According to owner Ana Soria, there are three quintessential ingredients that serve as the driving forces behind the success of running two food businesses in Bellaire: her family, her staff and their big hearts.
“I have amazing support from my husband and my children. My family helps me a lot,” Soria said. “If there’s a day I need someone, I just call one of my sisters. I couldn’t do this without my staff.”
Restaurants are familiar spaces for Soria’s family. After her family moved to Houston from Michoacán, Mexico, when she was 6 years old, her parents worked at local restaurants, including at Brisket BBQ in Bellaire. But she never envisioned working in the food industry herself until her mother, Leonar Arenas, died in 2015.
In her memory and honor, Soria opened Momma’s Tamales on Cedar Street in December 2020. Cedar St. Cafe opened its doors just around the corner in September 2021, less than a year later.
The difference between the two eateries is Cedar St. Cafe is for anyone who craves authentic, “as-if-your-tia-made-it” Mexican breakfast. While there are only a few items on the menu, the dishes are packed with flavor from chilaquiles served with red sauce and scrambled eggs to migas served with avocado and queso fresco. Guests can also choose from breakfast tacos and burritos. Drinks include flavored coffees and aguas frescas, or fresh juices.
Two years in, Soria’s business plans continue to grow to a point of actually outgrowing the space.
“When I see families sit here enjoying time together, you really can’t do that,” Soria said. “You can’t bring a stroller in here. We can’t have baby chairs in here.”
Soria plans on moving to a bigger space—just around the corner from where it is located now—by the end of 2023 or early 2024. The driving force behind such a decision again boils down to family dynamics, this time for those who eat at her cafe.
While the cafe name will remain the same, Soria said she plans on making it a full-service restaurant that will be family friendly and also offer traditional Mexican dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as alcoholic beverages.
When asked what her mother would think of all that has happened since 2020, her eyes watered up.
"She would be so proud,” Soria said. “This is for her. This is in memory of her.”
Cedar St. Cafe
215 N. Fifth St., Bellaire
713-485-5260
www.facebook.com/cedarstcafe
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
