Hot African Restaurant Chain Mozambik to Open First U.S. Outposts, in Houston and The Woodlands

Hot African Restaurant Chain Mozambik to Open First U.S. Outposts, in Houston and The Woodlands

Sauces at Mozambik

ONE OF THE African continent's hottest restaurant concepts has chosen Houston and The Woodlands for its first two U.S. locales.


Mozambik, said to be a popular Portuguese-inspired South African concept with 24 outposts throughout South Africa and Zambia, will replace locations of Peli Peli South African Kitchen early next month. It purports to offer the rustic feel of a Mozambican beach with an emphasis on coastal fare and the braai, or grill.

Peli Peli will fade away after having operated in the region for 12 years.

"Restaurateur Ryan Stewart, a Johannesburg native and Houston resident since 2018, will open the concept's first stateside location on Sept. 10 … at The Woodlands Mall," says a rep for the new Mozambik eateries. "A second location will follow soon … in the Houston Galleria."

Stewart added in a statement, explanation his inspiration: "Mozambique is a popular vacation destination for South Africans. The food is influenced by the Portuguese, and that, combined with the local cuisine, has become part of South Africa's diverse cultural landscape."

Signature dishes at Mozambik include peri peri chicken, trinchado, espetadas and what the restaurant describes as South African comfort food staples such as Sodwana Bay crab cakes, Malay curry and shepherd's-pie-like bobotie, traditionally a mixture of curried meat and fruit with a creamy golden topping. Expect also South African wines and an interesting cocktail menu including the "Tipo Tinto" with rum.

Camp Malay Samosas

Bunny Chow Beef

Cauliflower Steak

Chocolate Lekker Tarts

Sticky Toffee Cheesecake

Food

Robert Saucedo has been named artistic director of River Oaks Theatre. (photo by Jason Ostrow)

THE REOPENING OF the storied River Oaks Theatre, which first began showing movies in Houston in 1939, is getting closer to reality after a long restoration process — and now an artistic director has been named.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

THE WRATH OF Hurricane Beryl couldn’t stop the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from presenting 70 students, representing 57 Future Farmers of America chapters from across Texas, with $1.4 million in scholarships to a college of their choice. Scholarships were awarded at last week’s 96th annual Texas FFA State Convention which, amazingly, was held July 8-12 in the George R. Brown Convention Center for the first time in 20 years. The scholarship awards are part of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s $27.3 million dollar commitment this year to support Texas youth and statewide educational programs.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places