There is always buzz around Houston’s must-try restaurants, and with it being the fourth largest city in the country, diners have a lot of ground to cover. Naturally, people are eager to journey through all of the tasty options the sprawling metropolis has to offer, but hesitant to navigate through its notorious traffic. So when a well-known eatery opens an outpost in a new neighborhood, we rejoice.
This year alone brought a wave of expansions across the city, giving diners more opportunities to experience some of their favorites without the hassle of gridlock. Consider this guide of restaurants that have recently opened their doors in fresh new locales.
KP’s Kitchen
As a Bellaire native, it’s no wonder that founder and chef Kerry Pauly chose the area as the second home for his popular Spring Branch restaurant, KP’s Kitchen. The casual, family-friendly eatery is still relatively new in Houston, having only launched in 2021, but it gained a fast following. The neighborhood gem became known for comfort plates like KP’s “Instafamous” bacon double cheeseburger ($17), slow-roasted baby back ribs ($29), and weekly wine specials, with Pauly opting to open a new location just three years later. KP’s in Bellaire features a handful of items that differ from the Spring Branch location, including a shaved prime rib sandwich with “birria” drip ($21). kps-kitchen.com
Dandelion Cafe
Dandelion Cafe opened in Bellaire in 2016, quickly establishing itself as one of Houston’s worthy breakfast destinations, and has since expanded its footprint with two new openings this year. The cafe opened an outpost on the Rice University campus in the winter, followed by its largest location of the three at the historic Heights Clock Tower this fall. The Heights restaurant is nearly three times the size of its Bellaire’s counterpart, giving guests even more space to enjoy chef JC Ricks’ chicken and waffles, the winning dish on Good Morning America’s “United States of Breakfast.” dandelionhouston.com
Tacos Dona Lena
Amidst Houston’s myriad of Mexican dining establishments, Tacos Dona Lena has carved out a name for itself since opening in Spring Branch in 2020. For each year it has been open, the family-owned taqueria has been named one of Yelp’s Top 100 U.S. Restaurants, with people traveling far and wide to sample its famed birria tacos. Inner loopers were thrilled when the restaurant debuted a second outpost in the Heights this spring, adding a margarita bar to further add to the festive experience. donalenatacos.com
Hungry’s
After recently celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary in Houston, Hungry’s made headlines this year when it debuted its first new location in 25 years in Tanglewood, adding to its current locations in Memorial and Rice Village. Guests will find many of the bites Hungry’s has garnered fame for over the years, including the signature artichoke dip with tortilla chips ($15), Hungry’s kabob plate ($25), and a number of plant-based offerings, but in a cozier and more intimate setting than the other locations. hungryscafe.com
BB Lemon
Among the many new concepts that it launched this summer, Berg Hospitality opened a second outpost of B.B. Lemon inside the Downtown Tunnels to add to the lot. The rapidly-growing restaurant group debuted its New York-inspired diner inside the former El Real space on the Mall Tunnel Level, bringing with it its signature green and yellow color scheme that has defined B.B. Lemon since 2017. Patrons will find convenient breakfast offerings like steel-cut oatmeal, bagels, breakfast tacos, and pancakes, plus B.B. Lemon’s signature smash burger, a favorite among the lunch crowd. The downtown locale caters largely to office workers, keeping limited hours, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays only. bblemon.com
El Bolillo
This beloved panaderia already has a fierce presence in the Heights, Pasadena, Mission Bend, and Gulfgate, but it has become even more accessible since opening its latest outpost in the Galleria area this summer. With its new central location, it’s never been easier for Houstonians from all corners of the city to grab a pizza tray and tongs and peruse the variety of baked goods offered, pick up a batch of freshly made tortillas, or take home a whole tres leches cake. As an added bonus, all El Bolillo locations keep extended hours, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. elbolillo.com
La La Land Kind Cafe
La La Land Kind Cafe’s bright, optimistic branding originally popped up in the Heights when its first Houston location debuted at M-K-T in 2022. The vibrant pops of yellow are even more prevalent now with the addition of two new Montrose shops, at the Montrose Collective and on South Shepherd, plus another four cafes set to open in Houston this year. The viral coffee shop is known as much for its spirited aesthetic and bright yellow cups as it is for its beverage program, which includes lattes, teas, and matcha drinks. As its name suggests, the budding company is a champion for kindness and making a positive impact in the community through volunteering and mentoring by way of its La La Land Foundation. lalalandkindcafe.com
