February: Burger Nation
For brothers Tony and Mike Mistry, one of the best parts about owning Burger Nation is seeing a new customer take their first bite.
“That’s our juice, if you will,” Tony said of customer feedback and interacting with diners. “The entire credit for the menu goes straight to our guests.”
Burger Nation
1400 E. NASA Parkway, Ste. F, Houston
281-549-7090
www.burger-nation.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
April: Sauce Time
For years, Travis Hamilton’s relatives would tell him he should open his own restaurant.
After serving eight years in the U.S. Army, Hamilton began as a line cook at a hotel and worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming a chef.
By 2020, Hamilton was still not ready to launch a restaurant because of the costs, so he opted for the next best thing—a food truck, he said. There was just one obstacle: He launched Sauce Time on March 18, 2020, after the pandemic hit.
Sauce Time
The food truck travels across different areas in the southeast Houston region.
281-901-0232
www.saucetimefoodtruck.com
Hours: vary; schedule on website
May: Merlion Thai Restaurant & Lounge
Merlion Thai, a Thai restaurant with an American twist, dedicates itself to making Seabrook locals feel like they are in a home away from home. The restaurant operated long before the current owner, Brooke Villanueva, came upon it. Originally Bay Thai in 1990, the eatery thrived under chef Gil Lobeck. His son, Andrew Lobeck, took over in 2005, reopening the restaurant at a different location.
Merlion Thai Restaurant & Lounge
1205 Main St., Seabrook
281-385-9975
www.merlionrestaurant.com
Hours: Sun., Tue.-Thu. 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5-11 p.m.; closed Mon.
August: Eduardo’s Mexican Kitchen
Eduardo’s Mexican Kitchen is the son of another NASA Parkway staple, but it has grown into a name of its own.
“I call myself retired, but I’m not,” said Daniel Fagen when asked about his position at Eduardo’s Mexican Kitchen. Following a successful career in oil, running a Mexican eatery was the last thing he thought he would be doing during his retirement.
Eduardo’s Mexican Kitchen
961 E. NASA Parkway, Houston
281-480-4775
www.eduardosmexicankitchen.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. noon-8 p.m.
September: Texas Huddle Grille and Sports Bar
Two best friends decided it was time to bring a family sports bar to Webster with Texas Huddle Grille and Sports Bar. Owners Dallas Lott and Jonathan Wilbanks said they knew it was a risk to open a new restaurant in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic in January 2021.
“It was just something we had to do,” Wilbanks said.
Texas Huddle Grille and Sports Bar
803 E. NASA Parkway, Ste. 100, Webster
832-240-4694
www.texashuddle.com
Hours: Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.- 2 a.m., Sun.-Thu. 11 a.m.-midnight
October: Barcenas Mexican Kitchen
After being in business for 24 years, family-owned Barcenas Mexican Restaurant opened its third location May 26, bringing its Mexican and traditional Tex-Mex food to League City at 2508 S. Gulf Freeway. Pepe Barcenas, general manager of the new location and part of the family that owns the business, said the restaurant and bar is off to a “great start” and that he expects the store to see further success in the winter months.
“We try to give it the best quality to the people. If you give good quality, people don’t care [about] the price. That is important to the family,” he said.
Barcenas Mexican Kitchen
2508 S. Gulf Freeway, Ste. 102, League City
281-967-7142
www.barcenasmexicanrestaurant.com
Hours: Mon.-Wed. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thu.-Sun. 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
December: Sunny Seafood
After years working in local sushi restaurants, David Sun decided it was time to venture out on his own. The result is Sunny Seafood, a Seabrook restaurant on the cusp of its grand opening.
“Here people like seafood, so that’s why I opened it,” Sun said.
Sunny Seafood
2320 NASA Parkway, Seabrook
281-916-9888
www.sunnyseafoodtx.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
