LA’s Trap Kitchen Will Open Cali Restaurant in Houston This Year | Eater Houston

"Set to open by the second week of December in the former Brick House Tavern + Tap space at 12910 Northwest Freeway, this 7,500-square-foot restaurant from Trap Kitchen aims to bring a California-Cajun mashup and a celebration of Instagram chefs to Houston. Owned by Oscar Edwards and curated with input from Compton chefs Malachi “Spank” Jenkins and Roberto “News” Smith, the menu will feature signature Trap Kitchen items like protein-filled grilled pineapple bowls, lamb chops, and cornish hens stuffed with jambalaya, plus loaded fries from LA’s Mr. Fries Man, decadent lobster-topped pizzas that originated at Trap Kitchen’s Portland location, and gooey, loaded mac-and-cheese dishes pulled from Trap’s cookbook. There will also be Houston-inspired plates (a local spin on fried rice) and weekly Instagram-announced specials, while cocktails lean into urban culture with Trap Koolaid with vodka, drinks using Exotic Pop sodas, a Bompton Punch, and the Marathon Continues cocktail. The space includes a full sports bar with more than 30 televisions and rotating live entertainment from bands and DJs, with California-themed decor (palm trees and nods to celebrities and hip-hop legends) alongside representation of Houston artists and food entrepreneurs; Edwards stresses it won’t be a fancy restaurant but a comfortable, middle-ground spot. Trap’s founders frame “Trap” as an inspirational acronym—“take risks and prosper”—and the concept is positioned as a showcase of Black culture and homegrown Instagram food trends rather than traditional soul food." - Brittany Britto Garley