Concerns remain high in the final days of 2025. Just this month, Waffle Bus told me it is in jeopardy of closing all of its Houston locations. The restaurant is running every deal it can to encourage customers to visit, has let staff go to reduce labor costs, and owner Phi Nguyen is in the kitchen every day trying to keep the business afloat.

From four-course dinners and seafood feasts to lively parties with DJs and midnight toasts, our New Year’s Eve Dining Guide covers the best spots.

Whether 2025 was great, awful, or just meh, there’s no reason not to end it on a high note. Houston restaurants are celebrating with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly.

Despite the challenges of operating a restaurant this year, these 15 exciting new spots all opened their doors.

Here are nine restaurants to keep an eye out for in 2026, as previously reported by Community Impact. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Just days before Christmas, Mikki’s Cafe faced two unexpected incidents: a car crashing into their dining room and burglars hitting another location.