Two years after opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Burger Bodega has set its sights on Katy for a second location as it expands its footprint across the greater Houston area. The hit smashburger concept, the brainchild of Houston food influencer Abbas Dhanani, garnered a fast following from local pop-ups before it officially opened its doors on Washington Avenue in 2022. The restaurant’s call to fame: a double patty smashburger ($10), built with American cheese, grilled onions, housemade pickles, and “bodega” sauce on a potato bun.
Burger Bodega’s new outpost is slated to open this summer at 21904 Franz Road, near the intersection of Mason Road and the Katy Freeway, bringing the popular smashburger to the West Houston suburb. Along with single and triple patty burgers, bodega-inspired eats like the chopped cheese; screwed fries, with cheese sauce, onions, and bodega sauce; and the chopped fries, topped with chopped beef, will make up the small but mighty menu.
“I really like Katy as a foodie town,” says Dhanani. “If you look at it on its own – take Houston out of it – I think Katy is better than most foodie towns in the U.S.”
Beyond Dhanani’s own passion for food, well showcased on his Instagram account @houstoneatz, the young entrepreneur gained experience from working for his family’s business, the Dhanani Group, which operates multiple fast food franchises in Houston and its suburbs. He had Katy on his radar well before it began making waves for its fast-growing Asiatown and other high-profile openings, like Postino Cinco Ranch, Katy Beer Garden, and Roegel’s BBQ.
“Even before the area really started to pop off and develop, I felt like restaurants got a lot of support from Katy neighborhoods,” says Dhanani. In keeping his finger on the pulse of the city via social media, he often observed positive activity on Katy’s many food-focused Facebook groups. “I appreciated the love people showed.”
Dhanani also learned that Katy had a large Muslim demographic, and there was a high demand for halal food. He takes pride in offering a fully halal menu at Burger Bodega, making it a natural fit for the area. “This was important to me,” he explains. “Even when we do chef collaborations, we make sure all of the food is halal so that our community can enjoy it.”
Burger Bodega’s unique design aesthetic, splashed with colorful murals and graffiti mimicking the gritty look of a Harlem bodega mixed with elements of Houston, amassed just as much attention as its famous smashburger. Its Katy location will have a similar vibe.
“Overall we want to capture the essence of the original location,” Dhanani says. While the two-story restaurant on Washington Avenue reflects a general New York City theme, the Katy locale will pay homage to specific neighborhoods, with looks differing from room to room.
As for Dhanani’s plans to continue Burger Bodega’s smashburger domination in Houston, he says there is no other news or thoughts on expansion to report. “I’m not a planner,” he admits. “I tend to focus on the task at hand, which is to maintain the quality of Burger Bodega on Washington and work toward opening Katy.”
Burger Bodega, 4520 Washington Ave., Houston, burgerbodega.com
