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

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

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How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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