Poke
There are so many poke restaurants that are about to open that we’ll just call them out here and say, “Yes, we are excited about all the new poke spots that are opening in Houston.” The ones in our radar are currently Ono Poke, which should open any day now, Seaside Poke, which is still searching for a location, and Pokeology from chef Jason Liao, which is set to debut in a brick and mortar location inside Doc Holliday's in Rice village this January if all goes according to plan.

Presidio
Slated to open in late January, Presidio joins the talents of Charles Bishop (Liberty Station, Cottonwood, Southern Goods) with chef Adam Dorris, who is best known as the executive chef at Pax Americana in Montrose. As reported by Greg Morago of the Houston Chronicle, Presidio recently announced that Kenten Marin, executive chef of Shade, signed onto the project. Expect great beer, an awesome patio, and a more everyday approach to Southern food than what you’d find at Pax Americana.

Ramen Tatsu-Ya
Five years ago, we didn’t have a single restaurant that specialized in ramen. Now they’re opening faster than we have a chance to try them. On the heels of the recently opened Ramen Bar Ichi, Nao Ramen House, and Agu Ramen comes Austin’s most highly lauded ramen house, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, which is slated to open in Montrose anytime now, so get your slurping skills ready.

Riel Restaurant
There’s been so much anticipation for chef Ryan Lachaine’s Riel Restaurant in Montrose that that he’s already getting mentions in magazines like Esquire and Food and Wine. Debuting this very week, Riel’s menu will be a reflection of Lachaine’s roots, incorporating his Ukrainian and French-Canadian with a look to Gulf Coast cooking and local ingredients for inspiration. Opening menu items include a 44 Farms Hanger Steak with Potato & Cheddar Pierogi, served over Haricots Verts and Horseradish Cream and Québécois Tourtière meat pie, and we are definitely looking forward to digging in.

The Branch Craft Beer & Foodery
A collaboration project between Kyle Pierson (the bar manager at Hay Merchant), chef Madeline Cabezut (owner of Mexican Girl Foods, former Head of catering for Hay Merchant/Underbelly) and Amanda Mixon, The Branch is going to be a cool beer and neighborhood hangout in Spring Branch located in the former Otilia’s Mexican Restaurant location. We haven’t seen a menu yet, but the name they chose paints a pretty picture, and frankly, we’re totally down for whatever craft beer and foodery these three come up with.

Xochi
Chef Hugo Ortega and his restauranteur wife Tracy Vaught have a history of opening the kind of enduring restaurants that win awards, so we have no doubt that the debut of Xochi within the Marriot Marquis Hotel, where the food is described as cocina de autor (chef-driven creative kitchen) with a focus on the cuisine of Oaxaca, is going to be spectacular. Among other things, there will be several types of mole, housemade chocolate, and plenty of Mezcal. Hashtag “Yes, please.”

Yauatcha
Last but not least is Yauatcha, which to date, has been very coy about releasing information on its upcoming Houston location. Perhaps the most high profile of the restaurants coming to Houston, Yauatcha originally debuted as a contemporary dim sum tea house with patisserie in London’s Soho area in 2004. In 2005, it was awarded a Michelin star, and has retained it ever since. Houston will be one of two U.S. locations being debuted (the other is in Honolulu), where it’s set to go into a standalone structure just across the pavement from Shake Shack. Authentic dim sum, curated teas, and Instagrammable French pastries all under one roof? Needless to say, we can’t wait.