There is never a dull moment when it comes to Houston’s dining scene. From corner to corner of the city, a wave of restaurant openings keeps things thrilling for diners, with new eye-catching spaces and bountiful menus to explore. Here are the latest restaurant openings to add to your dining out list.
Haii Keii
The opening of Haii Keii at 3300 Kirby Drive brings whimsical design and globally-inspired Asian fare to Upper Kirby. Led by executive chef Jeffrey Taylor and sushi chef Jose Espinoza, the restaurant features a sushi and steak program, alongside imaginative cocktails like the purple-hued ube espresso martini and lychee martini with cherry blossoms. The restaurant’s interiors, designed by Houston-based Gin Design Group, are just as vibrant and dramatic. Drawing inspiration from films like Kill Bill and Bladerunner, the space wows with an 8-foot bonsai tree installation hanging inverted over the bar and towering screens showcasing shadow projections to guests dining below. 3300 Kirby Dr. Ste. 9-A, Houston, haiikeii.com
Goode Co. Cantina River Oaks
Goode Company has debuted its fourth outpost of Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina at 2002 West Gray Street in River Oaks. Diners can expect familiar favorites like mesquite-grilled fajitas, redfish on the half shell, and carnitas, plus Goode Company signatures like the Brazos bottom pecan pie. The restaurant is operating seven days a week, offering lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, and its adjoining tequila-forward bar, coined Bar Buena, will open later this spring. 2002 W. Gray St., Houston, kitchenandcantina.com
Annam
Lauded chef Chris Kinjo has opened his second restaurant, Annam, in Houston’s Autry Park, following the debut of MF Lobster & Ceviche last year. The concept showcases refined and elegant dishes that reflect the French influence on Vietnamese cuisine. The sleek white space serves as a striking backdrop for dishes like shaking beef and pandan coconut cake. 811 Buffalo Park Dr. Ste. 120, Houston
Capital Grille – Woodlands
Capital Grille has opened a new location at 1155 Lake Woodlands Drive in the Woodlands. Known for its dry-aged steak program, which features cuts aged for 18-24 days and hand cut in-house daily, the time-honored steakhouse will serve as a reliable choice for Woodlands-area residents. Guests can expect signatures like the dry-aged bone-in NY strip with shallot butter; and sliced filet mignon with cipollini onions, wild mushrooms, and fig essence; along with premium wine and cocktail offerings. 1155 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, thecapitalgrille.com
Doko
Duckstache Hospitality has opened Doko, a sushi and yakitori restaurant, at Autry Park, with its sister concept Bar Doko located steps away in the same alley. The dual concepts, which are situated discreetly within the sprawling mixed-use development, draw inspiration from the moody restaurants and cocktail bars of Ginza and Tokyo. Doko is open for lunch and dinner daily, with chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee having created a menu that breaks free from tradition and combines aspects from various cuisines with Japanese culinary techniques. Differing from Duckstache Hospitality’s other restaurants (including Aiko, Himari, Handies Douzo, and Kokoro), Doko puts as much of an emphasis on cooked items as its sushi offerings. Guests may choose to dine la carte, or opt for Doko’s six-course tasting menu with highlights like chef-selected nigiri and wagyu toast. 3737 Cogdell St. Ste. 145, Houston, sushidoko.com
Kokoro – Woodlands
After debuting two locations in Dubai last year, Duckstache Hospitality’s Kokoro continues to expand its footprint across the greater Houston area with the launch of Kokoro Handroll Bar at 24 Waterway Avenue in the Woodlands Town Center. This marks the fourth location for the growing Houston-born sushi concept, following two openings in Dubai and its original home within Bravery Chef Hall in Downtown Houston. Open for lunch and dinner daily, Kokoro’s Woodlands location differs from its counterparts with a full bar, offering guests a vast selection of beer, wine, sake, and cocktails. 24 Waterway Ave., Unit 110, The Woodlands, kokorohtx.com
Chardon
Following the opening of Sol 7 at the Thompson Hotel last year, Table One Hospitality has opened its second concept, Chardon, on the street level of the swanky highrise. The modern bistro, which draws design inspiration from European neoclassical and art deco architecture, puts the spotlight on fine French traditions, keeping local ingredients and seasonal bounty in mind. Table One enlisted local chef E.J. Miller to helm the kitchen. Miller showcases traditional French techniques and a hefty dose of Southern flair in dishes like Texas cornbread madeleines with caviar; wagyu steak tartare, made with local R-C Ranch meat, sunflowers, and sunchokes; poached Gulf shrimp with gin cocktail sauce; and honey-glazed duck with black-eyed pea cassoulet and figs. 1711 Allen Pkwy. #101, Houston, chardonhouston.com
