Starbird, a fast casual brand out of California is coming to Texas in 2027 and Houston is one of the cities where the bird will land. The expansion to Texas is part of a 36-unit franchise agreement with Mac Haik Restaurant Group, the Houston-based restaurant branch of Mac Haik Enterprises. The restaurant group recently launched Maggie’s Coffee at Energy Tower II, off the Katy Freeway and is planning to open the long-anticipated Kirkwood in spring 2026. Other high-viz eateries in its portfolio include First Watch, Original ChopShop and Due Cucina. 

Known for its ‘Positively Delicious Chicken’, Starbird was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016 by Aaron Noveshen, a restaurant entrepreneur who saw a need in the quick service dining scene for high quality food and more thoughtful hospitality.  

The brand currently operates 19 stores in California and Colorado and the Texas expansion is part of its plan to enter new markets. Its fresh approach to the fast casual model has earned the company a number of industry accolades.

Fried chicken is healthier in a salad. Credit: Albert Law/Starbird

The menu centers around made-to-order crispy chicken that tops its salads, including the Elote Chop, Tokyo Sesame Crunch and Avo Cabo Crunch. Sandwich options include the Big Star, its classic crispy chicken sandwich, Nashville Hot and Cali Gold BBQ Bacon. There are also nuggets, tenders and wings in a variety of flavors. The breading is gluten-friendly and the all-natural chicken is never frozen. 

There are 11 in-house sauces including its signature Star sauce, plus Thai herb aioli, honey chipotle bbq and Blazin’ ranch. The list of sides is many with options such as elote, truffle fries, rainbow slaw and crispy Thai Brussels sprouts. 

What is NOT on this charola botanera? Credit: Stephanie Martinez

Gaspachos Mexican Bites, 2103 Lyons, is shooting to open in early April. It’s the first actual brick and mortar location for the concept which currently inhabits a large kiosk at Levy Park. First founded by Jennifer Perez as a food truck, the brand is known for its over-the-top concoctions of fruit and booze, plus tortas, tacos, flautas and more. 

The best part about birria is the dipping. Credit: Stephanie Martinez

The restaurant serves breakfast, too, plus smoothies, fruit cups, quesabirria and tostitos verdes. There’s a kids menu and treats like churros and fresas con crema with fresh fruit. Adults can enjoy a variety of micheladas and margaritas, or share a charola botanera with beer or seltzers. It’s a wild mix of fruit, candy, shrimp, cucumber and lots of chamoy. 

The new Gaspachos will bring the outdoors in. Credit: Architangent

The colorful design of the new spot will echo the vibrant flavors of mangonadas and refreshing agua frescas. The family-friendly eatery will host Loteria gatherings, movie nights and other fun-filled gatherings meant to bring the community together. It’s also a convenient stopover for folks checking out the nearby Meow Wolf experience. 

Pie Tap has closed but will it be for good? Credit: Chase Hall Photography

Pie Tap, 3748 Westheimer, announced it was closing via social media March 6. It came as a surprise considering the consistently good reviews for the Dallas-based brand, which debuted the pizza tavern only last June. Commenters suggest that the location on the ground floor of Novel Residences, a luxury apartment tower in River Oaks, may be to blame. The announcement did say “We’ll be back soon,” so perhaps the company is scouting a new location that is more accessible. We have reached out to a Pie Tap spokesperson via email for more information. 

The concept was launched in Dallas in 2016 by Rich HIcks of Reach Hospitality and chef Giovanni Mauro. Mauro, a native of Sicily, built the menu around high-quality ingredients including  a 300-year-old sourdough starter used to build the 96-hour fermented dough for the premium pizzas, which were baked in Morello Forni ovens. 

The menu also featured pasta dishes like spicy rigatoni vodka and pappardelle Bolognese, plus calamari, chicken parmesan and rotisserie chicken. 

Cypress has a new daytime cafe with Balkan flavors. Credit: Lorretta Ruggiero

Cypress Sunrise Cafe, 3251 Jones, opened late February in the East Cypress area. Taking over the former Kitsune space, and about a bazillion other previous businesses, the new breakfast and lunch spot may have better luck, because there aren’t many breakfast spots nearby.

The family-owned cafe also brings a few unique dishes to the table. Among all the omelets and skillets, it features the Illyrian breakfast, a plate of eggs anyway, choice of sides, plus qebapa, or cevapi, which are skinless minced-meat sausages. The meat rolls are accompanied by ajvar, a Balkan red pepper spread. There are also Texas favorites like migas, chilaquiles and eggs Benedict, including a version with short rib. 

The lunch menu offers a selection of burgers, wraps and plates like chicken fried steak. There are also several salads and sweet treats like stuffed crepes and strawberry cheesecake waffles. 

The Penalty Box is coming soon! Credit: Lorretta Ruggiero

The Penalty Box, 13245 Jones, is also coming to the same strip center as Cypress Sunrise Cafe, so there seems to be some real action happening in this little corner of Cypress. There’s also a Pizza Twist on the cusp of opening across the street.

The hockey-centric sports bar will have pool tables, dart boards and a couple of sports simulators, but that’s about all we know at the moment.

Chris Shepherd’s menu pleases comfort foodies and posh palates alike. Credit: Julie Soefer

Breaking Bread will launch at the Founder’s Club at the Hobby Center this April. The monthly conversation series will feature James Beard Award-winning Houston chef Chris Shepherd as he talks with various celebrities and food entrepreneurs. First up is Grammy-nominated rap artist, and co-founder of Trill Burgers, Bun B (Bernard Freeman). He and Shepherd will take the stage April 8 at 7:30 p.m. Upcoming guests include cellist and foodie, Joe Kwon, May 16 and A Michelin Roundtable, with Felipe Riccio, Emmanuel Chavez and Mayank Istwal, June 13.

Conveniently, Shepherd recently introduced a food and beverage menu for the Founder’s Club season with bites like birria taquitos, Full Tilt hot dogs, crackling queso with chicharrones and a seafood slider trio.

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