Almost exactly 10 years after opening its first Houston location, one of the city's most beloved barbecue spots has launched a second. The Upper Kirby location opened January 20, smoking up the Texas Trinity—brisket, pork ribs, and homemade sausage—alongside newer additions thanks to its whole-hog cookers.

Anyone looking to start the year off on a healthy note, this one’s for you. This Austin-born fast-casual restaurant opened its Houston outpost in River Oaks on Saturday, January 10. Available for dine-in or takeout, the health-conscious menu features six customizable bowls, each crafted with a green or grain base, vegetables, toppings, sauces, and proteins, including a poke-inspired version, seasonal lemon basil chicken, and honey mustard chicken. Sipping broths, like chicken or seaweed and mushroom, are also on offer.  

This Michelin-recommended Tex-Mex restaurant opened its second location in Bellaire on December 22, 2025. Diners can expect the same menu as the Montrose flagship, including its favorite creamy chile con queso, bright ceviches, fajitas, and carnitas, along with staples like enchiladas, black bean enfrijoladas with queso fresco, and ice-cold margaritas made with tequila or mezcal. 

Comma Hospitality, the restaurant group responsible for hand-rolling and Japanese listening bar Kira and the temporarily closed omakase spot Neo, began welcoming diners to its newest space on December 17, 2025. At its 24-seat hinoki (sushi counter), Oru takes an à la carte approach to Japanese dining, with a delightful trout roe served with savory taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes), a Wagyu lumpia that channels beef Wellington, and nigiri choices like amberjack, bluefin tuna, and scallop. Dessert promises Neo’s signature banana-and-caviar ice cream, a glazed pistachio coulant, and a jam-filled taiyaki, and guests are encouraged to imbibe with Japanese-inspired cocktails, sake, or wines (hot tea and a bubbly mocktail are available for those who prefer a nonalcoholic sip).

The Cypress neighborhood Bridgeland has been booming with business, largely due to an influx of new residents, and chef Jonathan Levine is hopping on the bandwagon. Levine opened the fourth location of his restaurant, Jonathan’s the Rub, in the area on December 10, 2025. American fare takes center stage, with steaks, seafood, and pastas, and can be enjoyed alongside its selection of cocktails, rotating draft beers, and wine. 

Houston hip-hop legend Bun B and his team continue to expand Trill Burgers, most recently opening a third location in Missouri City. The smashburger sensation is flipping signatures, including its OG burger, vegan options, fries, and Trill lemonade. Even kiddos can get in on the action with a Baby G Trill meal. 

This French bakery-café is planting its first US roots in Houston’s River Oaks District. Pastry chef Jean-François Feuillette brings traditional French techniques and flavors to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with homemade salads and sandwiches, plus desserts like vanilla flan and Paris-Brest, a classic ring of choux pastry stuffed with cream.

Bari Hospitality plans to debut this Central America–focused restaurant in Montrose’s Harlow District. The menu will highlight regional ingredients, spices, and techniques, with influences ranging from Peruvian ceviche and crudos to Argentine meats and Spanish seafood. Along with cocktails, Exilio Latin Flair will also offer wines from Spain and the Americas. 

This Austin-based pizza joint first made its way to Houston with the opening of its Midtown location in 2022. Four years later, it’s expanding again. Expected to open this fall, its new Heights outpost will operate as a full-service dining room with an expanded menu, including buffalo wings, and a drinks list that includes local draft beer, specialty cocktails, and Italian wines. 

iWok is opening its first Houston location on January 30, bringing a fast-casual Asian concept that uses robotic woks to cook made-to-order bowls with traditional high-heat techniques. Watch the robots go to work on dishes like Kung Pao chicken, mapo tofu, Mongolian beef, wok shrimp, even boba tea. Four Houston-area locations are planned for the first half of the year, including Asiatown, Katy, and along NASA Parkway.

Downtown’s JW Marriott Houston is adding a rooftop restaurant and bar, the Perch, featuring a menu of seasonal and local flavors. The drinks list will include globally inspired wines, local craft beers, and a lineup of cocktails and mocktails. 

Benjy Mason—owner of Johnny’s Gold Brick and Winnies, and manager of Starduster—and Jason Kerr, co-owner of Little Kitchen and Little Meadow, have teamed up on Shredders, a chef-driven delivery pizza concept. The goal is to create a fast, reliable, and kid-friendly atmosphere for busy families with what Kerr describes as “nostalgic New York–style pizza” made with their signature homemade dough. Expect classics like cheese and pepperoni, plus specialties like the Sausage and Pepa (Italian sausage, green peppers, pickled teardrop peppers) and Jason the Dragon, topped with whipped ricotta, arugula, and hot honey. Diners will be able to pair their pies with wings, salads, and a selection of small-producer and natural Italian wines priced between $20 and $25. Mason expects to open later this month. 

Following years of success as a local pop-up, this Brazilian- and Cuban-inspired sandwich concept is opening its first brick-and-mortar this spring in Ninja Ramen’s former Washington Avenue space. Chef Mike Hartley and his wife, co-owner Miriam Leek-Meira, will serve sandwiches that draw inspiration from Brazil, the Caribbean, and Houston, including a classic Cubano, an El Penny Cubano banh mi; the Sampa Gallo chicken sandwich; an A Caipira that’s a Brazilian take on a cheesesteak; and the vegan El Jardin, which is layered with tostones, sofrito, mustard greens, and black bean purée.