Burger Bodega Katy, 21904 Franz, opens to the public September 19 at 11 a.m. in Katy. It’s the first expansion for the award-winning smashburger concept from chef and owner Abbas Dhanani, who opened the first brick and mortar location on Washington in November 2022. What started out as an extremely popular pop-up a year earlier, became an even bigger hit for its urban New York ambiance, burger collaborations and delicious milkshakes.
You had us at smashburger. Credit: Michael Ma
The menu at the Katy location promises the same messy smashburgers, made with 100 percent halal beef, chopped cheese sandwiches and crispy thin-cut fries. Like the Washington location, guests can splurge on the Screwed Fries with cheese sauce, onions and Bodega sauce or take it all the way with the Chopped Fries, which add chopped beef and bell peppers to the mix. While there are typical milkshake flavors like vanilla, strawberry and chocolate, Burger Bodega also offers options like Vietnamese coffee and mango lassi shakes.
Forget boring sandwiches. Let Burger Bodega bring the office lunch. Credit: Michael Ma
Katy residents can expect upcoming specials and collaborations unique to the Katy store. Though it won’t have a drive-thru window like the original location, there will be a dedicated pick-up and curbside window for to-go orders.
Bludorn Hospitality partners Cherif Mbodji, Victoria Pappas Bludorn and chef Aaron Bludorn have more ventures up their sleeves. Credit: Duc Hoang
Bar Bludorn, 25 Waterway, opens September 26 in The Woodlands and it’s a pretty big deal. It’s the first foray outside of Central Houston for Bludorn Hospitality Group, founded by chef Aaaron Bludron, wife and partner Victoria Pappas Bludron and partner/director of operations Cherif Mbodji in 2020. The group began with its flagship fine dining restaurant Bludorn, expanding to include Bar Bludorn, Navy Blue and Perseid at Hotel Saint Augustine. The Woodlands location makes the second for Bar Bludorn.
Similar to the original Memorial location, Bar Bludorn Woodlands will be an American bistro blended with Texas flavors. Many of the signature favorites will have a place on the new location’s menu, along with new dishes created by chef Bludorn. We reached out for more information about the new menu but they are keeping the goodies under wraps for now.
The design of the space was done by Gensler, with added features for the larger Woodlands location like a private dining room and an outdoor patio.
Chef Bludorn says that the team is excited to introduce a menu and experience that reflects The Woodlands while still offering the same hospitality of the original Memorial location. “Expanding beyond Central Houston is a big step for us and Howard Hughes Communities has been a great partner to take it with.”
Pappasitos Cantina, 6445 Richmond, will have its last day of service September 13. The OG location for the Tex-Mex eatery from Pappas Restaurants, Sito’s #1 first opened at Richmond and Hillcroft in 1983. The Pappasitos concept now includes more than 20 locations across Texas and one in Georgia.
In an email press statement, chief marketing officer Christina Pappas said that the goodbye to the original location was especially meaningful and that the family-owned company is grateful to the team members and guests who have contributed to its success. As for the shuttering, Pappas added, “After careful consideration, we made this difficult decision based on the long-term outlook for this location. We look forward to inviting our Sito’s #1 guests to our nearby locations at Little Pappasitos on Kirby and Pappasitos Cantina at Memorial City.”
The staff are all being offered positions at other Pappas restaurants. Plans are still under evaluation for the location itself.
Lila’s will go from daytime cafe to evening hotspot. Credit: Rebees
Lila’s, 1201 Fannin, is coming to GreenStreet this fall. The new restaurant is from Rebees, the local hospitality management group behind the downtown Houston mixed-use development. Conveniently located within steps of Toyota Center, House of Blues and the Theater District, Lila’s will be a gathering place for pre-show dinners, office lunches, morning coffee and happy hour cocktails.
The restaurant is large enough to accommodate a multitude of daytime and evening guests with 5,100 square feet of space designed by RIOS, an internationally-recognized architecture and design firm. From relaxed lounge seating and an energetic bar to a spacious dining room and collaborative gathering areas, Lila’s will offer patrons different options for day and night.
Executive chef Garee Battad will lead the kitchen at Lila’s. Credit: Ilse Gonzales
The new American menu will be driven by executive chef Garee Battad. A graduate of The Art Institute of Dallas, his twenty years of experience includes standout establishments like Nobu at Hotel Crescent Court and Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood. With input from Matt Ford, executive chef and partner at Billy Can Can, the new American menu will reflect Houston’s multicultural diversity using local purveyors and seasonal ingredients.
El Tiempo Webster, 20237 Gulf Freeway, closed abruptly September 3 and the closure was substantiated by Bay Area Houston Food Lovers Facebook page. The official statement read, in part:
“With the heaviest of hearts, we are saddened to announce that El Tiempo Cantina- Webster will be closing its doors today. After so many years of serving this wonderful community, this is a heartbreaking day for all of us. We have fought hard to keep our doors open…Today, we are devastated. But we are also incredibly grateful for the memories, the friendships, and the support you have given us throughout the years.”
No reason for the closure was cited and the community seems taken aback. While the majority of El Tiempo’s locations are corporate-run, the Webster restaurant was one of the four franchised locations.
The Tex-Mex restaurant was founded in 1998, by Roland Laurenzo, a son of Ninfa ” Mama” Laurenzo, and grandson Domenic Laurenzo. After Ninfa’s restaurant business was sold off as part of a bankruptcy filing, the family created El Tiempo as a tribute to her legacy with a focus on sizzling fajitas and hand-crafted margaritas.
Cyclone Anaya’s in River oaks had a fabulous patio. Credit: Jenn Duncan
Cyclone Anaya’s, 3736 Westheimer, has closed. That’s number three for Tex-Mex eateries this month and very popular ones to boot. The River Oaks location was the 6th one for the local brand and it opened to a lot of fanfare in February 2024. With a design by local Gin Design Group and its much-loved menu of fajitas and margaritas, there didn’t seem any obstacles to success.
However, Cyclone Anaya’s closed its Woodway location in September 2025, after 20 years in business, bringing the total back down to five. Founded in 1966 by Jesus Becerra Valencia and his wife Caroline Berzeny, the restaurant took its name from Valencia’s stage moniker during his years as a professional Mexican wrestler. In 2017, the family sold the restaurants to the Dhanani Group.
Arepas benedict are on the new Weights + Measures menu. Credit: Mariela Callaway
Weights + Measures, 2808 Caroline, which was taken over by famed pastry chef Omar Pereney earlier this year, has a revamped menu and a new brunch. Since his arrival at the decade-old Midtown eatery, Pereney has begun to mold the restaurant into his culinary point of view and his vision for the neighborhood gathering place.
Move over waffles, French toast is pairing up with fried chicken for brunch. Credit: Mariela Callaway
One of the major changes is the weekend brunch. Pereney is known for his bakery, Love Croissants, and his newly-opened Petit Lucie in Market Square, and the new menu reflects his skills and background. Some of the dishes include handmade pupusas. crab cake Benedicts and seafood enchiladas. There are steaks as well plus mozzarella sticks that take a childhood favorite and elevate it with maple and black truffle. A mimosa cart adds to the weekend fun, along with tableside treats like flambeed Bananas Foster.
Pereney is also planning chef dinners and collaborations with local culinary stars, including a possible return of chef Richard Kaplan and his pizzas. Pereney wants to extend beyond just food by hosting professional sommelier study sessions with Advanced Sommelier Jaime de Leon and events for local baristas, roasters and coffee lovers led by Aaron Atkinson, formerly of Blendin Coffee Club.
Fuzzy’s Tacos has closed all three Greater Houston area locations, as reported by multiple publications and customer comments online. We have reached out for more information.
Restaurants Reported Open August 2026:
Angie’s Pizza, 1002 W. 11th, opened late July
Comfort Foodies, 8731 Highway 6, opened mid August
EMA Japanese, 6700 Woodlands Parkway, opened late June
Landry’s Seafood House, 19740 Southwest Freeway, opened August 24
Long Point Social Club, 7202 Long Point, opened August 26
Press & Pour, 1100 Texas, opened late July
Spectator’s Bar & Grill, 25410 Kingsland Boulevard, opened early August
Terry Black’s Barbecue, 1329 N. Shepherd, opened August 18
Wah Coffee, 6560 Greatwood Parkway, opened August 1
Restaurants Reported Closed August 2026:
Barbecue Inn, 116 W. Crosstimbers, closed August 1
Bol and Pok Pok Po, 3201 Louisiana, closed August 29
Late August, 4201 Main, closed for public dining mid August
Passerella, 9945 Barker Cypress, closed late August
Rocambolesc, 1101 Uptown Park Boulevard, closed in early August.
Traveler’s Cart, 1401 Montrose, closed July 31
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