We Need This New Sandwich Spot in Every Neighborhood in Houston
Stuffed Belly's grilled cheese is elevated with a little tomato confit.
Image: Courtesy Stuffed Belly
Welcome to Houstonia Approved, an occasional series where our editors recommend something to do in Houston that they’ve recently enjoyed and answer any questions you may have. Today, we drop by Stuffed Belly, chef Christine Ha’s new sandwich concept in Spring Branch.
Should I know who Christine Ha is? Kind of, yeah. She won MasterChef in 2012 as the show’s first and only blind contestant and has since opened some of Houston’s best Vietnamese restaurants, earning her three James Beard Award nominations. The Blind Goat started out at Bravery Chef Hall downtown in 2019, but recently moved to a larger brick and mortar in Spring Branch. In fall 2020, Ha opened Xin Chào in the Washington Corridor, a modern Vietnamese restaurant that puts Texas and Southern touches on traditional dishes.
Chef Christine Ha holds up Stuffed Belly's branded tissue paper, a hallmark of fast food joints.
Image: Courtesy Stuffed Belly
So, this Stuffed Belly place serves Vietnamese sandwiches, like bánh mì? Actually, no. Ha’s new concept, which she runs with her husband and business partner, John Suh, is a departure from what Houstonians are used to from the chef. Stuffed Belly features nostalgic American classics—think grilled cheeses and crustless sandwiches.
Don’t think I’ve had a crustless sandwich since grade school. Same. Ha wanted Stuffed Belly to be in part a throwback to people’s childhood favorites. We tried the tuna crunch, a classic tuna salad sandwich with the addition of potato chips, red onion, and celery for some crunchy texture—it was solid, if a little unexciting. We’ll have to go back to try the Humpty Dumpty sandwich with mustardy egg salad and green onions, also on crustless Texas toast.
Stuffed Belly's crustless sandwiches take us straight back to childhood.
Image: Courtesy Stuffed Belly
You mentioned a grilled cheese? Sure did. Ha’s version mixes three different kinds of cheese—cheddar, provolone, and American—with tomato confit for a chefy twist. With a side of Tater Tots, it’s the perfect gooey snack.
Sounds awesome. Are there other items on the menu that set Stuffed Belly apart? Our favorite was the Szechuan hot chicken, a chunk of buttermilk-fried chicken slathered in a Szechuan pepper-spiced mayo, topped with pickles and served in a potato bun. It’s no doubt one of the best spicy chicken sandwiches in Houston right now. There are a few burgers on the menu, too, including Ha’s iteration of the ubiquitous smashburger. And don’t walk out without a Pudgy’s cookie or two, which are sold from a small case at the counter.
You had me at Szechuan hot chicken. What’s the vibe of the restaurant, I’m imagining diner booths? Stuffed Belly is actually in a tiny space and is more of a to-go spot. There are only a few stools at a small counter, looking out onto the strip where Ha’s restaurant Blind Goat is located. The main draw, to be honest, is Stuffed Belly’s drive-through—that’s probably how we’ll be experiencing the joint on our next visit.
Spicy chicken sandwiches are all the rage these days, and Stuffed Belly's version brings the heat with Szechuan peppers.
Image: Courtesy Stuffed Belly
Love a drive-through. I’m sold, where do I find it? Erm… Spring Branch.
Well, that’s great for people in Spring Branch, but I don’t live close. Our thoughts exactly. We wish there was a Stuffed Belly on every corner in Houston. While we love a Taco Bell trip once in a while, it would be nice to have a convenient drive-through option that’s not a national fast-food chain, serving thoughtful and delicious food from a local chef. Stuffed Belly, with its small fast-casual space and pared-down menu, seems like a very scalable concept—so perhaps that’s the plan? Let’s hope (hint hint).
