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    Elite Event: Lagos Buka

    4.9 (45 reviews)

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    Patty C.

    I was really looking forward to this event, seeing how I had never tried Nigerian food. I was glad this event was scheduled on a weekend when traffic wouldn't be as horrendous since this event was on the far west side of town. By the time I arrived the interior seating was filled. I joined a few at one of the outside tables. The weather was nice that day. I wasn't able to catch most of the owner's speech, but I could tell she had a lot of passion for creating healing cooking. We were treated to rounds of tasty samples. The goat soup was so spicy, I wasn't expecting it. Luckily that was the spiciest item of the session. The wings were absolutely delicious and a favorite amongst our table. I was also delighted to try fufu for the first time. Everything was cooked so well. It was so thoughtful to include dessert.

    Julie L.

    What a treat to be able to attend this intimate event :) The owner, Toyin, was so sweet and accommodating. She was soooo generous with food portions - we got to try a a large variety of menu items! My favorites include the chicken wings and the peri peri chicken. I've always wanted to try fufu and I finally did this past Sunday! I loved learning about the significance of their restaurant and trying Nigerian food for the first time. This event was far, but worth the drive :) Thank you Jando and Toyin!

    Yelp exclusive menu
    Helen V.

    My Sunday experience at Lago's Buka event was wonderful! The weather was nice, and the event was incredibly fulfilling. I've only had Nigerian food once in my life, so this was a great opportunity to expand my palate and try a variety of dishes. First, I want to thank the owner for hosting us and for her passion for the cuisine she prepares. It was clear how important it was for her to share her culture with all of us Yelpers. I was one of the few seated outside due to maximum capacity, but she made sure to personally come out and explain each dish in detail, which I really appreciated. This event featured a nine-course meal with two drinks, though I believe we only had eight courses. My favorite dish of the night was the shrimp dodo--I loved the combination of plantains and gizzard in it. Since I'm not great with spicy foods, my least favorite had to be the goat meat pepper soup, but I will say it was packed with rich flavors and spices, and the goat meat was incredibly tender. Other dishes I really enjoyed were the chicken peri peri, coconut rice, jollof rice, and the puff puff. I was also looking forward to trying the grilled catfish listed on the menu, but I don't believe I got to try it. I'm so happy I attended this event! It's always great to support businesses that are both woman-owned and Black-owned. One thing I truly appreciated was how the owner ensured that our food was served fresh, making the experience even more enjoyable.

    Dee D.

    I took my talents to Katy for a well put together yelp event. The weather was perfect and I was able to site outside and meet some new yelpers. The presentation for each dish was really nice. I enjoyed getting a backstory to what I tried before I had it. I can honestly say I liked every thing that I tried. Personal favorite was the spicy goat soup. Delicious. Everything was good the stewed chicken and jollof were my second favorite dishes. Shout out to Jando for another great elite event. The kick off to my sunday was here and well needed.

    Puff puff
    Ema P.

    I would definitely say that Lagos Buka has the potential of being a game-changer for Nigerian cuisine in Houston! Lagos Buka has just raised the bar by creating a customized Yelp Elite menu! #NaijaNoDeyCarryLast indeed! I can't recall another restaurant doing that before, and it's a testament to their commitment to excellence. Now, let's talk about the food. Chicken Peri Peri - perfectly grilled, juicy, and packed with bold Nigerian flavors. I loved the balance of seasoning and heat. (Though, you could always give me more pepper!) I don't really know about the Peri-Peri part... Because Peri Peri Chicken is usually quite dry. This wasn't! Seafood fried rice - I usually don't like Nigerian fried rice, but this one was different. Full of flavor and just the right of touch of chicken bouillon. It was a pleasant surprise! The drinks were truly the surprise of the day! Say creative! Never had these and slushy form ever. We had the zobo slushy (absolutely delicious. I must try! It really elevates the zobo flavors) The Chapman slushy (super refreshing!). The Fayrouz pineapple soda (Love that they brought this Nigerian classic to the States. It wasn't for me, but I appreciate the representation! It tasted like Malta with a pinch of pineapple. I'm a fan of Malta but not the combination of the two flavors.) Goat meat pepper soup - amazing flavor, but I needed more heeeeeat! Your nose should be running when you drink this! The goat was super tender and easy to eat, which lets me know that they really spent time cooking the goat for hours. Excellent work! Asun - This goat was a little burnt when it came out. I wish it was spicy, tender and well-marinated. I will certainly give grace because they tried their hardest to accommodate two very large, needy, and critical groups of Yelp Elites. I'm sure the pressure was on and trying to get everything cooked and cleaned and seasoned well. Still a job well done. Pepper wings - they were juicy and bursting with flavor. No complaints. Delish! Smokey jollof rice - the rice was rich, well-spiced, and everything Jollof should be. I'm a fan of smokey any day. I would absolutely love more heat, though. Coconut rice - I don't typically like coconut rice (except for mine or my mom's) but this one was actually decent. It could have used more coconut milk, though. Puff Puff- This was more like a donut than puff puff! Delicious, but not traditional. Real puff puff is extremely dense and not super sweet at all. One of mine was raw on the inside, but given the high-pressure event, I'm giving grace again. Suya - the portion I had was slightly burnt but I could tell it had great potential. I'm looking forward to trying it again on a regular day when there's less stress and expectation of perfection. Vegetable Egusi with Poundo yam - the Egusi was well-cooked (an absolute must if you don't want your stomach running all day), but it had too much oil for my taste. I prefer much less palm oil in my Nigerian food. Also, 80% of my soup was ice cold. No lie. Like...Ice ice baby. I was disappointed but I could tell that the flavors were there so again...grace. Grilled catfish platter - they didn't serve it with all the extras, but the seasoning on the fish was exquisite. So so flavorful! I was happy to get a piece that had the skin on it. The skin was crispy and tasty. Shrimp gizdodo - juicy shrimp with caramelized plantains. It's always an excellent pairing! The dodo was slightly deeper in flavor than I like but they used nice ripe plantain, so I wasn't too upset. I didn't quite get any gizzard which is always my favorite part of gizdodo but other people did, and I was so happy to see them enjoying. Now, my only real critique was the spice level of everything. Nigerian food is meant to have heat and kick, and this fell short for me. I need that fire! I did share that with the owner when she asked me for my feedback. Beyond that, the hospitality was top-tier. The owner is warm, funny, thoughtful, and truly passionate about the experience. I'm so grateful that she invited us out (and that the sessions actually stuck this time around! Lol.) Lagos Buka, I wish you nothing but success! I can't wait to come back and see how you continue to elevate Nigerian cuisine in Houston. Though Katy is a ways away, I feel that it's worth it and it will continue to be worth it. I anticipate you moving out of that building pretty quickly. You'll be busting out the seams with customers who want to sit down and truly take in the experience. You can't eat Nigerian food in a rush! Thank you so much Jandoooooo, and Yelp Houston team, for everything. I loved how you patronized the business on your own dime. Jando, you were super supportive and I loved watching you when no one was looking. (Pause) The humility and appreciation you showed was touching. Thank you for being a great CM! Keep up the wonderful work. Let's go 2025!!!

    Fufu, eat with your hands!
    Aryani N.

    Amazing experience, grateful for the service, the food, company and most importantly the invitation. This event was suppose to happen back in November, and now has been rescheduled to today! The event did run over, but not a big deal. Yelp elites show up in numbers, and definitely kept the staff busy. I brought some $$! My favorite was the chicken, plantain & gizzard, she shared a story of how her daughter likes to add in and mix & match. Small space inside, but they definitely make it work!

    Fluffy yam for dipping in the preserved fish, spinach and chili stew
    Cherry A.

    Oh how I enjoy going to Yelp elite events, especially when they allow +1's . Thankfully, I was able to email Yelp to request a plus one and after it was granted, we were good to go! Today was a total treat! Anytime there is a sit down small gathering it always feels like we are being spoiled, and today we definitely were fed and refilled and treated to some of the best bites Nigerian food has to offer. I loved hearing about the chef's backstory and their dream and vision and it really makes the taste and culinary experience come to life. I was seated with some fabulous people who included: Sophie, Rose, Ciara, Bonus Sophie, and Patricia. It's always a great opportunity to sit with a new group of people to get to know one another, and I really enjoyed my table and it was great to interchange opinions and share excitement about the food. If you've never been to an elite event, definitely sign up and you will have the best experience with new people with similar love for food adventures. Thank you, Lago Buka for a wonderful afternoon and I will definitely come back for some of that delicious savory goat pepper soup. I'm still thinking about it.

    Rose N.

    Loved the atmosphere and how welcoming the owners and staff were. Such nice people. The zobo hibiscus slushy was so good. I loved it. It was not overly sweet. And liked the small bit of bitterness. The goat meat pepper soup, at first I thought this soup was spicy because of the black pepper but no, I was wrong. It's because there are hot peppers in there. I really liked how the goat meat tasted. It was tender and juicy. Not dry at all. The flavor was really good. The shrimp dodo plantains tasted like barbecue chips to me. Also very very good. Liked this dish a lot. Shockingly, the pepper wings were not spicy! They were a sweet pepper. Flavor was really good on this too. Suya marinated beef beef skewers tasted very similar to a hydrated beef jerky. Yummy Poundo yam was fun to eat with the spicy spinach stew. My favorite was the peri peri chicken and I liked all of the rices but I think my favorite was the peri rice. Puff puff was also so good. Really liked this donut-like mochi dessert. Thank you to the Lagos owners and Jando and everyone for hosting this delicious event! Loved how welcoming they were!

    Earl A.

    This was the 2nd Nigerian food spot this week. This was smaller location but they didn't have any scarcity of food. It was also an opportunity to sit down to eat with Jando. It was a chance to pick his brain about Yelp events, how they choose the Elites to attend as well as how you become Elite. Unlike you think, it isn't him. There was choice to eat indoors or outside. Since the weather was great I chose outside. We had a variety of food dishes: fufu, peri peri chicken, stew, goat soup , jollof rice & suya. They were somewhat spicy but I was able to enjoy them as we had 2 different flavored slushies. All of the dishes were generous in portions. It was another great event 2 in 1 week for me.

    Jennifer A.

    Wow! The food, the owners who hosted us, everything was a hit with this EIGHT course meal event. My faves were the ghost pepper soup, pepper wings and my number one fave, the shrimp dodo. Everything was fresh and jam packed with flavor. I'll also let y'all in on a little secret, the ghost pepper soup's spice hit my mouth with a little fire there at the end and I secretly kinda wanted some milk. So anyone who happened to see me sucking down my slushy after eating the soup, yeah my mouth was burning a bit. Both slushies were good. I think my fave was the Chapman but I also love hibiscus so the Zobo slushy was also satisfying. Oh I also enjoyed trying the catfish platter. I hear the session 1 folks missed out on the dish. Sorry sesh 1! I loved hearing the owners talk about how Lagos Buka came about. They're so talented and intelligent, an architect and a product manager now serving up delicious food at Lagos Buka and striving to be the "Panda Express of Nigerian food". I'd say they're well on their way but with more flavorful and fresh food than Panda Express bc the event was definitely a hit today. The wife, Toyin was such a funny and informative hostess. She kept us laughing and described the food so well, telling us not only about the ingredients and the flavors but about the preparation and the dish's meaning to Nigerians. What I loved most was the emphasis of the food being cooked with lots of love. No lie, you could taste the love in each bite. I also absolutely LOVE how they created a little Yelp Event menu WITH pictures and descriptions of everything for us. Super helpful not only during the event but after when writing my review. This is how you educate others and ensure people remember the delicious things that they tried so they can easily come back to order more. Another thing I absolutely loved was how they made fresh alternative dishes on the spot for folks with allergies and dietary restrictions and those dishes looked equally satisfying as the standard dish. They spared nothing in altering the plates. This was a wonderful event. I enjoyed making new Yelp friends and chatting with people more that I've seen at past events. Hey new besties! I love these small sit-down family style YE's. Thanks Lagos Buka owners and team and Yelp for this perfect event on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I will definitely be back despite the long drive from Pearland to Katy!

    Peri Peri Chicken with Jollof, Seafood and Coconut Rice
    Angie M.

    The food was plenty with 8-course on the menu for this Sunday, Elite Event in Katy, Texas. I was happy to see that the majority of guests arrived on time to a large free dedicated parking lot for restaurant. The owners were especially sincere, informative and truly passionate about their business and the success of our experience. Although the event did run long, I was happy that everything appeared organized and clean. The customer service was excellent. The location was pretty far out for me, but it was worth the drive. As far as the food, my favorite food was the peppered wings, and my least favorite was the catfish. The most memorable and flavorful item was the Smoky Jollof Rice followed by the Suya. I am grateful for being included in Session 2 and to share an intimate dining experience with some new Elite friends. Thank you all, kindly.

    Brianna M.

    This was a really great event, once again. Really enjoyed the family style tables to invite the community feel. The food was amazing! The chicken stole the show with the rice trio and pepper soup with the closest second. The puff puff was a great sweet treat balance after all the savory bites. The pepper soup almost took me out for a second, but the spices leveled out and the goat was so tender, I could eat another bowl. But we couldn't fill up because this was 8 courses! Each dish came with an intro from the owner who was so personable and can really tell they are passionate about their cuisine. The Zobo slushie was top tier tasty ! Have to come back for the Fanta drink. So wonderful to celebrate and support local Black owned businesses. Excited to see the success of Lagos Buka

    Cynthia E.

    Wow, this was a great event! Thank you to Lagos Buka and Yelp for hosting this event! I went to the second session. The owners were great in that for most (if not all courses) they explained what the dish was, the ingredients, and a little bit of cultural history about the dish. I think there were about eight dishes in all. They really did a great job of showcasing their menu items and you can tell that they put a lot of care into the food that they create. My top two dishes were the goat peppersoup, and the catfish. Both were amazing! Those are both menu options that I could see myself coming back and getting, along with the puff puff. What I loved about the puff puff was that it wasn't too sweet and wasn't drenched in caramel or powdered sugar. It was perfectly light and crispy! Some of the dishes contained animal parts that I don't typically eat, so to be honest I would probably not purchase those. Although I did enjoy the savory plantain dish. But everything had great flavor. I love the fufu! I could probably eat that by itself, but I could also see myself eating it with the soup. I have a shrimp allergy, so I was really grateful that they were super accommodating in making sure that I didn't have any dishes with shrimp in them. Two of the rice dishes had shrimp and the plantain dish also had shrimp, so they made accommodations for me on those dishes. Thank you to the owners and staff of Lagos Buka for that!! It lasted a little longer than most YELP events at about a little over three hours, but we had a great time! As always, met some great new friends and had some great conversations with Jando about New York versus Houston food and everything in between! My new friends had some great recommendations for restaurants in Houston, so I have a new list to try. It was a great time! Thank you again to Jando and the owners of Lagos Buka for hosting us !

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    Elite Event: Lagos Buka Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - Elite Event: Lagos Buka

    I was super appreciative to Jando for hanging out with us, and sharing his wisdom and stories with us.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

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    White Linen Night In The Heights

    White Linen Night In The Heights

    3.8(25 reviews)
    25.7 miThe Heights

    This was my first year attending White Linen Night in the Heights after many years of wanting to…read morego. It always falls on the first Saturday in August which to me was one of the drawbacks. It's hot in August! Not sure if there is any significance on the date, but the event is inspired by a New Orleans tradition and started by New Orleans natives who moved to Houston. If you haven't guessed from the name of the event, they encourage everyone to wear white linen for comfort in the summer hear. From what I understand, it used to be a free event, but now they charge a fee of 15 bucks which to me is very reasonable as these type of events take time to plan, set up and clean up afterwards. They have live music, all kinds of pop up vendors, art, and all around good vibes. Alot of the vendors like White Claw, Saint Arnold's and others were giving away drinks which in itself should make one feel good about the small entrance fee. We did buy drinks and food to snack on as well. They also allow people to bring coolers which is cool and all, but there was some people that clearly were drinking all day and needed their friends to keep them upright. Glad I grew out of that stage. Once the clock strikes 10pm, they start shutting down and telling everyone to head on out. Overall, this was a cool event that I can see myself coming back to. I love how diverse the crowd is and the good vibes all around. Would I prefer it in the fall? Of course! Maybe they can make that happen one day. See ya'll there next year!

    I really don't know why I keep coming back to this event. It's usually hot, super crowded, and…read moreusually overtaken by a bunch of sweaty boozing bros. I guess there is something a little appealing about the whole chaos of it and I usually mange to run into people I haven't seen in a long time so I guess it's not all that bad. A word of advice: bring a little cooler for yourself with water or other beverages. To be honest, I have no idea what the alcohol rules are there but most people there are lit up real good so I guess it's pretty lax. As for parking, you're better off not bringing a car or taking a shuttle. I usually park 5-6 blocks away and walk but then I'm kind of grizzled and know my secret spots. A lot of street parking does open up after sunset too once the families evacuate the area with their children and the night boozing begins.

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    White Linen Night In The Heights
    White Linen Night In The Heights
    White Linen Night In The Heights

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    Elite Event: Rhay's Restaurant - Dapper Dash (sidecar) with suya flat bread/suya khabob/street corn/firehouse wing

    Elite Event: Rhay's Restaurant

    4.6(70 reviews)
    15.3 miWestchase

    Wow. I'm so glad I got a party pass for this event. Nigerian people are the best people, and I…read morecouldn't miss this event! I have not been on the Yelp Squad long enough to remember any previous back-to-back, black owned businesses events for black history month. But I loved particpating in them! As they are important to me. Thank you Jando, Yelp Team, owner Ben and his wife and team for a successful event. While the event did start on Nigerian time, IYKYK, I somehow expected it, lol. The vibes were definitely vibing for sure. I loved the DJ with Naija beats. And the dress of cocktail hour instead of casual. Most folks were busy at the bar for the first half of the night. So I got a chance to really observe the asethetic. Great choices of fabrics, wallpaper, paint, dinning room pieces etc. With nice deep purple velvet fabrics in there dinning area. And the black marble at some of tables. It's giving a lux day or night lounge. Which may be the eventual next direction? It would be a nice event space for a private party or birthday party. The drinks, I really didn't get into until the end of the night. It was packed and slow going. The long wait time wasn't really worth the drinks by the time I got them, but that's ok. They were large batched. But I know the bartenders were doing there best. Don't know if they were prepared enough for the crowd that enjoys cocktails so much?? I got the mocktail and the side car. Which I know people complained of being too sour. But I liked it, and also enjoy sour drinks. The food was passed in waves, and the typical feeding frenzy. I decided to take my time, and only focused on what I could get my hands on at the time. The suya, jollaf rice, and corn. All were great. But the most important part was owner Ben and his speech. He told us about his loved one Rhay which the restaurant is named after. I also have never seen an owner open up for Q&A after there speech. And he did answer questions. He seems like a genuine guy that is really trying to create something of success here. I look forward to returning. Thanks Yelp, for shining a light on this new business, and exposing me to something I may have never ventured out to. I will be returning.

    A fun night in the Westchase area! It was my first time hearing about Rhay's. We had the entire…read morerestaurant to ourselves and I really like the ambience. Very intimate vibes. We were given drink tickets at the door and kudos to the bartender for handling the big crowd. Later, the food started coming out. The firehouse wings and the suya kabobs were my favorite. Packed with flavors and the spice was right on the money. At some point, it seems like the servers were getting overwhelmed with the crowd but nonetheless, they did a great job getting the food to everyone. Myself and a few friends sat down in a quiet area and decided to order off the menu to support the business. We tried the suya kabobs that came with the jollof rice, suya street tacos, and ordered some more of the firehouse wings. Service was great even with the Yelp event going on. I enjoyed hearing from the owner and his story. The DJ was also popping the whole night. This was a great opportunity to come out to the Westchase area. Thank you to Jando, the Yelp team, and Rhay's team for organizing and hosting!

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    Elite Event: Rhay's Restaurant - Drink choices

    Drink choices

    Elite Event: Rhay's Restaurant
    Elite Event: Rhay's Restaurant

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    Elite Event: PHOBruary at HUP Noodle Bar - Added another pair to my collection, 6 pairs so far. Love when I host dinner  and get to use these with friends

    Elite Event: PHOBruary at HUP Noodle Bar

    5.0(44 reviews)
    28.1 miMidtown, Fourth Ward

    Sometimes, you just need to celebrate PHOBruary…read more What a great, intimate last-minute event. Really savored the signature beef pho at one of Stetsi Food Hall's newest offerings, HÚP Noodle Bar. The beef broth was so homey and soothing. Generously filled with noodles, beef meatballs and thinly sliced ribeye flank, it was perfect for a chilly PHOBruary night in Houston. Love how the name "HUP," means "slurp" in Vietnamese. This really reflects the dining experience as you enjoy your generous bowl of pho. The broth is simmered overnight which really infuses the warmth into the flavor. Add some bean sprouts, fresh basil and a squeeze of lime. Perfection!! Thank you to Chef Cuong and the incredible staff at HUP Noodle Bar for a delicious treat. Love the pho, our assigned tables and the cute Yelp chopsticks. I will be back. And, as always, thank you to our amazing Houston CM Jandito. Not sure how you do it, but you keep highlighting such unique spots in our beautiful hometown. Amazing!

    Yummy pho on a cold winter night? No Brainer!…read more Thanks Jando, the Yelp team, and Chef/owner Cuong. I appreciate my party pass, always! What a wonderful intimate event. I love asigned seated events. It helps you get out your usual comfort zone and meet new Yelpers. But it was even more cutesy because my buddy Justin was by my side, and the other folks I know were at near by tables. I thought it was so cool, they had chefs counter and 6 person table seating. Jando and Chef did a great job of sharing a bit of history and background. I was surprised to learn it takes as much as 28 hours to perfect this beef pho. It makes sense because the broth runs deep with flavor. Food- was yum! Starting with the starter the Shrimp Chai Go (sp) and the Banh Kat. Both were such a great way to start, super hot and tasty! The beef Pho, wow a huge portion, I was not expecting. Loved my take away the following night. And decided to deservingly tip this business generouly for there time and effort. This felt like the perfect comfy cozy event. When at Stesi food hall, will definitely check this out. Thank you always Yelp!

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    Elite Event: PHOBruary at HUP Noodle Bar - Jando speaks

    Jando speaks

    Elite Event: PHOBruary at HUP Noodle Bar - Yelpers

    Yelpers

    Elite Event: PHOBruary at HUP Noodle Bar - Chef Cuong

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    Chef Cuong

    Elite Event: Badge Day 2025 at The ION - Houston 2025 Badge Night

    Elite Event: Badge Day 2025 at The ION

    4.8(162 reviews)
    27.8 miMidtown

    I have loved the sears building since I was a youngin (not back when the Sears building was opening…read morein 1927). I'm talking more like the 80's & 90's. Driving on 59 and seeing that huge SEARS sign daily was always a marker that I was close to the office. The ION building has been close to my heart (& my home) since it opened. Any yelp event & especially a yelp badge day event is a great day! Thanks Yelp, The Ion, Lake August, The Lymbar, Second Draught, and more!

    BADGE DAY 2025 WAS ELITE! PUN INTENDED!…read more It was nice to celebrate new badges with my +1, whom had a blast and really got to see what this elite life is about! Giving my flowers early to those that deserve - Yelp Houston, B, Farrah, and Jando yall are appreciated! As an Elite member with a gold badge, can we clap for my 8th year yall! thank you so much, gosh I didn't even prepare a speech! Yall are FAR too kind! I greatly appreciated opportunity to arrive an hour early to get the evening started. I don't take these moments lightly and I damn sure don't take them for granted. Hard work living such a grand, elite life. It was so nice to explore The Ion, indulge in delicious food (peep the food dump), connect with new yelpers, and hangout with old friends! This event was well executed, organized, and spacious. It never felt overwhelming or cluttered to where you couldn't move. We stan SPACE! The DJ was spinning records too honey, we love a vibe! My favorite part of the night and my all time favorite Yelp swag (wow am I really saying this out loud or typing this for the Yelp Heavens to see) was the lunchbox! It's so vibrant and colorful. I'm planning to use it for some storage, probably pens or pictures or cards! Clearly I have options and lots of plans. If you've gotten this far in my review - hats off to you! You're loyal. You deserve the world. Unfortunately, all I have is this review for you along with the massive photo/video dump. I'm done now, thank you again for the master event planning, the vibes, the libations, and the good eats! Thank you for having us Ion staff! I shall return.

    Photos
    Elite Event: Badge Day 2025 at The ION - Photos by Flashbar Activations (https://flashbaractivations.com)

    Photos by Flashbar Activations (https://flashbaractivations.com)

    Elite Event: Badge Day 2025 at The ION - Photos by Flashbar Activations (https://flashbaractivations.com)

    Photos by Flashbar Activations (https://flashbaractivations.com)

    Elite Event: Badge Day 2025 at The ION - Photos by Flashbar Photo Booth (https://flashbarphotobooth.com)

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    Photos by Flashbar Photo Booth (https://flashbarphotobooth.com)

    Elite Event: Vibes with Jas

    Elite Event: Vibes with Jas

    4.8(13 reviews)
    27.0 miMontrose

    Smooth Jazz and Cool Vibes with Jas…read more Lucky to be able to enjoy a fabulous weekend stretch with Jas as our guide. Downward facing dog. Mountain pose. Warrior. Happy Baby. Plank. Forward fold. Cat-cow. Cobra. Butterfly. Child's pose. Namaste. Loved the cool R&B tunes which were the perfect backdrop for Jas to smoothly guide our class through an amazing hour of yoga. So relaxing despite it being a "Hot Yoga" class. Thanks for the red Yelp towels and water bottles. Loved hearing about her journey from San Diego to Houston. The space on the third floor of Mala Market is so warm and so inviting. The maker space really encourages small business owners. Support Local! Check out Vibes with Jas for more special events. Wine & Yoga anyone?? Thank you to @_vibeswithjas for an amazing yoga class. A great gift on a rainy day. Thanks also to Jandito for finding another gem in Houston.

    I find yoga to be mentally challenging, but as soon as I saw this event on the list, I RSVP'ed…read moreimmediately. Any opportunity to support a young Black woman business owner, I'm all for it. We also got to bring a plus one which I appreciated because my friend loves yoga. We got there at 10:53am and found parking on Hazel street (shoutout to the Yelp team for the very detailed email). We got to the entrance of Mala market and checked in with Jando. We had to wait till they opened at 11am, but I got the chance to chat with some of the ladies I'd never met before. Jas was also there to greet us and we headed in right on time. The market was so quaint and cute and I was eager to check it out after the class. The studio was on the third floor and the class was quite full. We made space for everyone and got down to it. Jas showed us varying techniques and really called us in to set our intention for the class. Although I'm not a yogi, I did enjoy the class as it was challenging. Jas is a great instructor and I look forward to supporting her by attending a few more of her classes. While not explicitly branded as a Black History Month event, I really appreciate all the work Jando, B and Yelp Houston have done this month to bring forth Black owned businesses. I had a conversation with Jando last year around this time regarding this issue and the fact that a whole year later, while not going into all the details about our conversation, he listened, shared the reality of the situation with me, and still made sure we had good representation this year. This is an example of a CM who is really about it!!! Thank you Jas, Mala Market, Jando, and Yelp Houston for a great weekend event!

    Photos
    Elite Event: Vibes with Jas
    Elite Event: Vibes with Jas
    Elite Event: Vibes with Jas

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    UYE: Asian Heritage Celebration @ Strings Noodle - Houston's finest Elite Yelpers: Eddie S and Mike M aka Mr. BOTM

    UYE: Asian Heritage Celebration @ Strings Noodle

    4.7(7 reviews)
    17.7 miChinatown, Sharpstown

    Thank to everyone who attended my landmark UYE (Unofficial Yelp Event). We had 110% attendance -…read moremore the merrier. As you heard from other reviewers, this was my first Chinatown Crawl style UYE and celebrating 3rd Annual Asian Heritage Celebration in Houston. We moved from one business to another business as a group. It was nice to see Tracie A with her kids & her +1 (Trent), Eugene L & his +1 (Amber), Jose C's family. As well as the Around the World UYE regulars: Belly G, Mike M, Eddie S, Cherry A, Matt S and his wife Anh D. I also met a few new faces: Andrew Z, Millie C, Steven W, and Kevin L. Also, special appearances: Greg F, Olivia K, Na S and Shawn S. I'm honored to see this event as "Best UYE in Houston". Read my blog at http://iyelpalot.blogspot.com/2016/07/best-uye-in-houston.html. For few of us Yelpers love to party but couldn't attend at Official Yelp Events. So, we organize meet up parties to cater these crowds. One thing I learned from this UYE is to consider gluten-free option. So, at my next Chinatown Crawl UYE, I have prepared items to include vegan and GF dishes. Coming up... Time for Taiwan UYE @ Lai Lai Dumpling House in August.

    This was my first time ever to the Dun Hung plaza, the parking lot was packed but luckily the…read moregarage was pretty empty. I was a little late getting to this UYE, so I missed the Fit Japanese store. Bummed out about that! I did get there just as everyone was getting to Strings Noodles, though. Lou greeted my kids and I right away, We were seated and handed some pretty awesome personalized name tags that said " Asian Heritage Month UYE Chinatown Crawl". The tags even had the date! My heathen children even got their very own name tags. Lou let us know that the tea and the starters would be on the house. All of the starters were amazing but my favorite was the pickled green beans. I have never thought to pickle a green bean and now I feel like I had been missing out. I would go back just to get them. We were handed some sheets of paper that had different noodles to pick from, kind of made it easier for everyone that way. I ordered thin noodles with beef in a spicy broth. The noodles were some of the best I have ever had. The soup had a hard boiled egg in it and it just soaked up all the amazing flavors. The wait staff was great with my kids too, my daughter specifically. she doesn't do all that well in restaurant settings, but it was quite a pleasant-ish visit. I will for sure be returning! When we were done we headed to Six Ping and got some pretty tasty pastries. I got a Taiwanese Red Bean cake and it was so good. it wasn't too sweet and it had tons of flavor. My kids thought the Hello Kitty cake was hilarious, the look on their faces was even funnier when I said I wasn't buying it. HA!! And then! We went to Nu Café and it was a life changer. Oh man the Shaved ice is like nothing I have ever had before. I didn't know shaved ice could be so good. I got the Coconut shaved ice with condensed milk, strawberries, and rainbow jellies. It was glorious! Oh my I want to leave work right now and go get some! It was sweet but not too sweet, it was incredible. Lou definitely went above and beyond for this UYE. Thank you, Lou!

    Photos
    UYE: Asian Heritage Celebration @ Strings Noodle - Selfie with Eugene and Amber (not really a selfie).

    Selfie with Eugene and Amber (not really a selfie).

    UYE: Asian Heritage Celebration @ Strings Noodle - Matt, Anh and Andrew

    Matt, Anh and Andrew

    UYE: Asian Heritage Celebration @ Strings Noodle - Houston's finest Elite Yelpers: Cherry and Belly

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    Houston's finest Elite Yelpers: Cherry and Belly

    Elite Event: BHM Market at The Rado Market - Radiant Aura Essentials

    Elite Event: BHM Market at The Rado Market

    4.9(57 reviews)
    28.8 miThird Ward

    Thank you Jando, Yelp Houston team, Chef Chris Williams and all the vendors for this event…read more Located at Emancipation Park, which is lovely, and beautifully renovated. I have been wanting to visit Rado Market for a while, and I am not sure why I made excuses not to stop in. But I have officially been won over, and already planning my next visit. First off, my priority has been supporting black owned businesses, and this was a perfect opportunity to do just that. Chef Chris Williams and Chef Jaden (sp) shared some of there staples from there cafe. Shout out to that mac and cheese with collard greens and that slider. It was yum The most important part of the event was Chef Chris Williams speech. About his passion for 3rd Ward and the historic landmarks of Houston such as El Dorado Ballroom, the black community, affordable and healthy food for all, and especially the growers of the food. Chef Chris is successful in his own right. But he wants to create space for other small black business vendors at this market. And is a prime example of real community uplifting. There is space for all to succeed. I receive his message loud and clear. I was grateful to purchase some of the Shea butter Radiant Aura Essentials, and plan to purchase the candles with Ambrosia & Nector. I enjoyed talking to all of the vendors learning more about each business and how it came about. Thank you Yelp, for such a thoughtful and wonderful curated experience. Shop local yall, you never know what gems you will find.

    I can't think of a better way to celebrate Black History Month than with an event in a historic…read morelandmark (The El Dorado Ballroom), in the historic Houston Third Ward (aka The Tre) featuring an array of Black owned small businesses! Rado Market is bigger than it looks and I appreciated Jando encouraging us to walk around to explore the building. There's nothing worse, than getting home from an event to realize you didn't see everything. I enjoyed all of the food and wine that I sampled. I had the Oxtail Sliders, the Chicken and Waffles, and the Collard Green Mac and Cheese. The mac and cheese was my favorite! I tasted the Jerk Chicken Wing and it was good, but a bit spicy. I was able to try a few wine samples including the cabernet, rosé, and the sauvignon blanc. It was really nice to walk around and talk to the various vendors in the market. I loved hearing the back stories of the businesses and their passion for what they do. I really enjoyed my conversation with Karis (Ambrosia and Nectar) and J. Christina (Radiant Aura Essentials). I purchased a diffuser from Ambrosia and Nectar, a bottle of cabernet from Rado Market, and some body butter from Radiant Aura Essentials. I sampled some of the body butter and the scent stayed on me for the rest of the evening! It was so great to hear from Chef Chris Williams about the market and the history of El Dorado Ballroom. He has done a lot for the community and he continues to do great things with his businesses including his non-profit foundation (Lucille's 1913). I admittedly wasn't familiar with Rado Market before this event, but now that I am, I will definitely be back for brunch and to purchase more local goods. Thank you Jando, Yelp HTX, all of the small business owners, Chef Chris, and Rado Market employees for a fun and informative evening!

    Photos
    Elite Event: BHM Market at The Rado Market - The Peach Cobbler Lady

    The Peach Cobbler Lady

    Elite Event: BHM Market at The Rado Market - Oxtail slider

    Oxtail slider

    Elite Event: BHM Market at The Rado Market - The Peach Cobbler Lady

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    The Peach Cobbler Lady

    Houston AAPI Film Festival

    Houston AAPI Film Festival

    5.0(2 reviews)
    17.7 miWestchase

    In case you missed virtual HAAPIFest in 2020 due to CoVid19 pandemic, movie screening is continuous…read morethroughout the year. The festival was June 4-14 with various topics daily shown on Eventive Virtual. Admission was free and it accepts donations during the screenings of over 40 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) films and special LIVE and pre-recorded Q&As with filmmakers. I attended the preseason teaser screening in May. It was kind of fun until the movie stopped due to technical difficulties. Not sure if it was my internet connection or from the host's computer. I didn't stay to the end (maybe it was the end). The fun part was that participants can chat while watching the movie (I think that was the reason for crashing). I heard from the festival organizer, they can show more movies outside of festival. For example, ASIAN AMERICANS Documentary will be featured at the Virtual OCA National Convention this Sunday August 2nd. I'm waiting FERMENTED movie to be shown again. Because I want to host a virtual watch party with my foodie friends. What's 2021 gonna look like? I don't care it is gonna be virtual or in person, as long as Houston AAPI Film Festival continues forever.

    Fantastic festival to learn about Asian American Culture. Awesome experience to learn the…read moresimilarity between the Latin culture and the Asian culture, and the struggle that they both gone through. What a great experiences.

    Photos
    Houston AAPI Film Festival - Q&A with director of "Fermented"

    Q&A with director of "Fermented"

    Houston AAPI Film Festival - When I was speaking to an audience about my fermentation process.

    When I was speaking to an audience about my fermentation process.

    Houston AAPI Film Festival - Director Q&A

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    Director Q&A

    Elite Week: Barry's Houston - Brian, Nancy, Zain, Mark

    Elite Week: Barry's Houston

    4.4(72 reviews)
    26.3 miRiver Oaks, Montrose

    Thanks Yelp Houston, Jando, and Barry's for this amazing sweaty Elite 2 week event…read more I was so excited that Yelp decided on something fun, different, and active to start the new year on the right foot. Or at least offer an event to those that are wanting to start or remain getting fit. Barry's is an fancy and hip place for HIIT, that I have heard of but never been. This was an amazing opportunity to try something new for zero cost or commitment. A regular drop in class is on pricey side, almost $40 buck which is high end for the average crossfit, or gym drop in. Rebecca was super nice at the front desk, giving me a great lowdown of the land. My 2 classes 1. Abs & Ass 2. Full Body lower focus, was challenging! But the 2 instructors I had Lacy & Riti did there best to demo or talk it out, and give great energy and motivation. The class moves fast, which leads to real calorie burn. Thank you Yelp, keep up these kind of great events.

    I was very excited to see this event. I've been wanting to see Yelp Houston do some physical health…read moreactivities like I've seen other cities. I've heard of Barry's but have never been. Unfortunately, I had more things I didn't like about this experience than things I did. I didn't like I had to pay for parking. I know this isn't the gyms doing but it still sucks to have to pay for parking to workout. Walking in I was greeted with lots of energy and smiles. After getting checked in by the staff I was given a quick run through of how the class will be. And I do mean quick, from all the information given all I could remember was "you'll be at station 11". Once we were allowed in the classroom, the loud music started. I personally like having the music loud when working out but not when the instruction is yelling what items we need for the workout. The classroom had multiple stations set up, I would say too many. When getting equipment or moving to the treadmills it was congested. I was constantly saying, excuse me, pardon me? can I get by. Once the class started the instructor turned to music up even louder while speaking into the microphone headset. The micro microphone wasn't the best quality as his voice came out distorted over the speakers. I found myself looking to other people that have been there before to copy what they were doing. I didn't feel bad as I saw I wasn't the only that looked lost. The excuses we did were very basic and reminded me of the old lady on channel 8 (PBS) that would workout in a chair. Once the class was over you have the option of getting a juice from their juice bar. I felt the prices were a bit high but I can see you're paying for the convenience. I'm grateful for the experience but I won't be signing up for a membership here.

    Photos
    Elite Week: Barry's Houston
    Elite Week: Barry's Houston - Juice bar

    Juice bar

    Elite Week: Barry's Houston

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    Bering Omega's Toga Party: Gods & Goddesses

    Bering Omega's Toga Party: Gods & Goddesses

    5.0(4 reviews)
    26.6 miMontrose

    I'm so sad that this review has been pending for so long! This was one of the first real toga…read moreparties I have ever attend. It was so much fun and filled with such great company. The are food, drinks, yoga, and dancing! What else could you ask for?

    What a wonderful event! Thank you David N., Yelp, Bering Omega, Barefoot, The Counter, St…read more Arnold's Brewery, Dripping Springs, and other sponsors for the unexpectedly stupendous bash So okay, up until this point, I've never actually attended a toga party. I wasn't very socially inclined in college and I'm not very good at adhering to party themes (yes, I have "party pooper" tendencies, so what?). But then I thought "why not?" and pulled out that ole long transformer dress (mine is brown, but ladies - the white ones are perfect for toga parties, although I didn't exactly tie mine "toga style," but anyway, just FYI!) and dug up a twin flat sheet out for the boyfriend to show that yes, we were darn well trying, and made our way to the adorable Craft Salon. The Counter was doling out Greek-inspired sliders to the attendees and from what I understand, they were quite tasty. Us Yelpers congregated, snapped a few photos, and then proceeded to get our drink-on. I was a bit surprised at the roominess of Craft Salon, but then again, they stripped the place down to allow for small sponsor display, propped by the hair stylist stations, and a couple of tables and stools for the weary (like me). We continued to chat it up, strike our best yoga pose ("Tired tipsy girl sitting on bar stool" - know that one? Cuz I do!), sip our plentiful wines, beers, and vodka beverages, and marvel at other attendees' ridiculous and brilliant toga creations. I was quite appreciative of the efficiency by which I received my wines, despite there being only two bar stations. I was a little bit disgruntled about the one-person restroom (see "efficiency by which I received my wines"), but hey, I managed to make it out mostly alive . . .? The DJ was pretty darn great, and ceremoniously started streaming Journey and 80's hits as the evening came to a close, much to everyone's intoxicated delight. For this being only the second year that Bering Omega has put on this event, it was really quite impressive and entertaining, and it's all for a terrific cause too. I mean, I am almost feeling inspired to actually design some crazy sort of toga for next year, but let's not be too overzealous yet . . . this is only my first toga party, but certainly not my last.

    Photos
    Bering Omega's Toga Party: Gods & Goddesses
    Bering Omega's Toga Party: Gods & Goddesses
    Bering Omega's Toga Party: Gods & Goddesses

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    Elite Event: Lagos Buka - yelpevents - Updated August 2026

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