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USA Today
07-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Was the owner of Trump Burger deported? What we know about the Texas chain
The owner of a Texas restaurant group that celebrates President Donald Trump is facing immigration enforcement. Trump Burger's locations boast Trump-themed menu items, campaign decorations and burger buns stamped with "TRUMP." The first location opened in 2020, founded by Roland Beainy, who moved to the U.S. from Lebanon the year before, according to Fox Business. It went viral earlier this year when its social media profiles were spammed with "chicken taco" comments, a nod to the "Trump Always Chickens Out" acronym created to describe his approach to tariffs. Beainy and some of his restaurants are involved in lawsuits, according to local outlet The Fayette County Record. Court records for a lawsuit between the Trump Burger Kemah location and its landlord indicate Beainy was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year. Here is what we know: More: Did Obama deport more people than Trump? What to know as Trump calls for more ICE arrests Did the owner of Trump Burger get deported? ICE confirmed with USA TODAY that Beainy, 28, entered the country in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor but stayed past his required departure date in February 2024. He was arrested May 16, 2025, and on June 13, an immigration judge approved his release on bond while he undergoes his proceedings. Beainy declined to comment on this story. Trump has long made immigration crackdowns a central part of his rhetoric. His administration has set out to deport 1 million people annually, far surpassing previous highs, especially considering encounters at the southern border have been at a historic low and deportation increases are coming from the interior. Still, the administration has pursued a number of controversial and legally contentious actions to achieve its goal. An ICE spokesperson said the agency is committed to holding those who are violating immigration laws accountable, regardless of their business or political beliefs. Trump Burger: photos, review and locations Trump Burger has four locations in Texas, according to its website: Bay City, Bellville, Flatonia and Houston. Local media outlets have visited the Trump Burger locations to provide insight into the menu and atmosphere. "Every Trump Burger location tries to outdo itself in nationalist and personality cult aesthetics," Brittany Britto Garley wrote in Eater Houston, adding there were better burgers to be had in Houston. Bao Ong at the Houston Chronicle wrote, "most dishes are unremarkable and far from making the Chronicle's best burgers guide." Both outlets reported that the restaurant chain has no official connection to the president. Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
Eater
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Magical Mexican Restaurant Leads the July Openings in Houston
is an editor for Eater's Texas region. She lives in Dallas, where she's written about James Beard-celebrated and Michelin-recognized restaurants and she loves nachos. This periodic column highlights notable restaurant openings in and around Houston. Catch up on more news about Houston restaurant openings right here. Know of a new or soon-to-open restaurant that should be on Eater Houston's radar? Get in touch by emailing houston@ 811 Buffalo Park Drive, Suite 130 in Houston Named after the ancient Aztec goddess who watched over the maguey (agave) plant and its production of liquor, this fine dining, modern restaurant in Montrose's Autry Park features heirloom corn sourced from Mexico that is ground daily to make masa. Keeping the ingredients seasonal and local is a priority, and so is featuring foundational flavors of Mexican food such as vanilla, cacao, and coffee. Look for dishes including beef carnitas croquette with salsa taquera and cilantro-lime aioli, tacos mar y tierra with Gulf shrimp in adobo and beef cheek confit, and cochinita served with black bean purée and tortillas. There is also a chef's tasting menu that highlights the best of what the restaurant is serving on any given night. Inside, gold rules the decor, echoing the sacred use of the metal in ancient Mexican societies. Time to belly up to the bar at Bar Buena. Brian Kennedy 2002 West Gray Street in Houston Mezcal is the star at this new bar from Goode Co. in River Oaks. On the menu are drinks like the Oaxacan Old Fashioned (reposado tequila, mezcal, piloncillo, and mole bitters) and Tequila y Tonic (blanco tequila, agua de jamaica, lime, cucumber, aloe, and tonic) along with bar bites such as Gulf crab tostadas with smashed avocado and chili arbol aioli, plus pato tinga memela (braised duck leg, refried beans, and pickled onions) and a taco stuffed with rib-eye and salsa morita. The dimly lit bar has a rustic Mexican aesthetic, with leather, brass, and a tin ceiling. 2416 Brazos Street, Suite A in Houston Want to drink like a rock star? Maybe don't drink exactly like Koe Wetzel, who is known to be a Texas-style party animal, but visit the second location of his bar chain (the first is in Fort Worth), which is now open in Midtown. It's got all the beer and liquor you can imagine, and for bar bites there are Chicken Wannnngggs (please, ask for them exactly like that) with Buffalo hot sauce, lemon pepper, or barbecue sauce; a couple of salads if that's how you roll; a couple of burger options a chicken tender platter; and fried pickles; and a chicken sandwich called the Cluck Norris. 7623 FM 3180 Road in Baytown Ready for a barbecue truck to take you to outer space? This one from pitmaster Logan Glenn (Big Woodrow's, Chi'Lantro BBQ), features a menu of brisket ($16/half pound), spare ribs ($13/half pound or $40 for a full rack), turkey ($13/half pound), pulled pork ($12/half pound), sausage and boudin ($7 per link), and pork belly burnt ends ($14/half pound) that won't break the bank. The sides are inventive, with options including burnt end pinto beans and corn bread casserole, while fun dishes like barbecue nachos and the Space Jam burger are sure to tempt diners.
Eater
04-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
A Whopping 24 New Houston Restaurant and Bar Openings You Should Know About
This periodic column highlights notable restaurant openings in and around Houston. Catch up on more news about Houston restaurant openings right here. Know of a new or soon-to-open restaurant that should be on Eater Houston's radar? Get in touch by emailing houston@ King Steaks 2200 Post Oak Boulevard, #140, Galleria area There's a new steakhouse in town. Johnny Vassallo, the owner of the three locations of Mo's Irish Pub in the Houston area, opened King Steaks in May. The meat-focused restaurant prides itself on its Texas theme and a menu that uses beef tallow rather than seed oils for frying. Chef Eric Aldis, formerly the culinary director of Federal American Grill, keeps the menu short and sweet, starting with a selection of salads and appetizers, including shrimp cocktail, bacon-wrapped scallops, cheesy flatbread, and caviar service. For entrees, there are three types of steaks, most notably a 14-ounce Texas strip (that's a New York strip for those new to the party), plus a 20-ounce rib-eye, and a filet that's available in three sizes with the optional sauces and toppings, including a blue cheese fondue. Other beefy mains are a short rib in a red wine sauce, the 10-ounce wagyu King burger, and a French dip. The selection of sides is extensive, with nearly a dozen to choose from, with dishes like crispy Brussels sprouts, loaded baked potatoes, jalapeño hashbrowns, creamed spinach artichoke, foie gras, and beef tallow fries. Nan Xiang Express 13126 Farm to Market 1960 Road West, Cypress Those looking for a new spot for dumplings that's outside of the loop, you're in luck. Founded in New York in 2016, this restaurant opened in the Cypress area in May. It serves Shanghainese comfort food, including its signature soup dumplings in various styles, and Shanghai-style dim sum, like crispy bottom buns filled with pork and/or crab. Other highlights on the menu include beef-filled scallion pancakes and a variety of rice and noodle dishes, such as Shanghai stir-fried noodles. Drinks include flavored green teas and soy milk served hot or cold. Good God, Nadine's 33 Waugh Drive, Heights Channeling the energy of an eclectic and sometimes over-the-top auntie, this Southern restaurant and cocktail lounge aims to be your new party spot. The menu primarily focuses on drinks, with tropical and frozen cocktails and wine on tap. Still, the food doesn't disappoint, combining flavors from the American South (think Creole, Cajun, and Southern) with those of Caribbean, Mexican, and Vietnamese traditions. Diners can share plates like the Prawn Party, an assortment of cold boiled shrimp prepared in various ways, including shrimp salad and Sichuan-style salt and pepper. Be sure to look out for the Blue Plate specials — spins on comforting classics, including meatloaf Wellington and pho-spiced pork chops. La Cabra 300 Sharpstown Center, #1080, Sharpstown Former MasterChef: Legends contestant Joseph Manglicmot opened a soccer-themed sports bar in a strip mall in Sharpstown in May. Named for the phrase 'the G.O.A.T.' in Spanish, La Cabra welcomes bar goers with various seating styles, including green booths, a U-shaped bar, and plenty of TVs to watch upcoming games. Along with cocktails, beer, and shots, patrons can secure crawfish (while still in season) and other dishes from Lafitte's Seafood and attend karaoke nights on select Saturdays. Succulent Fine Dining 1180 Dunlavy Street, Regent Square, River Oaks For a slice of California's Napa Valley, head to Regent Square. Succulent Fine Dining opened on Monday, May 19, inviting diners into a charming, quaint space that channels the West Coast dining scene. Shawn Virene, the restaurateur behind Champagne-focused hotspot a'Bouzy, combines his passion for wine and hospitality with a menu focused on seasonal produce from the West Coast and local farms, including Round Top's Huckleberry Farms, also owned by Virene. Highlights from the menu include a pani puri filled with chicken liver mousse and served with huckleberry, a caramelized onion tart, and a Berkshire pork chop served with chiote, citrus agro dulce, and gigante beans. Formerly the home to Underbelly Hospitality's now-shuttered Italian restaurant Pastore, the space has been transformed into a plant-filled oasis with a palette of greens and creams merged with reclaimed woods and antiques. The second-floor patio is just as lush, with a vintage greenhouse that serves as a private dining room and a full-service bar shaded by pergolas and plants. The experience doesn't stop there. Succulent also offers a unique to-go program, which includes curated picnic baskets, charcuterie, and wine pairings for those who want to dine al fresco. Shoreline Shrimp 18006 Park Row Boulevard, Suite 100, West Houston Shrimp lovers, eat your heart out. This West Houston restaurant specializes in crustaceans, serving them in Hawaiian-style rice bowls, salads, and tacos. Enjoy them doused in sauces like garlic butter, Korean barbecue, sweet chili, Polynesian, coconut, and teriyaki. The owners take special care in sourcing their shrimp from farms around the world that are phosphate-free and harvested seasonally, according to a Houston Chronicle report. On the sweet side, diners can cool down with one of its paletas, available in spicy pineapple, blueberry currant, mango, and black cherry. Pie Tap Pizza 3748 Westheimer Road, Suite 100, River Oaks From the owners of Dallas restaurants Evelyn and the Mexican comes a River Oaks outpost of the mini-chain, Pie Tap. Located on the ground floor of Novel Residences, this new pizzeria emphasizes its dough, using a sourdough that goes through a 96-hour fermentation process, and toppings that go far beyond Meat Lovers or Supreme. The Prosciutto is loaded with medjool dates, date sauce, pistachio, arugula, house ricotta, Parmesan, and a balsamic drizzle, while the Salami layers on calabrese salami, house fennel sausage, Biellese pepperoni, bacon, and Calabrian chili oil. Diners can also find other dishes, including rotisserie chicken, calamari fritti, garlic rosemary bread puffs, salads, and pastas. Drink options include 30 beers and wines on tap, cocktails, and wines by the glass, in addition to non-alcoholic options. Cecil's Pub 2405 Genesee Street, Montrose A beloved Montrose pub gets a second life. After closing in November 2024, Cecil's Pub reopened at the end of May in the former space that housed pizza and crudo restaurant ElRo in Montrose. reported that the new bar no longer has enough room for its signature pool tables or numerous beers on tap (it will only have four, a stark contrast from the 16 it offered in its old digs). But Cecil now has a larger patio space and a parking lot that it will share with cocktail bar Jethro's, which is located just across the street. The menu will center around pizza. Latuli 8900 Gaylord Drive, Memorial Chef Bryan Caswell, formerly of Gulf Coast-focused seafood restaurant Reef, teams up with Alison Knight to make his great return with his second coming, this time in Memorial. The restaurant similarly focuses on Gulf Coast cuisine, infusing Cajun, Italian, and Asian influences into dishes like the Double Dip (smoked redfish dip with pimento cheese), field pea posole with fried baby artichokes, roasted snapper slathered in tomato brown butter, wagyu barbacoa, steaks, and pastas such as spaghetti with tomato gravy and meatballs. Diners can pair the dishes with cocktails or a pick from Latuli's 100-bottle wine list. Suya Outpost 9502 North Sam Houston Parkway East, #114, Humble This new fast-casual Nigerian spot in Humble is worth the commute. Located in a strip mall in the North Houston suburb, Suya features a menu of burritos, bowls, sandwiches, salads, and empanadas. Named after suya, a nutty spice blend also known as yaji and a term for a popular Nigerian street food that consists of grilled skewered meats, the restaurant models itself after Chipotle's format. Diners can build burritos, bowls, sandwiches, and salads using popular West African ingredients and dishes, like jollof rice, plantains, couscous, stewed black beans, and braised meats. Exodus 80 Braeswood Square, Meyerland Houston's formerly kosher steakhouse, Genesis Steakhouse and Wine Bar, which closed in April, has been resurrected as Exodus Bar and Grill. In its second act, owner Jason Goldstein says the restaurant is not entirely kosher, but still features kosher-certified steaks and chickens, along with dishes like cheeseburgers, gumbo, sushi, and beef short rib. Soluna 100 West Cavalcade Street, in the Heights Hotel, the Heights Chris Cusack, the man behind the intergalactic, ironclad-style Houston pizzeria Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, returns with a new all-day restaurant in the Heights House Hotel. With a name that combines the Spanish words for 'sun' and 'moon,' the 10,000-square-foot bar and hotel restaurant features a full menu of dishes inspired by the dining scenes in Cuba, Miami, Florida, Mexico, California, and Texas. Dishes include shareable plates like papas rusticas served with jalapeño ranch, wings al pastor, and chicharrones served with white queso blended with cotija and queso fresco, plus tacos and sandwiches, including a burger, a chicken Milanesa torta, and a Cubano. Breakfast is served daily with steak asada, egg tacos, and burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, black beans, and Oaxaca cheese. Those with a sweet tooth won't be left out — there's bread pudding, conchas filled with horchata custard, coffees, cocktails, and margaritas served frozen or on the rocks. Best of all, it's all available poolside. Ichijiku Sushi Houston 9393 Bellaire Boulevard, Asiatown The owners of Montrose cocktail lounge Jethro's opened this California-based sushi restaurant in Houston's Asiatown at the end of April. Diners can expect a similar menu to its West Coast counterpart, including classic nigiri and sushi rolls, sushi boxes, daily specials, Japanese omelets, spicy tuna crispy rice, and handrolls stuffed with spicy scallop, lobster miso, and salmon skin. The drinks menu includes a selection of sake, Japanese beers, and natural wines. Catch its $7 before 7 p.m. happy hour menu during the week, which features hand rolls, chicken karaage, truffle edamame, sake, wines by the glass, and more for $7 each. Pinballz Pizzeria 2240 Navigation Boulevard, Suite 800, East End From chef John Avila and the owners of barbecue joint Henderson & Kane General Store, this pizzeria aims to celebrate Second Ward with a side of fun. A nostalgic nod to East End Big Humphrey's pizza joint from the 70s, Pinballz slings homemade pizzas topped with locally sourced ingredients in a retro-styled atmosphere. Some of the most compelling specials include the Trompo Pizza, topped with slow-cooked pork and pineapple; the Chorizo Fuego, which features chorizo, salsa verde, and a cheese-stuffed crust; and a H&K Brisket pizza topped with Henderson & Kane brisket, blue cheese, balsamic, and caramelized onion. Diners can test their skills on the John Wick -themed pinball machine between cheesy slices, subs, wings, and tiramisu tres leches. Day & Night Cafe 5101 Almeda Road, Museum District This new 24-hour restaurant is one of Houston's hottest new spots for brunch. Day & Night Cafe, which opened on Sunday, May 11, launched with its $50 all-you-can-eat brunch, featuring Fruity Pebbles waffles, French toast breakfast sandwiches, frozen daiquiris, and bottomless mimosas, available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday. Lunch is served anytime, and the restaurant also features a full bar. Day & Night has already achieved significant success since its opening. Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth and former NFL player Chad Ocho Cinco have already given their endorsements, and it proved so popular on opening weekend that it temporarily shut down on Monday to restock. The restaurant is open from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Thursday and all day Friday through Sunday. Botonica 2031 Westcreek Lane, N1, River Oaks Alexis Mijares, the talented mixologist behind local pop-up bars like Cursed Caldron and Jingle Bell Bar and the novel cocktails at West African restaurant Chopnblok, has opened her first bar on Friday, May 30. Following a revamp of the former Aero Cocktail Co., Botonica explores the Latin American diaspora through 50 classic Latin-focused cocktails and signature sips, in addition to wine, tequila, mezcal, pisco, and lesser-known spirits like charanda (a Mexican rum) and cachaça (a spirit made from fermented sugarcane). Local chefs Andre Garza and Jarred Poor crafted the food menu, which features pan-Latin bar bites, including empanadas, campechana, and caviar served with chicharrons. Solarium 820 Holman Street, Midtown Rex Hospitality, the restaurant group founded by Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his team, has teamed up with the Kirby Group (Emma Jane, Heights Bier Garten, Pitch 25) to open what might be the city's newest and poshest pickleball hangout. Formerly Holman Draft Hall, Solarium features 9,000 square feet of entertainment, including an indoor/outdoor bar area with diverse seating options and an outdoor area with four pickleball courts, two padel courts, and five air-conditioned bays built from repurposed shipping containers. The on-site restaurant offers an all-day menu featuring burgers, wings, truffle grilled cheeses, skewers, and empanadas. For brunch, order favorites like pancakes, Belgian waffles, shrimp and grits, and shakshuka. Adults can imbibe with cocktails like carajillos, Old Fashioneds, daiquiris, spritzes, and margaritas, or indulge their inner child with build-your-own sundaes. De Fortune 3515 West Dallas Street in Regent Square, River Oaks A glamorous new cocktail lounge with a global spin opened in Houston's Regent Square in late April. De Fortune aims to represent countries around the world in its cocktails with a display of flavors, including lychee for Japan, saffron for India, mastiha for Greece, rhubarb for England, and praline for the Americas. Aside from its six classic cocktails and 12 signature creations, De Fortune offers beers, wines, and charcuterie boards. Hudson House 2414 University Boulevard, Suite 100, Rice Village Sister to Drake's Hollywood, which opened earlier this year from the somewhat controversial Vandalay Hospitality, this Dallas-born restaurant already has a location in River Oaks. Now, it has expanded to Rice Village with a second outpost. Expect a menu that mirrors New England-style cuisine with oysters flown in daily, butter lobster rolls, fish tacos, sushi, and cheeseburgers that are a diner favorite. The drinks menu features Vandalay Hospitality classics, including its World's Coldest Martini, frozen bellinis, spicy Mexican margaritas, and more, while the dessert menu promises chocolate silk and key lime pies. Slide in for special deals during its weekday happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Handshake Speakeasy 2418 Sunset Boulevard, Rice Village Simone on Sunset was already a favorite Rice Village hangout known for its wine offerings, lush patio lit by string lights, and steak night. Now, it's upped the ante. Tucked inside the restaurant behind the guise of a bookshelf is Houston's hottest new cocktail lounge. Handshake Speakeasy offers a mix of elegant cocktails, wines, and a menu of bites. It's open Thursday through Saturday, and reservations are required. Trill Burger 6810 Louetta Road, Spring Co-owned by Houston's legendary rapper Bun B, this smash burger joint finally opened its second location in Spring, Texas, on Friday, April 25. Located roughly 25 miles north of Houston, in a space formerly occupied by a Dairy Queen, Trill Burgers' suburban outpost serves its seasoned fries and signature smash burgers, made with all-beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a potato roll. New to this location is Trill Lemonade, which first debuted its freshly squeezed lemonade at the Houston Rodeo this year. Additional drinks include classic lemonade, strawberry lemonade, and an Arnold Palmer. Trill's 3,023-square-foot burger joint in Spring features the same black-and-yellow color palette as its Houston flagship, with vibrant street-art-style murals and a neon sign that reads 'Keep It Trill' to invite diners in. The space accommodates nearly 80 people indoors and 32 on the patio. The Butcher's Grille 5740 San Felipe Street, #100, Tanglewood Michigan-based Mediterranean restaurant the Butcher's Grille opened an outpost in Houston's Tanglewood, serving a fusion of Lebanese American and Texan cuisine. Diner favorites include a Hot N' Spicy fried chicken sandwich topped with Butcher's Flaming Sauce, chicken or beef shawarma egg rolls, loaded fries, salads, burgers, and pita sandwiches. More traditional dishes include Lebanese mezze, including hummus, falafel, and vegetarian grape leaves, as well as platters of skewered meats and salmon, served with rice and grilled or steamed vegetables. There are milkshakes, frozen lemonades, cake, peanut butter mousse, and a lemon ricotta torte for something sweet. Provaré 5102 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77007 This Chicago-born restaurant brings its Creole spin on Italian cuisine to the Heights area, with Italian beef pizzas, salmon egg rolls, lemon-pepper chicken Alfredo, vegan bolognese, and smash burgers. Most intriguing is the ability to 'add on' certain ingredients to its handmade pastas, including crawfish, chicken, crab meat, lamb chops, and salmon. Dessert is simple: a butter cake served warm with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel. Sneaks 3030 Travis Street, Midtown Coffee and sneaker culture collide at this new Midtown speakeasy. Formerly home to the country music bar Bandits, Sneaks pays homage to streetwear and 90s hip-hop and R&B, with walls lined with displays of unique sneakers and a clock crafted from Air Jordans. By day, Sneaks serves Native Coffee with homemade syrups, bagel sandwiches, baked goods, and affogatos using vanilla ice cream or the rotating flavor of the month from Underground Creamery. At night, Sneaks transforms into a cocktail lounge, with a full bar and live DJs. Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Best Dishes Eater Houston Ate This May 2025
There are more than 12,000 restaurants in Houston . With at least 145 languages spoken across town and communities bringing compelling fare from regions like South Louisiana and the West Coast, and countries like Mexico, Syria, and the Philippines, there's no shortage of outstanding food in Space City. Check back monthly to see the best things Eater Houston's editor ate this month. Fried kimchi, crab rangoons, and rice cakes at Agnes and Sherman My love for chef Nick Wong's scallion waffle with sambal honey butter and egg foo young has already been well-documented, but a recent return to his restaurant yielded some new favorites and solidified Agnes and Sherman as one of the city's best new group dining spots. The fried kimchi comes to the table delightfully hot, with a server cutting it into pieces, making the chunks much easier to dunk into the accompanying kimchi mayo. The deconstructed crab rangoons — fried wonton chips served with the creamy crab filling and homemade pepper jelly. Agnes and Sherman is a place you definitely want to bring friends and order a bunch to share, but the tteokbokki, tender rice cakes served with beef ragu, uda peppercorn, and Parmesan, is a dish that I would keep all to myself. Lemongrass catfish congee from Burmalicious Top Chef alums Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu have gotten innovative at Jun. At night, their Latin and Southeast Asian restaurant in the Heights serves signature dishes like fried chicken cooked with a punchy fish paste and carrots with salsa macha and Salvadoran cheese. By day, it's Third Place — a chill hangout spot, a coffee shop, and a collaborative space for chefs in the area to pop up and display their prowess. With two rowdy toddlers in tow, I caught James Beard Award semifinalist Suu Khin on her last day of her pop-up. We peeked into the kitchen as she plated her dishes, and later dug into chicken salad loaded into lettuce wraps, and her lemongrass catfish congee, which was a symphony of flavors — a savory porridge with a medley of spices, chunks of tender catfish, a peanut-sesame crunch, slices of youtiao (Chinese doughnuts), and a jammy soy-marinated egg. Lobster gnocchi (and everything else) at Little's Oyster Bar One of the newest additions to the Pappas Restaurants catalog has recently switched up its menu, reminding me why we named Little's Oyster Bar the Best New Restaurant in 2023. From start to finish, the menu beckons with quality cold raw bar offerings; refreshing appetizers like the delicate local greens salad with honey dressing and creamy goat cheese; a warming cioppino served with buttery sourdough bread, plus Pappas's irresistible fries, and a tender grilled octopus, arguably the best in the city, served with an aromatic zhug sauce you'll want to sop up with the marbled potatoes. Aside from its fresh catches, including a standout Gulf Grouper (ask for the heirloom tomato sauce vierge), the lobster gnocchi was the standout with an herbaceous sauce composed of blistered cherry tomatoes and crisp potato chips for texture. The best bites come when every element ends up on the same spoon. This is a dish I'll keep coming back for. Cornbread with mole and caviar and heart of palm salad from Maximo As a food writer, trying new dishes is a part of my job, but the heart of palm salad at this West University neighborhood restaurant was so good that I couldn't help but order it again. It proved to be just as good and refreshing as the first time, with slivers of heart of palm, strawberries, basil, queso enchilado, and nuts, covered in a Champagne vinaigrette that delivers just the right amount of acidity. The homemade masa cornbread, served over a buttery mole soubise, is a scene-stealer, topped with umami-loaded chicatana butter made with fire ants — a Mexican delicacy; caviar for salinity; and hoja santa oil. Consider Maximo's new five-course tasting menu for an affordable and well-rounded overview of what the restaurant offers. Tuna tostada at Tatemó Dining at Tatemo has become my unintended summer tradition, and each visit brings something new. While I look forward to the rotating specials and how James Beard Award finalist and chef Emmanuel Chavez and his team switch things up, I'm also a sucker for the staples. The Mexican tasting menu prides itself on always featuring something raw, something fried, and something greasy, and I know Chavez's mole is bound to make an appearance somewhere. Favorites, the tuna tostada during this visit was especially refreshing. Between a crispy tostada and a thin layer of Big Eye tuna lies a tantalizing, slightly tangy layer of pico de gallo and chipotle spread; it's an exciting way to start the meal. Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
30-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
The Biggest Houston Restaurant News This Month, May 2025
Catch up on each month's most exciting food and dining news in Eater Houston's newest column. 5) Houston's Genesis Steakhouse Becomes Exodus and Pivots to a Non-Kosher Menu Diners were particularly interested in news that Houston's formerly kosher steakhouse Genesis Steakhouse and Wine Bar, which closed in April, will be resurrected as Exodus Bar and Grill. In its second act, owner Jason Goldstein says the restaurant will not be entirely kosher, but will still feature kosher-certified steaks and chickens, along with dishes like cheeseburgers, gumbo, sushi, and beef short rib. 4) Turkey Leg Hut Allegedly Sold California-Grown Pot Out of Branded Bags in Houston The Turkey Leg Hut drama just doesn't stop. In early May, an FBI agent testified against former Turkey Leg Hut owner Lynn Price, alleging in a bond hearing that the agency collected evidence that the restaurant was used to store and sell large quantities of marijuana from out of state. This follows an April indictment in which Price faces federal charges of arson for his alleged role in the June 2020 fire at Bar 5015, an establishment owned by Price's former colleague and business partner. 3) Everything You Need to Know About Dining and Drinking at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) A sign that summer travel is just getting started? This guide directing travelers to the best places to dine did significant numbers in May. Among the best options are Pala for pizza, Hugo's Cocina, the airport's newest outpost of the Annie, and the Breakfast Klub, especially for those early morning flights. 2) Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Officially Trades in the Restaurateur Life for the Trump Administration In late April, the U.S. Senate confirmed Tillman Fertitta, one of Houston's most successful and richest restaurateurs, as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino. This means Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets, will forfeit more than 600 U.S. businesses and restaurants, many of which are in the Houston area. What could this mean for his hospitality group Landry's, with dozens of family-friendly restaurants around the region? Stay tuned. 1) We Tried Trump Burger in Texas So You Don't Have To Trump Burger, which loudly proclaims its support for President Donald Trump, has quickly become one of the most controversial fast-casual restaurants in Texas. What started as one politically charged burger joint in Bellville, Texas, in 2020 has since expanded to a chainlet across the region, bringing its unapologetically MAGA branding to cities like Flatonia, Texas; Kemah, Texas; and, most recently, West Houston on Chimney Rock Road. So, how does Trump Burger really stack up to the compelling burger options already in Space City? Eater Houston tried the burger (and endured the discomfort) so you don't have to. Here's a rundown on the experience. In Case You Missed It: Need more travel inspiration? Here are some of Eater's recent maps pointing you to the best restaurants in waterside cities like Port Aransas, Galveston, Kemah, and Seabrook. And if a suburban getaway is what you seek, there's a map for that, too. Sign up for our newsletter. 3410 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, TX 77057
