Tempo, Powered by Butterfunk, 6213 Richmond, debuted this month as a new concept from the owners of Butterfunk, a popular soul food spot near Sunnyside Park. While the original location is transitioning to a to-go only spot, Tempo will serve the same Southern comfort food from Butterfunk while offering guests an exciting music-centric experience.
The menu will feature many of the classic dishes from Butterfunk, including the fried catfish that got a high rating from online food writer/influencer Keith Lee when he visited Houston in 2023. Other traditional soul food dishes include crispy fried chicken, smothered pork chops,oxtails and turkey necks. The new spot will also serve brunch plates like chicken and waffles, pork chop breakfast and a decadent French toast made with pound cake.
The restaurant offers reasonably-priced weekday lunch specials, plus a number of casual food options for snacking like boudin eggrolls, loaded fries, wings, nachos and fried pickles. The dessert lineup includes sweet treats such as peach cobbler and sweet potato cheesecake. For cocktails, there are concoctions like the Espresso Funk and the Butterfunk Old Fashioned.
From coffee in the morning to cocktails in the evening, guests can linger a while listening to carefully curated playlists that reflect Houston’s diversity. The restaurant aims to be a community gathering spot, whether it’s for lunch meetings, afterschool studying or late-night date nights. General manager Lia Miller says it is about creating a feeling.
Miller added in a press release, “Great food has always been at the heart of what we do through Butterfunk, but we wanted to build something that captures the energy of Houston…Tempo is designed to be part of your day from beginning to end.”
And she means it. Tempo will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to midnight, then 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., for true late night cravings.
Koyo Hand Roll Bar, 1835 N. Shepherd, opens July 16, in the Heights. It’s the second location for the sushi hand roll concept, which opened its first restaurant in Webster last summer. Like its original spot, the new location will be a casual sushi counter, with seating for 26.
Guests can take a seat at the counter and order from handroll sets in three to five pieces with options like spicy tuna, yellowtail and spicy scallop. Shareables include a variety of crudo and there are also a la carte hand rolls like tofu, shiitake and lobster.
To accompany the hand rolls, there is a selection of sake, Japanese beer and soft drinks.
Common Bond Bar Bistro & Bakery opened at William P. Hobby Airport, 7800 Airport Boulevard, earlier this month. Located in the West Concourse Level 2, Gate 1, it is operated by LaTrelle’s Management Corporation.
Though the new airport eatery is counter-service, it still offers a full menu and plenty of tables and bar seating for dining in or grabbing a coffee and pastry. Those taking early morning flights will appreciate its 5 a.m. opening, with breakfast served until 10 a.m. Guests will find morning dishes like avocado smash with fried eggs, breakfast tacos, breakfast sandwiches and a tempting lineup of croissants and pastries. There are also espresso-based beverages and cold brew.
It continues service with lunch and dinner with fresh entree salads, soups, flatbreads and a variety of sandwiches like Nashville Hot Chicken, Texas Club and a trio of burger choices. The pastry case is always filled with items like kouign-amann, macarons, cookies and croissants.
There is also a full bar with craft cocktails and wine.
Original ChopShop, 10100 Katy Freeway, opens July 22 in Memorial City. It’s the fourth Houston area shop and the 15th in Texas, making it number 29 systemwide.
At the intersection of Gessner and Old Katy Road, it sits on the ground floor of MetroNational’s 6-story office tower. Open from breakfast (served all day) through dinner, it offers a variety of healthy protein bowls, salads and sandwiches, plus superfruit bowls, juices and protein shakes.
Not only are the options affordable and convenient, but guests can customize much of the menu to accommodate dietary needs, whether it be dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan. For those on the pro-protein wagon, there are a multitude of choices, too.
For its July 22 grand opening, the new location will open at 10 a.m. with tote bags for the first 50 guests in line, with purchase of any breakfast entree, bowl, salad or sandwich. There are also rewards for those who download the Original ChopShop app, certain rules apply.
HTeaO, 19832 W. Little York, opens July 11 in Katy. For the grand opening day, guests will receive free cups of tea from 10 a.m. to noon. From July 11 through July 12, there will be BOGO cups of tea all day, plus half-price gallons from July 11 through July 18.
The leading iced tea franchise in the country, the menu offers more than 20 crafted flavors of both sweetened and unsweetened tea. What makes it extra-special is its use of a proprietary water filtration system and all-natural ingredients. It also serves coffee drinks, lemonade and thirst quenchers.
The Little York store is the first HTeaO store for franchisee Ryan Marcum who made the decision to open in Katy because it is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Houston area. He said in a press release, “Katy has experienced incredible growth over the past several years, but it’s still a community where people value local businesses and making connections.”
Petite Lucie, 301 Milam, is hosting its grand opening July 14 in celebration of Bastille Day. The Market Square cafe opened softly May 30, as we reported here in the Houston Press. The festivities will run from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Market Square Park, with live music, an artisan market, puppet shows and more.
Goode Co. Taqueria, 4902 Kirby, will now be open for breakfast on Monday and Tuesday, in addition to its other weekday breakfast services, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The restaurant also serves breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Options include breakfast tacos, carne asada and eggs, migas, chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
Chefs for Farmers Houston Food and Wine Festival, 3711 Autry park, will take place September 26 and September 27, 2026. The mega foodie fest has become one of Houston’s favorite culinary events and tickets are on sale now. For a limited time, through August 18, tickets are being sold for early bird prices. General admission tickets for one day begin at $125, with a weekend pass available for $199. Single day VIP tickets are $175 with a two-day weekend pass for $279.
Some of the participating restaurants include 93 Til, Barbacana, Blood Bros. BBQ, Crawfish & Noodles, Hugo’s, and dozens more. There will be free-flowing spirits, wine, and sparkling water, plus music from DJs and dance contests.
If you can swing the VIP pass financially, do it. You’ll get an extra hour to indulge.
