“At [that age], we are very eager to explore and never take no for an answer,” said Huang, who was 25 years old when he founded the Japanese eatery in Katy. “We never settle; we want to discover and meet new people. That's a vibe I want to preserve in The House, especially after the pandemic.”
Huang's family migrated from the coastal, close-knit city of Fujian, China, to Chicago when he was 13 years old. He joined the workforce his second week in the U.S., helping out in his parents' restaurant and other Chicago eateries.
Years later, he took a year off his software development job to road trip across North America, bringing him to Houston during Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. He said this gave him his first insight into the city before he would eventually move to the area in 2020.
“At the worst times, we can see the best parts of [humanity], especially how we can work together and help each other,” Huang said. “This gave me a direct connection to the soft side of the city.”
Although he was reluctant to rejoin the restaurant industry due to its reputation as a “toxic” work environment, Huang said he felt encouraged to innovate the industry's culture. He opened Twenty Five Teishoku House on Jan. 15, 2023.
Huang’s motivation for the restaurant's name also comes from its simplistic, one-page menu. The fewer items on the menu, the more staff can concentrate on providing good service, he said.
Huang wants each dish to be balanced and light, with sauces made from scratch and entrees made to order. Huang said he continues to develop the flavor of each dish to cultivate perfection.
One item on the menu is the Japanese teishoku, which translates to meal set, Huang said. This traditional dish includes a salad, soup, vegetables, rice and choice of protein, such as hamburg steak with teriyaki sauce and baked lobster tail.
Ultimately, Huang said he wants the restaurant to be a house away from home for Katy residents.
“Food is not just about feeding yourself,” Huang said. “What's behind it is how we connect at the dining table. We aren't just eating together, we are also bonding with each other."
- 21784 Katy Freeway, Ste. 100, Katy
- www.houseof25.com
