Krua Thai and Sushi, 6324 Richmond, opened under the radar a couple of weeks ago in the Galleria area. Now it is hosting a grand opening August 28 with music at 6 p.m. and complimentary bites for those dining in.ย Taking over the space that once housed Thai Gourmet, the new concept comes from chefs Miranda Loetkhamfu and Shawn “First” Auttapon Nernbok. The restaurant will serve both Thai cuisine and sushi for lunch and dinner daily.
Chef Miranda’s Houston resume includes her time as co-founder and executive chef at Kin Dee in the Heights and Four Season Thai in Spring. This past July, the Thailand-born chef opened MA Asian Kitchen in Rice Village, as we reported here in the Houston Press. Both the new concepts are creative culinary outlets for Chef Miranda, who loves to experiment with cultural mashups and she believes the neighborhood will appreciate the passion that she and Chef First share for authentic flavors and innovative plates. She said in a press release, “We know the history here and we know this neighborhood has been looking for a new Thai restaurant to step back into this space.”
As for Chef First, his culinary journey started in Thailand as a child before immigrating to the U.S. in 2013. He began perfecting his culinary skills in his father’s restaurant, Shaiyo Thai Cuisine and Grill in Austin. He then headed to Southern California to study the art of sushi, before returning to Austin to refine his Japanese omakase talents at restaurants like Soto and Junai Omakase.
With both chefs showcasing their innovative culinary chops, guests can expect a menu that features traditional dishes like Pad Thai, Tiger Cry and a number of curries, plus unique plates such as Kao Soi, a Northern-style curry noodle, and Keang Kua Lamb, a vibrant green curry with eggplant, bamboo shoots and basil.
On the Japanese side, there are offerings of sushi and sashimi including Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio and the Luxury Nigiri Sampler. For even more variety, the KRUA Sushi Boat features a chef-selected bounty of 28 pieces of special sashimi, 18 pieces of nigiri, two signature rolls and a house salad.
The cocktail program includes drinks like the Tokyo Old Fashioned and Aris the Red Dragon, a gin-based drink.
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos Restaurant, 3601 Kirby, announced that it will be closing this year, but a definite date has not been determined. It has come as a shock to many Houstonians who have enjoyed founder Arnaldo Richards’ regional Mexican cuisine for more than four decades. But it was not an easy decision, according to Richards. He said in a press release, “We’ve weathered many seasons over the past 44 years, but the current economic climate and changes in how people dine have made it impossible for us to continue operating in the way our guests have come to know and love.”
Richards, who was raised in Monterrey, Mexico, came to Houston to study at the Conrad N. Hilton College at University of Houston in 1978. In 1984, he opened Picos Mex-Mex on Bellaire Boulevard. Along with his wife and operating partner, Janice, he introduced Houstonians to authentic dishes from the 7 regions of Mexico. In a city filled with Tex-Mex options, it was a refreshing change that would eventually become popular across the city as more Mexican chefs returned to their culinary roots. Picos is also credited for having created the shaker margarita in 1989.
Over the years, the family-owned and operated business thrived, eventually expanding to a larger space on Kirby in 2014. Along with the move came loyal guests who celebrated many special events at the restaurant’s original location. Richards says he is deeply grateful to those guests as well as the dedicated staff, past and present, and the embrace of the community. He said, “Your support has meant everything.”
For now, the restaurant is planning a series of farewell dinners and anyone who has been to some of its events knows that it is always a celebration. In true Picos form, the restaurant is also participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks 2025 through September 1. It has special pre-fixe menus for lunch, brunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy dishes like Tamales Oaxaqueno, Enchiladas Divorciados and Tostadas de Ceviche, according to the preferred service.
Riel, 1927 Fairview, will shutter August 30, according to a press release. Owner and chef Ryan Lachaine made the decision to close his modern American restaurant partly due to industry changes, market uncertainty and the rising costs of ingredients. With the lease running out, he has chosen to not go forward with Riel anymore. He also cites the difficulty in competing with corporate-backed franchises and eateries.
He said, “It’s really tough out there right now. As bad as I have ever seen it…I don’t want to make excuses, but with other big restaurants opening up, the market is getting saturated and it’s impossible to keep up. We have an opportunity to move on while we’re still on top and we’re taking that opportunity.”
Born in Winnipeg, Lachaine’s Canadian background and Eastern European heritage were evident on the menu when he opened Riel in January 2017. Sometimes there would be special items like borscht and tourtiere in the cooler months, but the much-craved pierogies and butter burgers were permanent fixtures. The innovative comfort food earned Lachaine recognition in magazines such as Texas Monthly and Riel was routinely was named as one of Houston’s best restaurants by local publications.
That success was due in part to the caliber of talent that Lachaine fostered in his kitchen by bringing in staff that honed their own skills under his direction. Some would go on to their own successes such as EJ Miller, executive chef at Houston’s Chardon, and Peter Nguyen, executive chef at Le Madeline in Boston.
For the last month of operations, Lachaine doesn’t plan to be phoning it in. He and his team will be going out with a bang. “We’re putting some new stuff on the menu and we’re going to keep having fun. Obviously it’s sad and its sucks, but it’s time to move on.”
However, the chef has hinted that there are exciting announcements forthcoming, so stay tuned.
The Waffle Bus, 10615 Fry, opens August 9 in Cypress. The first 100 folks who get there bright and early Saturday morning will receive Waffle Bus swag when the doors open at 11 a.m. The concept from owner Phi Nguyen began as a food truck in 2012, eventually opening its first brick and mortar spot on North Shepherd in 2019. Nguyen has since opened a location on West Alabama and a drive-thru version in Derby, Kansas. The bus itself is still available for catering.
Waffles, of course, are the star here and the menu offers all sorts of ways to enjoy them, sweet or savory. There are single versions like blueberry or chocolate chip, plus dessert waffle sandwiches such as Strawberry Irish Creme Brulee and Nutella Banana. On the meal side, there are a multitude of choices including chicken tenders, wings and chicken breast sandwiches. The menu also includes burgers, smashburgers and the Hottie Melt, a spicy mess of habanero Angus beef, American cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos and Stormy sauce.
Even its fries are waffles and they can be ordered as a side or as Fryders, sliders using the waffle fries as buns. Or guests can get them loaded with buttermilk fried chicken bites, spicy mayo and ancho chile honey butter. If you’ve fallen that far down the rabbit hole of calorie overload, you might as well order a creamy milkshake.
Handies Douzo, 9936 Westview, was set to open in Spring Branch August 8. Unfortunately, some asswipes snuck through the barrier to the property and unloaded a dumpster full of old roofing materials and garbage onto the restaurant’s grounds early in the morning of July 25, as reported by KHOU 11. The creeps, a male and a female, were caught on surveillance camera dumping the hazardous materials which included a saw blade, rusty nails and broken glass.
Martin Dennis, COO of Duckstache Hospitality, was on the scene with the television crew and said that the clean up was a bit of a challenge, but he was looking forward to the future. He says, “We are happy to look past this, but would hate for it to happen to someone else.”
The materials have been cleaned up, but construction was delayed for a few days. Handies Douzo is still set to open this month.
Anyone with information about this trashy version of Bonnie and Clyde, driving a white pick-up truck and long trailer, should contact HPD.
Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette, 5212 Morningside, is coming to Rice Village this fall. It’s the third location for the coastal-inspired concept from Culinary Khancepts. It will take over the former home of Gratify, with the space being completely transformed by Star Commercial Construction Group, the in-house design and builder for the hospitality group.
Located next to the Rice Village green, the restaurant will seat 112 guests in the main dining room with an additional 50 seats on the outdoor patio. The lively bar will accommodate 18 patrons. The ambiance will be similar to its sister locations with a Gulf Coast maritime feel that is both sophisticated and approachable. The menu will also be the same which includes an impressive raw bar, sushi and sashimi, plus soups, salads, burgers, pasta and shareables.
Omar Khan, CEO of Culinary Khancepts says he loves the energy of Rice Village. “Its’ a perfect blend of families, college students, and professionals…On a personal note, my wife grew up in the area and her father worked at Rice University, so as a family, Rice Village holds a special place in our hearts.”
The Maple Leaf Pub, 514 Elgin, is temporarily closed, according to Google, but it may be a lot longer than “temporary”. The property was seized by Texas state officials recently for unpaid taxes, according to the Houston Chronicle. Seizure of property is a last resort and in this case the Texas Comptroller’s office says that the alcohol and sales taxes due amount to $344,800, going back to 2018.
Social media is buzzing, with loyal regulars speculating about its future. The Canadian-inspired bar was one of the few places in Houston hockey fanatics could go to hang with like-minded spectators.ย
Phat Eatery Katy, 23119 Colonial Parkway, is temporarily closed for a water heater compliance issue, but is on track to reopen soon, according to its Facebook post. The issues arose during its expansion process, but the paperwork and filing requirements are underway.
For those craving its beef rendang and roti canai, there is always the Phat Eatery location in The Woodlands, which is also participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks this month with a special $39 prix-fixe menu for dinner. The Woodlands location will also debut its new dim sum menu August 10.
The Board Room, 800 Sorella, opened August 1 at CityCentre. We reported that its was planning to open earlier this summer, here in the Press. It began its full dinner service August 4. By day, it’s a casual counter service eatery with grab and go meals available. In the afternoon, it becomes a wine-centric destination with table service, curated charcuterie boards and a dinner menu that includes steaks, seafood and a variety of salads and sandwiches.
Texas Heritage Marketplace, the upcoming retail and dining development off Interstate 10 and Texas Heritage Parkway, has announced leases for four food and beverage destinations at the 165-acre shopping center, including Escalante’s, Tony C’s, Aji Izakaya and Kilwin’s, an ice cream and candy shop. It will be anchored by a Target retail store, which is expected to open around October 2026, as reported by coveringkaty.com.ย
