For National Cheeseburger Day on Friday, September 18, Burger Bodega, 4520 Washington, will serve $15 Wagyu smash burgers starting at 11 a.m., available while supplies last. The following day, on Saturday, September 19, the restaurant celebrates the opening of its Katy location, 21904 Franz, with a grand opening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring Burger Bodega favorites alongside cookies from Pudgy’s Fine Cookies and coffee from Kohiko Coffee.
Fourteen Houston barbecue joints will compete in the 10th annual Houston BBQ Throwdown on Sunday, September 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, each serving a dish designed to represent Houston-style barbecue. The $75 general admission ticket includes unlimited samples from all competitors and free beer from Saint Arnold, while a $130 VIP ticket adds access to the private Investor’s Pub. Guests can also vote for the People’s Choice winner.
Pepitas, a new Peruvian pop-up from Craft Pita founders and mother and son duo Claudia and Rafael Nasr debuts Thursday, September 24, with a collaboration dinner at Agnes and Sherman, 250 West 19th. The one-night menu focuses on Chifa, Peru’s Chinese-influenced cooking, with fried wontons, salchipapas, arroz chaufa and lomo saltado, plus Claudia’s alfajores for dessert. An abbreviated menu of Agnes and Sherman favorites will also be available. Reservations are available through OpenTable, with future Pepitas pop-ups planned around other regional Peruvian traditions.
Houston bars are joining the first statewide Texas Cocktail Week, running Sunday, September 20 through Saturday, September 26. Participating spots will offer $9.99 cocktails along with guest bartender appearances, tastings, masterclasses and other special events throughout the week. Local participants include Aperitivo HTX, Bar Xolo, Eight Row Flint East, Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge, Nickel City, Starduster Lounge and Winnie’s, with guest bars from around Texas and beyond also making appearances during the week.
Tokyo X returns to the Reliant Center on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 with more than 40 Japanese and Asian-inspired restaurants and food vendors, including JINYA Ramen Bar, Sandoitchi, Dumpling Haus, The Teahouse and Nikko Matcha Cafe. The two-day festival will also feature a Ramen Eating Contest along with other food-focused programming and culinary experiences. Tickets start at $35.
It’s almost time for the Southern Smoke Festival. The epic annual fundraiser returns Saturday, October 3, bringing nearly 100 chefs, bartenders and other hospitality professionals to Discovery Green for an afternoon of food, drinks, live music and culinary demos. The lineup includes Houston chefs Lucas McKinney of Josephine’s, Aaron Bludorn, Leonard Botello IV, Benchawan Painter, Michelle Wallace and Nick Wong alongside talent from across the country like Tyson Cole, Ashley Christensen, Nina Compton and Aaron Franklin. General admission is $225 and includes unlimited food and drinks, with proceeds supporting Southern Smoke Foundation’s emergency relief and mental health programs for hospitality workers.
