Oui Banh Mi, the new drive-through banh mi concept from Les Givrals Kahve and Oui Desserts owner Qui M. Ly, is open at 1601 Richmond after about two years in the making. The sandwich shop will feature a dessert case from Oui Desserts, as well as a walk-up window, and it will be open late– about 3 a.m. on weekends. If all goes smoothly, Ly plans to open more locations soon.
After experiencing a kitchen fire and closing last month, Alma Latina at 2203 North Shepherd in The Heights has re-opened in full force and is ready to sling its crowd-favorite fajitas and margaritas at you once more.
One of our writers noticed this week that Pepino's Italian Restaurant, 1421 Richmond, has quietly closed after more than a decade of serving up classic Italian dishes in the heart of Montrose. Its Facebook page is gone, and there's a for-lease notice up on the property.
Pearland's popular Grazia Italian Kitchen has opened a second location at 1001 Pineloch in Clear Lake that features the same menu and ambiance as the original location. This one has a speakeasy-style bar within the restaurant, which is a slight change from the first Grazia, whose adjoining speakeasy requires a password and a dress code.
Swamplot's Christine Gerbode reported this week that Time for Thai is moving into the spot in the downtown tunnels formerly occupied by Prince's, which is at 930 Main. The new Thai establishment is a sister concept to Thai Cottage. Also coming soon to the tunnels is Arabella Mediterranean Cuisine, which is taking over the High Tower Deli location at 914 Main.
Gerbode also says that Snooze is open at 3217 Montrose; the morning-centric restaurant emerged in Denver a decade ago, and the menu includes breakfast pot pies with rosemary sausage gravy, chilaquiles benedict and sticky toffee pudding French toast.
The Cajun Stop's newest outpost at 24230 Kuykendahl in Spring is open and serving up po'boys and Cajun brunch dishes on the weekends, like bananas foster French toast and shrimp and grits. Because it's in the former Tamale Stop location, rumor has it that you can find tamales there, too.
Beloved chicken finger hotspot Raising Cane's announced three new Houston eateries this week, which are respectively located at 410 South Mason in Katy, 5326 South Rice in the Galleria area and 4509 Kingwood in Kingwood. They should all open in mid-to-late fall.
That's it for this week's openings and closings report! Did we miss something? Leave us a comment or send us an email to let us know.