Houston’s Spanish Village Set for Revival as Mixed-Use Project
– A beloved Houston Tex-Mex restaurant, Spanish Village, is poised to return as a mixed-use project, according to reports. The restaurant, which closed in 2023, was known for its birria tacos and had become a longtime favorite among Houston diners.
Details surrounding the project are still emerging, but the revival signals a return of a significant piece of Houston’s culinary landscape. Spanish Village’s closure in 2023 left a void for many fans of the restaurant’s traditional Tex-Mex fare.
The news comes amidst a broader trend of iconic restaurant spaces being reimagined in the Houston area. A separate report highlighted activity surrounding the former Paulie’s restaurant space, indicating a dynamic shift in the city’s dining scene.
While specific plans for the mixed-use development haven’t been fully disclosed, the return of Spanish Village is generating excitement among Houston residents. The restaurant previously operated at 4720 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77004, and boasted a substantial online presence with numerous photos available on platforms like Yelp.
Elsewhere, chef Ray Garcia is preparing to revive his landmark Mexican restaurant, Broken Spanish, in Culver City, California. Garcia will open Broken Spanish Comedor as a residency within chef Jason Neroni and Sprout Hospitality’s Best Bet Pizzeria space, which closed in 2023. He plans to open a permanent Broken Spanish 2.0 location in 2026, regardless of the Comedor residency’s duration.
Garcia’s approach with Broken Spanish Comedor will be to offer approachable modern Mexican American fare, maintaining the quality and passion of the original Broken Spanish and its sister restaurant, B.S. Taqueria, which continues to operate in Las Vegas. He describes the new venture as a “neighborhood offshoot” with a community-centric focus on both food and drinks.
The revival of Broken Spanish follows a period of change for Garcia, including the end of Levy Restaurants’ contract at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in June, which shuttered Asterid and all food service at the venue. Garcia has been actively planning his next moves, with the Broken Spanish Comedor residency serving as a stepping stone towards the full reopening of Broken Spanish.
The return of Spanish Village in Houston and the resurrection of Broken Spanish in Los Angeles represent a broader trend of beloved restaurants finding new life, adapting to changing circumstances, and continuing to serve their communities.
