The January Hit List: Tiny Champions, Hidden Omakase, Ume Sushi, and More

Named for the naturally occurring “tiny champions of flavor” (i.e., microbes) that result as part of the fermentation process, this is the second restaurant from the team that brought us Nancy’s Hustle. Expect chill vibes and natural wine, with small plates, pasta, and pizza. Julia Doran’s pizza crust, made from naturally leavened dough, is already winning rave reviews, while Jason Vaughn incorporates funky, fermented, good-for-your gut vegetables into small plates like cabbage salad with pistachio agrodolce and pecorino. Seating capacity is capped at 50 percent indoors, with a spacious backyard patio for outdoor dining.

Dining status: Dine-in with patio seating. For takeout, call 713-485-5329. 

Intimate, private, and yes, hidden. When you book a reservation at this newly debuted 14-seat restaurant, you are putting your trust in the hands of chef Billy Kin. In return, he and his team will create a Japanese-style 10- to 12-course tasting made from the freshest and best ingredients of the night. Expect specialty and high end products like A5 wagyu from Japan, Hokkaido scallops, and caviar; also sushi, sashimi, and a curated selection of hot plates.

Dining status: Reservations required for dine-in.

Brand new to the Heights beginning this month, chef Chris Kinjo of MF Sushi fame unveils its sister restaurant. Beautifully designed by Kinjo himself, featuring intricate, hand-cut hinoki woodwork, the restaurant will be helmed by three MF-trained sushi chefs, with Kinjo making regular appearances in the kitchen. Score a seat at the sushi bar for a view of the open-kitchen action.

Dining status: Dine-in only, Tuesdays through Sundays.  For more info, call  832-767-5872.

Want to be among the only Houstonians to taste the highly prized A5 Hitachgyu wagyu beef from Japan’s Ibaraki prefecture? For a limited time only — until it’s sold out — chef Naoki Yoshida is offering his version of A5 wagyu nigiri and A5 wagyu tartare. Order the luscious meat à la carte, or request it as part of the omakase tasting.

Dining status: Dine-in, with patio seating, curbside and delivery via Grubhub.

After a long run as One Fifth Mediterranean, One Fifth has once again morphed into a new concept called One Fifth Southern Comfort. Developed to evoke the warm feelings of a family gathering, chef de cuisine Matt Staph’s creations include crab-stuffed jalapeños, flounder Pontchartrain, and housemade pastas like oxtail ragout, complemented by Southern cocktail selections such as juleps, milk punches and daisys. 

Dining status: Open for dine-in, with curbside and delivery via Doordash.

Yes, it’s a record lounge, with comfy brown leather sofas, grey velvet chairs, and a killer audio system, but 93’ Til — named after hip hop song “93 ‘Til Infinity” by Souls of Mischief — is also a dining destination. Helmed by co-chefs and owners Gary Ly and Lung Ly, the eclectic small plates menu runs the gamut from PB&J foie-gras torchon to fried frog legs with salsa macha and cucumber yogurt, and shepherd’s pie.

Dining status: Dine-in, with a patio seating forthcoming. For more info, call 281-846-6405.

Chef Mike Lim brings his knife skills to Midtown with the debut of Kanau, one of Houston’s newest destinations for sushi. Located on the ground floor of the Drewery Place high rise in midtown, selections range from hamachi tartare and Japanese pesto ribeye, to nigiri sushi, sashimi, and maki.

Dining status: Reservations required for dine-in. For info, call 832-879-2106.

One of the best destinations in Houston for seafood, this New England-style brasserie in River Oaks District features a gorgeous raw bar, live nightly music, and an extensive whiskey collection. Famous for its seafood towers and lobster rolls, don’t miss the newly launched Tuesday night all-you-can-eat stone crab claw special. Sundays through Fridays, the Social Hour is also a treat, with specials like $8 cocktails and $1 local oysters. 

Dining status: Dine-in, with a heated patio, takeout and delivery via Postmates. For info, call 832-430-6601.

Is there a better time than winter to indulge in all-you-can-eat premium shabu shabu? Employing some of the best safety precautions in the industry, Shabu Zone offers seven types of broths, unlimited orders of domestic wagyu from local ranch Heartbrand Beef, fresh seafood such as blue crabs and prawns, and countless other selections of fresh vegetables, noodles, and condiments for belly-warming and wholly satisfying experience every time.

Dining status: Dine-in only for lunch and dinner.

This month, UB Preserve once again beckons with a slew of new offerings. For one, a brand-new heated patio for dining al fresco. Chef Nick Wong, who is always coming up with cool new enticements, debuts Chinese-American Wednesdays, offering fan favorites like General Tso’s chicken, and chow mein, for dine-in or takeout. On Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the restaurant is also doing a new dumpling happy hour — 4 dumplings for $5, with a choice of signature pork dumplings, boudin siu mai and pimento-cheese krab Rangoon.

Dining status: Dine-in, patio seating, and curbside or delivery via Doordash.