Stopped by this new Japanese restaurant while showing properties nearby this weekend. The menu and interior design caught my attention right away, so I decided to give it a try. Ordered: Wagyu ramen Wagyu rice bowl Wagyu soup dumplings Mango matcha coffee The mango matcha coffee was surprisingly good and really unique. Everything tasted solid, but the Wagyu rice bowl was definitely the standout for me. Super flavorful and honestly the best dish I ordered. read more

See all

I went during their soft opening. And since the restaurant just recently opened, please bear in mind they're still finding their footing and that wait times will fluctuate greatly. That being said, I had a great time! Staff was very attentive despite how busy it was, and I personally thought the food was great. I had the kakiage (shrimp and veggie fritter) and the NY Strip gyukatsu plate, since that's their specialty. It being my first time ever having gyukatsu, I think this was a great introduction to the dish. The portions were very generous as well! I like to think I can pack away plenty of food, but even I left stuffed. I am now unfortunately chasing the high of a well-made gyukatsu thanks to Ryori Lab, and will be attempting a recipe at home. I'd love to take my family and friends here! Good stuff, imo. Looking forward to the next visit for sure. read more

I really liked the experience here!! There's no place in Houston that has a gyukatsu experience like this. The New York strip gyukatsu was tasty and well-priced for what it was and what it comes with. I particularly enjoyed eating it with the curry they provided. My boyfriend's came more gray colored than mine out of the kitchen (overcooked? or bad meat?), which he did not enjoy, but the few slices that were actually rare as intended tasted good. The unagi don I was a bit disappointed in. It tasted like frozen eel and was slimy at the bottom to the point where I couldn't cut it with my spoon into different sections to eat it because the imy skin kept sticking together. Such a shame because the non-slimy parts paired with the dashi broth tasted so good. My boyfriend also enjoyed the sunrise matcha drink. Service was very nice and respectful of our large party size. I hope the quality control improves, as I really like this concept and the potential is there for sure. read more

See all

Officially been open for 2 months! They have had their soft openings, but not an official grand opening yet. Made resy ahead of time and was able to be seated right away. The servers were attentive and gave great suggestions! Started off with the recommended non-alcoholic drinks which were the Strawberry Sparkling and it was light/refreshing with good fruity sweetness. For apps, we got the Shrimp Kakiage (nice/crispy fritter with shrimp and veggies), Fried Chicken (crispy/juicy as well) and the Crispy Tofu with Truffled Mushrooms (really enjoyed this app and loved the flavors it had, MUST GET app). For the main, we got the New York Strip Fried Beef Cutlet. Included was some mixed steamed/sauteed veggies (mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, onions), Rice (great cookie on the sushi rice), salad and curry sauce (loved this flavor and went great with the cutlet). The Ponzu sauce + Salt combo dipping was really tasty! I even had to ask for more! I think the NY strip was the way to go because it still held its tenderness/fattiness and melted in your mouth, while still being meaty. We were also celebrating a birthday and they complimentary matcha icecream with honeycomb! Excellent sweet treat to end the meal. Parking - free within the plaza next to JAM Vietnamese Restaurant The ambiance was really modern and had some Japan influences. Its not 100% like Japan, but its pretty darn close and in the city to get your Gyu Katsu Fix! I would come back to try their Ramen and Bentos next time! Also, nice touch at the end of the meal they send you home with some barely tea to enjoy at home! read more

See all

Awesome. HIGHKY RECOMMEND!!! We tried one of everything . The steak was awesome. The staff and service were great and explained everything. read more

See all

This place is a "kitchen lab," that have unique creations. It does look like a kitchen lab with the decorations. The service was good. The waitress explained our dishes once they were delivered. The New York Strip Gyu-katsu was yummy & tender. It pairs great with the salt & yuzu sauce. The rice was a little dry, but a little better if you added the curry. I didn't like the zucchini side dish that much. The salad was good. The signature Tori Paiten was good as well. The broth was flavorful & creamy. The wagyu & chicken were soft & tender. Overall, the food was good, but a little expensive. It's good to try it once. read more

Ryori Lab - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I didn't have high expectations due to some other reviews I've read but this place surprised me. When I first walked in I noticed the place had decor that matched its name and so it makes you feel like you're in a "kitchen lab." The place is definitely unique and the items on the menu were based off of a variety of Japanese food. I tried the Wagyu soup dumpling, which the waitress did notify me that it does take awhile to make. I did end up getting them last. I ordered the signature Tori paitan which was creamy and flavorful. It had peppery flavored chicken, beef, and wonton. It also included a half soft boiled egg. This is now probably my top favorite ramens in Houston. I would highly recommend you try this especially if you like creamy ramens. The other item I ordered was the NY strip katsu and they bring it out with a small bowl of rice and curry. The curry was flavorful and it was a nice little dipping sauce for the meat. The meat also has its own sauces in a tray too if that wasn't enough. The meat itself is ready to eat but if you want it cooked a bit more they give you tabletop burner. The service was excellent as well. The waitress explained everything well and if I had any questions she was knowledgeable over the menu. She also let me know about the hidden drawer spot on the table where it had napkins. read more

See all

The food here is surprisingly pretty good, especially for a new place that opened not long ago. I especially like the gyukatsu and matcha latte. The signature ramen is pretty good too. We also got egg fried rice which was a bit bland so I recommend getting the other dishes. We had to wait 50 mins, but it wasn't bad because we had to run errands nearby. You can go grocery shopping while waiting. The place is decorated pretty well, but one down side is that the restaurant is quite warm compared to other restaurants we've been to. It would be nice if the place is cooler. read more

See all

Ryori Lab is a Japanese restaurant on Westheimer and is especially known for their gyukatsu, or stone-grilled, flash-fried beef. I had gyukatsu a few times during my visit to Japan and absolutely love it, especially the Motomura Gyukatsu chain, and was looking for something similar. There has not been a gyukatsu place in Houston, and I think this is the first in Texas! I got the wagyu gyukatsu set while my friend got the New York strip one. They both came with the same sides consisting of rice, curry, miso soup, and salad. I kind of wished there were more sides, like grated yam or sweet smashed potatoes like the other places I had, but it was still very filling. Both of the meat were good quality. The New York one was pretty tender, but the wagyu melted in your mouth! The For the wagyu, they put butter on the stone grill, but since the meat was fattier, the oil splashed a lot. I think they should put butter only for the New York strip and not the wagyu for this reason. In previous times where I had gyukatsu, they did not put butter on the grill itself, and there was no splashing of oil. The server was abrupt and got frustrated when we asked for more flame for the grill, as the flame had ran out mid-meal. Because it was busy, I can understandably see that she was stressed, but she was quite rude and made the experience awkward, dampening the mood. We went during their soft opening, so there was a bit of a wait. You can put your name down, and come back when you are called. We just walked to the local cafe, La Plume, in the the same plaza and ate dessert in reverse before our dinner. There is also a Teso and Trader Joe's nearby to kill time. The interior is nice and gives Japanese-Scandinavian vibes. Although there were some hiccups and a long wait, I will think I will definitely be back when the hype dies down and less of a wait! read more

See all

We were very excited to try this place for the gyukatsu. It was easy to get a reservation for 9 pm on Friday and the restaurant wasn't full. The yuzu sparkling drink was good and refreshing! We ordered takoyaki and crispy tofu for apps. One of the takoyaki balls was actually cold inside and the rest were just warm, not piping hot like we usually expect. We told one of the waiters who said they would let the chef know. The cripsy tofu on the other hand was delicious, super crispy and flavorful with the mushrooms, would get this again! For the entree, we were reminiscing of gyukatsu from Japan so we had high expectations. We tried the NY strip and it was not bad but still not like the ones in Japan. The breading itself was a little salty and didn't like how there was butter on the cooking stone already. The diping sauces were good especially the yuzu one and it was definitely a filling meal but I wouldn't go out of my way to come for it. My friend got the A5 wagyu truffle mushroom iron pot rice and that was absolutely delicious! It was super flavorful, umami and a dish I would come back to order myself! All in all, there were definitely some hits but also some misses. I would come back and perhaps try some other stuff off the menu but probably wouldn't get the gyukatsu again unless I was craving it. read more

Ryori Lab - gyukatsu - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Tried this place on a weekday lunch and it was pretty good. The restaurant was nicely decorated and they had the cutest serving ware. I had the crispy truffle tofu, wagyu dumplings, and unagi set. Wasn't a fan of the wagyu dumplings but loved the other two dishes. The eel was good quality. Would def come back to try some other dishes. read more

Ryori Lab - Truffle tofu (above) and unagi set - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

I went for lunch after seeing this place online and I loved the vibes. The interior is really well decorated and looks very modern yet simple. The service was quick and friendly. They were very patient when going through the menu and giving my table recommendations which I appreciated. We settled on the new york strip gyu katsu, the crispy tofu with truffled mushrooms, the Japanese stuffed jalapeno peppers, the brussels sprouts, the waygu soup dumplings, and the uji matcha ice cream with warabi mochi. The new york strip gyu katsu was SO good. They give you a hot plate to cook it to your liking and the butter on the hot skittle really enhanced the flavor of the beef. It was very tender and also came with a curry sauce to dip in. I also enjoyed the braised vegetables it came with and the fresh side salad. I would definitely come back for this! (9/10) The crispy tofu with truffle mushrooms was okay. The breading on the tofu was crispy and the mushrooms were well cooked but the tofu itself had no flavor. It made the dish as a whole taste bland. (4/10) The Japanese stuffed jalapeno peppers were better. I think the pepper was nicely grilled and I liked the sauce it came with. I think the sauce was a bit over powering though but it had good flavor. (6/10) The brussels sprouts were good as well. The sauce it came with was tasty and the portion was generous. I just wish the brussels sprouts were crispier. (6.5/10) The waygu soup dumplings were just okay as well. They tasted like any other xiao long bao. I wish they had more soup in them as well. Overall pretty standard. (6/10) The uji matcha ice cream with mochi was yummy! The matcha ice cream had a great matcha taste and the mochi dusted in matcha powder added a nice texture. It was not too sweet which I liked. (7/10) Overall, I did enjoy my experience there as a whole. The food did take a bit to come out, but the service made up for it. The staff gave us a welcome in pink lemonade and potato salad which was nice. Also, as a to go gift they gave out barely tea packets which was such a cute touch. I would be open to coming back and trying more dishes. read more

See all

I went for lunch after they had to close for a few days to tidy up their staff. They said they expanded their cooks from like 3 folks to 7 From my experience, really enjoyed the service, the time was no wait to be seated, and food came out in less than 10 minutes. The gyu-katsu was very tasty. Maybe a little gimmicky with the hot stone to cook the meat longer, I felt it was perfectly cooked as-is, and just cooked it for a little longer just to get that extra butter flavor For drinks, they have a nice matcha menu. Ended up ordering the mango one. Very good Ambiance had a very classy vibe to it. They were playing classical music throughout and you can tell they wanted to have a very nice modern chic vibe inside read more

Ryori Lab - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I had the chance to check out Ryori Lab during their soft opening, and the space itself is absolutely stunning. The design feels very intentional and cozy, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. We were welcomed with a complimentary lemon drink and egg salad, which was a thoughtful start. We ordered the takoyaki and tori paitan ramen first--both were solid. The takoyaki stood out with a slight wasabi note in the octopus, which added a unique twist. The ramen was rich and creamy, exactly what you'd expect from a good tori paitan. The mapo tofu, however, was a bit more experimental. The soy milk is poured tableside into a donabe and allowed to set before adding the meat. The result was an extremely silky texture--so soft that it felt a bit unusual compared to typical silken tofu. The ground meat was quite heavily seasoned, and while I understand the intention to balance the mild soy base, the combination didn't fully come together for me. I ended up relying on rice to offset the saltiness, but there wasn't quite enough provided. Timing was also a small issue, as the meat cooled down during the wait. The miso soup that came with the set didn't quite taste like traditional miso soup, and I even had to double-check with the server. That said, this was during their soft opening, so there's definitely room for improvement . I'd be interested in coming back after their grand opening to see how things evolve and to try more dishes. read more

See all

Was super easy to get a reservation to Ryori on a Friday night. They had a variety of menu items and service was great and attentive. We were interested in Ryori as it was the only/first place to open with the gyukatsu concept. To be honest, we were chasing for the flavors we remembered in Japan. Although, that was a high expectation to chase. Other items: - Coconut tempura shrimp was good. - Soup dumplings were okay - Matcha was okay, a little too milky for my liking. All in all, place had very cute vibes and hits the occasional cravings. read more

A few friends and I wanted to try this place out after seeing it on social. It was super exciting for me since the last time I had this was actually back in Japan so I had an idea of how this works. The staff were super friendly and very kind. The sake was sweet and subtle and I really like the contraption that they used to serve it. The chamber of it kept the drink cold the whole time we were there. I was slightly disappointed on the food. It started with high expectation with the mashed potato and the pink lemonade. (Amazing potatoes). The chicken Ramen was average to me. I did not like the Waygu soup dumplings. The Waygu meatballs were good and would order again. I had the Waygu steak and my friend had a New York strip steak.. I actually like the New York strip steak better, as weird as that sounds. Maybe I've started outgrowing the Waygu taste? I did like the side components that came with a set. There was a nice salad, a curry, dipping sauce, a small dish stew in a few dipping choices. I really like to yuzu sauce, but the curry one was a miss. I think that one needs more work. On the men, there was a few other dishes that looked really intriguing so those are the ones I want to try next time with my husband. Also, I really like the decoration here. They had like lab like specimens and jars and maps of random miscellaneous things. I just really enjoyed that it felt like you were a part of a museum. If it was allowed, I would've loved just to look around at all the items in the restaurant, but I would probably be bothering other customers. Overall, it was a fun experience that you can't find elsewhere in Houston. This is definitely really cute for a date night or besties catching up or one on one to spend some quality time with someone close to you. Right now is RSVP only due to soft opening so make sure you book before you go. read more

See all

Food was delicious! Service was great even though they were very busy. Ambiance was very nice. read more

Ryori Lab - Bento box - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

We came for dinner and really enjoyed the Wagyu gyu Katsu. The staff was very friendly and even welcomed us with pink lemonade shots--our kids especially loved that. I'd recommend coming with an open mind. It's still a soft opening, so they're working out a few things, but with a little patience, you'll have a great experience! Love the interior. Beautifully designed and curated. read more

See all

Service was good at this new spot in Houston! The ambiance is aesthetic and very clean, definitely get vibes of Japan with lots of wood fixtures and surfaces all around. The food unfortunately was not Japan quality. The A5 wagyu was not very tender, despite being Wagyu it was fairly stringy and difficult to eat. The portions of the Gyu Katsu set was pretty small especially the amount of rice that was given. The ramen tasted good but the beef short rib and Wagyu in it also had similar texture that made it difficult to eat. I think the quality of the meat could have been better especially since they only offer beef as the protein choice, there was no pork option. Definitely would have been more enjoyable with better quality beef and bigger rice portions read more

Ryori Lab - A5 Wagyu Katsu & Signature Tori Paitan Ramen - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

We made reservations and enjoyed some tasty (albeit moderately oily) New York Strip steak. This experience was truly one of the most unique, with the only other place I've had this experience being in Japan. The meat itself was well-breaded and plentiful, and I enjoyed the curry, salad, and vegetable sides which balanced out some of the initial oily-ness of the meat. All in all, service was prompt, the ambiance was nice, and the food good. This is one of the most unique dining experiences I've had in Houston, and I would recommend folks give it a shot. read more

MUST TRYYYYYYY! I'm no Japanese food expert but this place serves great tasting food. Place is really cool, matches how great the food is. Service is excellent, not over down. Music is adequate with a cool vibe. Great value for money, on the inexpensive side - please don't raise your prices. Super great dining experience. Excited to be back and try other items on the menu. read more

See all

MOLD, raw chicken, semi raw dumplings. Man this place is a mess. What owner decides to only hire 2 front of house staff on a weekend? They had to turn away folks because they were being slammed. The spicy pickles jar on the table had white mold growing on it. Thinking it was a fluke, I checked another table. Yup mold. I checked a 3rd table. Yep mold. I informed one of the workers but was semi shocked that they didn't pull all the jars from every table. The worker was already overwhelmed by having to be a host and runner and server for 10 tables. The shrimp tempura was a hunk of grease. The Xiao long bag was clearly a frozen product and wasn't even completely cooked. The dough was still raw. The fried chicken was undercooked. I don't blame the workers. I blame the owners, who don't seem to have proper procedures or were willing to hire more workers for a weekend. Why be cheap? Smh. I was really don't post negative reviews so I didnt take a photo of the mold (it was bad, bad enough I'm sure many customers have seen it or gotten sick from it). I decided to write this review because I'm currently sick due to this food. I shouldn't have eaten the chicken. I should've left when I saw the mold in multiple tables in the spicy pickle jars. read more

Ryori Lab - Raw chicken. I didn't take a photo of the mold in the pickle jars. - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

What a fun experience! Super friendly staff and the food is amazing! Will definitely be back! They gave us complimentary potato salad and Non Alcoholic pink lemonade! So good!! read more

See all

Loved the service and ambiance here! The yuzu broth was super flavorful and the highlight for us. We just wished the ramen had a bit more meat compared to the noodles. The gyukatsu ended up a little soggy after grilling, but still tasty overall. Looking forward to what they have to offer for their grand opening! read more

Ryori Lab - yuzu a5 wagyu tori paitan - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Really bad service. Hostesses didnt welcome or even communicate wait times or even put me down on the wait list. Was ignored even after trying to get their attention after waiting around for 10 minutes. In the end, couldn't get any help so left. read more

The food was delicious and the ambiance was cozy and relaxing. Great place to dine and enjoy with family and friends! read more

Ryori Lab - The food was delicious and the ambiance was cozy and relaxing. Great place to dine and enjoy with family and friends! - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Food, service and ambiance were amazing. I came to try this place out because it's a different kind of Japanese style restaurant and did not disappoint. Wagyu soup dumplings were good and different because it's usually pork. The Wagyu pot rice was the best dish out of all. The ramen was also different with the yuzu in the soup and not the usual oily pork bone soup. Definitely recommending to friends and family! read more

See all

Went back again had amazing service again this time we had Ramen and fried rice both were excellent. read more

See all

Tried this new place. We have had gyu katsu in Tokyo few times so it's not a new concept to us. The front desk asked for our name but we do not have reservation. They seated us anyway. Overall food tasted good but few things need to be taken care off: 1. Rice is undercooked to an unacceptable level. Needs more water and longer time to simmer the rice. 2. Shrimp tempura flavor is good but middle is cold. Again undercooked. 3. Skin on the steak is oily which is ok but we were expecting a more crispy and fluffy outer shell. 4. The wasabi / yuzu paste condiment provided is not enough to pair with the food. Also they have very good spicy pickled muster green on the table but no one told us they have this can pair with the food. In my opinion you should put the pickled muster green with the plate and get rid of the wasabi. Overall deco is very high standard and modern. Money well spent. This is just soft opening so we will come back after their grand opening and hope they will iron these odds out. A good restaurant with potential to become an awesome dining experience. read more

Ryori Lab - Shrimp tempura - Steakhouses Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Came there at 3:30pm, was told there is a 30 min wait. No issue with that. But then they called 40 mins later and said they are closing at 6pm and to come back at that time. How unorganized. Don't do a soft opening if you aren't staffed correctly. Ridiculous read more

Terrible service and extremely unprepared. We waited for over an hour and no staff came to communicate or help the long line of people standing at the front door. After someone finally came to the front, they then told us that they were going to start staggering the wait list. They would call only 3 groups at once, WHILE having 9 tables open. This genuinely makes no sense to me. Staff was not helpful at all when we asked them questions multiple times and only received roundabout answers, claiming they are operating slow because they did not expect this many customers. How can you open a restaurant and not be prepared to serve the amount of tables you have? We ended up leaving because we had been standing there waiting for an hour and a half and probably wouldn't have been seated for another hour or two. read more