Conroe Courier November 28, 2023

Montgomery County plates have been piled high this year with restaurant options. 

As 2023 winds down and 2024 approaches, here’s a look at restaurants that opened recently and new ones coming in 2024:

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Newly opened 

After much anticipation in the community, Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen’s Conroe location opened Nov. 7 at 2550 Interstate 45 next to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen on Conroe’s northside. 

In downtown Conroe, The Vault speakeasy bar at the former MoCo Food Hall has become The Bank Job at 109 Metcalf Street. The chill bar with a hidden entrance opened in early November. “The Bank Job” is a part of a new bar arcade in the spot called A Game Changer that will be opening soon. 

The Paleta Bar at 15258 Texas 105 opened this fall in the Waterpoint Shopping Center on Lake Conroe. Paletas are frozen treats made with fresh ingredients and fruits and they have roots in Mexico. The spot is owned by Haley Burgess, a U.S. Navy veteran. 

The owners of Woods Cakery Bakery on Walden Road had a grand opening Nov. 18. It’s located in the same shopping center with McKenzie’s Barbeque & Burgers in Montgomery. The spot features custom cakes and a variety of sweet treats. 

According to Conroe development reports, social media posts and Montgomery City Council action, here are new restaurants in the works for 2024. 

Paulette Cafe 

Paulette Cafe at 406 North Thompson Street in downtown Conroe is set to open Friday in the first floor of the Moreland Professional Building in downtown Conroe. The spot was once occupied by Flourish cafe and bakery which transitioned into Nourish on South Loop 336. 

The cafe has a French theme and will serve crepes, pizzas and salads. There will be seating with windows looking out to North Thompson Street. 

Chiba Hot Pot 

Work is taking place at the old Los Cucos restaurant in Conroe to transform the spot into a second location for Chiba Hot Pot. The original Chiba Hot Pot is off FM 1960 on Houston’s northwest side. 

According to information from Chiba Hot Pot, the restaurant will feature a traditional hot-pot dining experience, where guests gather around a communal pot of simmering broth and cook their own ingredients right at the table. It will be an all-you-can eat experience with a buffet. 

An opening date was not available, but signs for Chiba Hot Pot are up at the Conroe location. 

Lucky Dumpling 

According to the City of Conroe’s new development report a Lucky Dumpling restaurant is in development at 15444 Texas 105, Suite B, next to the Shogun restaurant on Lake Conroe. 

A sign is up at the entrance and work is taking place inside the restaurant. An opening date was not available. 

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Conroe’s third Chick-fil-A 

The Nov. 15 edition of Conroe’s new development report listed Conroe’s third Chick-fil-A location is planned for North Loop 336. 

The address listed is 612 North Loop 336 West. The other Conroe locations are at South Loop 336 and on Texas 105 near Target. 

The new location is scheduled to be directly north of the H-E-B at the North Loop and Texas 75. Construction on this project has not started. 

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans

A new location of PJ’S Coffee of New Orleans has been announced for 17112 Walden Road within the Conroe city limit. 

The coffee brand founded by Phyllis Jordan 40 years ago offers a small-batch roasted coffee experience for hot drinks, iced coffees and teas. 

Also look for fresh-baked pastries. Other PJ’s locations are in Cypress, Spring and Katy. Construction has not started and an opening date has not been announced. 

Lupe Tortilla 

In May, the Montgomery City Council approved a new location for Lupe Tortilla in the city. The eatery specializes in from-scratch Mexican food will be at 20269 Eva St, Montgomery across from the Kroger’s in Montgomery and adjacent to the Panda Express and Starbucks along Texas 105. 

Work is taking place at the site currently and no opening date has been announced. The closest Lupe Tortilla location is in Shenandoah. 

Niko Niko’s 

A Houston favorite, Niko Niko’s Greek & American Cafe is branching out into The Woodlands and will take over the former Luby’s location at 922 Lake Front Circle. 

Niko Niko’s first opened its doors in 1977 and has since been known for serving fast-casual Greek food in Montrose and throughout Houston.

Earlier this year, the restaurant was heralded by “Yelp Elites” for an unexpected title: the best sandwich spot in the state of Texas. The website lists The Woodlands location as coming soon. 

Phat Eatery 

Phat Eatery, the Malaysian street food restaurant in Katy whose owner worked his way to a James Beard Award nomination this year, is expanding into The Woodlands. 

Chef/owner Alex Au-Yeung in 2022 said that he will open a second Phat Eatery at 2290 Buckthorne Place at Grogan Mills Village in The Woodlands. This year the Phat Eatery restaurant participated in Wine and Food Week in The Woodlands winner first runner up in the Chef of Chef’s competition. 

No further information was available on an opening date. 

Greg Morago and Ryan Nickerson contributed to this report.Â