Pho Prime, 8850 Metropark, opened this week in The Woodlands/ Shenandoah area and it’s only the beginning for the new sister concept to Crawfish Cafe. Owners Julie and Kiet Duong have two more locations lined up nearly ready to go. The second will open at 5353 W. Alabama this February while the third Pho Prime will follow a month later at 9240 Broadway in Pearland.
Building on the success of their popular Crawfish Cafe, the Duongs, a married couple, were inspired by their roots to create an interactive dining experience that showcases the rich flavors of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The couple’s own house recipes are the basis for the menu and the daily-made pho broth gets its goodness and nutrients from boiled-down beef bones.
Guests can create their own pho pleasure with a variety of choices ranging from Oxtail Pho with a double portion of oxtail to the Pho Supreme with a trio of oxtail, beef rib and bone marrow. There’s a vegan pho made with vegan broth, tofu, shiitake mushrooms and bok choy.
Co-owner Kiet Duong says Pho Prime takes no shortcuts. “Our broth is the soul of our pho and you can taste the care we put into every bowl. We’re passionate about creating food that is as comforting as it is delicious and we strive to be the go-to pho spot in Houston.”
The counter-service restaurant also offers mini pho bowls for kids with an option of chicken or meatballs plus Bun Bo, a beef noodle soup with brisket, beef rib, tendon, Vietnamese ham and lemongrass shrimp sate. Its signature dish The Pho Dip is a French baguette filled with fatty brisket, bone marrow butter spread, basil, cilantro, onion and spicy aioli with a hoisin drizzle. It’s served with a side of beef broth.
On the Kirb, 3800 Southwest Freeway, opens January 10 in Greenway Plaza. It’s the fourth, and largest, location for the sports bar owned by Joe Arbeely. Its first location at 5004 Kirby opened in 2016. While some might wonder how an organic eatery/sports bar would fare in a metropolis like Houston, its expansions to three more neighborhoods in eight years is testament to its success and popularity.
The Greenway spot offers 5,800 square feet of space with 20 seats at the bar plus larger tables both inside and out that can accommodate larger groups. There’s also a private viewing room for 14 guests that is available for watch parties. And there are plenty of televisions for sports viewing including 25 65-inch HD televisions plus 3 large 170-inch HD LED video walls.
Besides its sports bar setting, it offers a food menu centered around fresh, local produce, organic meats and organic, free-range dairy products. While most sports bars offer beer-friendly fried fare, On the Kirb gives guests the option of having items like wings, fries and Brussels sprouts fried in tallow, a natural fat that studies show is free from oxidation and inflammatory properties.
The Greenway location is also focused more on Keto-friendly food with a rotating monthly menu which might feature a large cheese board, low-carb salads, kabobs and fish specials. However, those who still do carbs have plenty of choices including burgers, wraps and tacos. A selection of Neapolitan pizzas rounds out the menu. The new OTK will also have a weekend Brunch Board that offers some of its brunch favorites for sharing.
For drinks, there are local beers on draft, seasonal craft cocktails and a diverse list of organic wines. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and also late in the evening from 10 p.m. to midnight daily. There are daily drink and nosh deals as well.
Arbeely says of his newest location, “We are proud to continue to expand to meet the needs of the growing health-foods movement. We focus on organic, chef-inspired, low-carb dishes and elevate classics like pizzas, wings, burgers and steaks by organic chicken, grass-fed and grass-finished beef.”
Portillo’s softly opened two new restaurants in December 2024. The Katy location opened early in the month followed by the Willowbrook store at the end of the year. Now, both locations are hosting official openings with ribbon cuttings and check donations.
Portillo’s, 1019 Westside Parkway, will have its grand opening January 13 in Katy Grand beginning with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. Michael Portillo, VP of Restaurant Support will be on hand to present charity partner Katy ISD Education Foundation a check. The grand opening starts at 10 a.m.
It’s the second Houston area location for the Chicago-style hot dog brand. The first opened in October 2024 in Richmond. The Katy store has 7,700 square feet of space with seating for 170 and an outdoor patio that can seat an additional 50 guests. It will also feature a double drive-thru lane Pick Up shelves and a Grab and Go area.
Portillo’s, 7511 FM 1960 W., will have its ribbon cutting January 14 starting at 9:30 a.m. Michael Portillo will also be at the event to present Cy-Fair Education Foundation a check as well. Its main event begins at 10 a.m.
The Willowbrook location is one of the company’s “Restaurant of the Future” designs. With 6,250 square feet of space, it can accommodate 130 diners inside and approximately 40 on the patio. Like its Houston counterparts, it will have Pick Up shelves, Grab and Go and a double drive-thru lane.
The restaurants serve the famous Chicago-style Hot Dogs, Italian Beef Sandwiches, Char-Grilled Burgers, crinkle cut fries and its famous Chocolate Cake.
Roka Akor, 2929 Weslayan, has closed after 8 years in Houston. The high-end Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant made its debut in Houston in June2017. It already had a national reputation with locations in San Francisco, Chicago and Scottsdale, Arizona. According to a press release, the brand is shifting its focus to expanding into other markets, including ones in Texas. With the food culture in Houston more vibrant and recognized than ever, that seems an odd decision.
With many of its dishes centering around the robata grill, it also offered omakase, premium steaks and a large array of Japanese whiskeys. In Houston, upscale Japanese cuisine and luxury steakhouses are certainly not rare so perhaps saturation in the market played a role.
We reached out for more information and were told that there was no further statement but the team did express ” that there are a lot of factors that played into the closure.” A spokesperson said it was the best business decision for them to make “at this time”.
Haii Keii, 3300 Kirby, is expected to open mid-February 2025. The Asian-inspired concept comes from two restaurant veterans, chef Jeff Auld and Jarred Tosto. Located in River Oaks, the new restaurant will have executive chef Jeffrey Taylor at the helm of the kitchen turning out a diverse menu which features maki, sashimi, and a selection of Asian-inspired small plates. Steak is also a main focus with high-end choices of Japanese, Australian and American wagyu.
Taylor’s experience includes seven years spent working with world-renowned chef Masaharu Morimoto and a stint at acclaimed Houston sushi hotspot Uchi. Sushi chef Jose Espinoza joins Taylor as part of the team, bringing with him skills honed at local establishments including Uchi, Uwa and Handies Douzo.
The Flying Dutchman, 9 Kemah Waterfront, had its last day of service December 31, 2024 after 48 years. First opened in 1976, the waterside restaurant became a go-to for fresh seafood and bay views. For this writer, it provided a first, and last, taste of escargot as a teenager. Many locals and Houstonians treasured it for its slightly fancy, yet laid-back atmosphere.
In 1997, Landry’s CEO and Houston-based billionaire Tilman Fertitta bought the storied restaurant which became part of the Kemah Boardwalk as more development happened around it. A number of restaurants have popped up since then, though last month, Landry’s also closed Joe’s Crab Shack at Kemah Boardwalk. Landry’s Chief Operating Officer Terry Turney told the Houston Chronicle via email “Joe’s Crab Shack at the Kemah Boardwalk closed on November 4 so that we can prepare for an exciting renovation. We will share more details of what plans we have for the space in the coming months.”
Apparently The Flying Dutchman was also a casualty of the upcoming plans.
Mayahuel, 811 Buffalo Park, is shooting to open in summer 2025 at Hanover Autry Park. Local hospitality group Culinary Khancepts has partnered with chef Luis Robledo to bring the Mexico City-inspired concept to the mixed-use development off Allen Parkway.
The name is inspired by the Aztec goddess of maguey, a flowering agave plant. The restaurant is a celebration of the culture, cuisine and traditional flavors of Mexico. True to its Aztec muse and namesake, the artistry of agave spirits will be showcased along with twists on traditional street foods and contemporary takes on authentic regional dishes.
The Audrey Restaurant & Bar, 1616 Post Oak Boulevard, is planned for fall 2025. The new uptown location will be the second for the Audrey Hepburn-inspired concept from Culinary Khancepts.. The first opened in The Woodlands in July 2023. Like the gamine actress herself, the restaurant is stylish and glamorous, with a feel of the 1960s era in a modern setting.
The menu offers seafood, steaks and pastas, some prepared tableside.
Pitch 25, 22838 Grand Circle Boulevard, is shooting to open in late summer 2025. It will be location number two for the entertainment complex and beer garden which serves a variety of food and drink.
The venture is a partnership between The Kirby Group co-founders Andy Aweida and Jeff Barati along with former Dynamo soccer legend Brian Ching.
There are plans in the works to expand the brand including a location in San Antonio.
