When chef Ika Nasa came to Lafayette a year ago, she was excited to develop a brand based on a staple dish everyone loves: noodles. Her food truck restaurant, Noodlehead, started serving up Japanese-inspired comfort food last December. They quickly amassed a local following with dishes like birria ramen, pork belly sliders, creamy tonkotsu and “hangover cure noodles” with shrimp, vegetables, egg and a savory sauce with a touch of sweetness.  She’s always had a bigger goal to build a brand and franchise the concept. Now, that vision is leading Nasa and Noodlehead to Houston, just a year after relocating to Lafayette from…

A Houston hospitality group is closing its last full-service restaurant. Wild Oats will close after service on Saturday, September 7. In a social media post announcing the closure. Underbelly Hospitality cited a number of factors that contributed to the decision, including the departure of the restaurant’s executive chef, the disruptions of the derecho and Hurricane Beryl, and “slower-than-desired growth.” “Although this marks the end of Wild Oats, we’re grateful for the memories we’ve shared and the support you’ve shown us over the years. We’re also excited to be in discussions with some fantastic restaurant operators who are exploring new possibilities…

When it came to restaurant openings in Houston, summer had absolutely no chill. The city saw dozens of new restaurants open, many with extravagant dishes and offerings like tableside cart service for martinis, steaks, and even ice cream. This fall, things seem to be going at a different pace. The openings, though, are no less exciting: At least two restaurants will open their first standalone flagship locations. Another two will be resurrected and revamped. And while summer openings seemed to lean fancy, many restaurants opening in the fall skew less formal, with the teams behind the Traveler’s Table and award-winning…

It’s early Saturday morning and Erica Hubbard is wheeling a cart of gardening supplies along Yates Street in Houston’s Greater Fifth Ward. The damp weather, which shifts between a light drizzle and heavy rain, is not holding her back from a day of work at the Hershe Community Garden. Every fourth Saturday of the month, Hubbard and other volunteers meet to manage a variety of plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits at a grassy lot surrounded by residential homes just off Waco Street. There are twelve raised metal beds for edible plants, rain-capturing tanks, a compost pile, benches for relaxing and flowers…

Foodies and Friends – HRW – Eddie V’s Katie Stone celebrates Labor Day at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood restaurant and discovers the wonderful steak and seafood items on their HRW dinner menu HOUSTON – Eddie V’s managing partner, Jeremy Lajmer, joins Katie Stone at the restaurant’s Memorial location and discusses the history of the restaurant, the HRW menu and a few special cocktails. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is also a great steakhouse and they are offering both on the HRW $55 3-course dinner menu. Both locations are participating in the extension of HRW 2024 until September 30th City Centre – 1248 Queensbury…

Foodies and Friends – HRW- Tavern by Hearsay Still going strong Houston Restaurant Weeks continues with Katie Stone visiting the Tavern by Hearsay. HOUSTON – One of the newest restaurants in the Hearsay group, Tavern by Hearsay is located downtown at 737 Preston between Houston’s Theater District and Market Square (where there is another Hearsay GastroLounge at 218 Travis Street) The Tavern is offering $25 2- course brunch, $25 2- course lunch and $39 3- course dinner menus for HRW 2024. Katie Stone chats with Hearsay CEO Joseph Natale, about creating the “Pub”, the food inspiration and other Hearsay restaurant plans. She…

The renowned Michelin Guide’s arrival in Texas, with Houston restaurants and hotels finally being rated for the first time, is something of a cause of celebration. With countless food “experts” taking a shot at their best predictions, the anticipation for which Houston restaurants will be awarded a coveted star or three is high. While the anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors are already in the field, inspecting restaurants all over the greater Houston area (The Woodlands included) the first awards will not be revealed until later this year. Michelin’s methodical processes and historic criteria will decide which Houston restaurants stand a cut…

While September may not seem like autumn for Houstonians, it is the month that leads into many of our fall festivities. While there are numerous ways to enjoy different cuisines around the city, the next couple of months offer opportunities to not only eat, drink and be merry but also to help raise money for non-profits that benefit our fellow Houstonians and Americans in need. The following list of food events helps those suffering from food insecurity, natural and financial disasters and lack of access to mental health, reproductive and medical care. As the cooler weather tempts us outside, we…

This month kicks off a fall full of festivals, competitions, and showdowns that show off Houston’s food scene. Whether it’s a milestone celebration or a fundraiser for one of the city’s many nonprofit organizations, these events are an opportunity to experience the creativity of Bayou City chefs and bartenders.40th Anniversary Menu at Chez NousThrough September 30All month long the charming French restaurant in Humble will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special five-course prix fixe menu from chef Stacy Simonson. Priced at $125 per person, it includes caviar with buttermilk-chive waffle; seared diver scallops; Texas quail stuffed with Berkshire pork;…

Októ, the new Mediterranean-Levantine restaurant from Sof Hospitality, is now open. As we reported in May, the restaurant has taken over the space formerly held by The Chelsea, located at 888 Westheimer, at the Montrose Collective center. Houston Food Finder was invited to an opening party and a friends-and-family dinner. The patio at Októ. Photo by Mario-Sebastian Berry. Sof Hospitality was founded by James Beard Award semifinalists Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, and also also owns Hamsa, Bādolina Bakery & Café and modern-Israeli steakhouse Doris Metropolitan. Októ, which means “eight” in Greek — a nod to its address —…