston last month, replacing the former Salt & Time and Butcher’s Burger locations. The burgers are served with classic sides and come with a side of flavored shakes. Hoang and Qu are both top chefs and have won multiple awards. He won the Bravo’s Top Chef cooking competition. He’s also a James Beard Award winner.
The two partners are co-founders of FAM Hospitality Group, which owns several restaurants in the Austin area. They also operate an Asian-inspired street-food venue called East Side King, and Qui teamed up with chef Moto Utsunomiya, formerly of Austin’s Uchi and UChiko. Qui’s restaurant offers classic bowls of rice and seafood, as well as open-face handrolls and crispy rice.
The menu is outstanding and reflects the entrepreneur’s passion and commitment to social responsibility. Qui and Hoang have even gone above and beyond the typical business model of the burger joint to create a socially responsible space. The restaurant is a good example of this, as they plan to host Soy Pinoy Family Dinners, donate the proceeds to Asian mental health advocacy groups, and run a scholarship program for members of the service industry suffering from addiction and mental illness. The restaurant is also open to questions and comments, which is why the owner has posted his email address on the website.
