In D Kitchen, the compact Uptown Vietnamese counter-serve that powered many Houston lunch breaks, is calling it quits after service on Dec. 23. The closure caps an eight-year run and leaves a tight-knit circle of regulars without their dependable pho and banh mi fix.
Announcement And Last Service
According to the Chron, the restaurant broke the news in a Facebook post on Thursday, writing, “It is with heavy hearts and deep gratitude that we share that In D Kitchen will be closing its doors.” The owners told followers the business would close for good after service on Dec. 23, and added a small glimmer of hope, promising that “this won't be the last” fans hear from them.
Menu And Storefront
The small counter spot sits on Yorktown Street about a half-mile northwest of The Galleria and has operated since 2017 out of a compact storefront in an Uptown shopping center. As detailed on In D Kitchen, the menu has featured pho, vermicelli bowls, banh mi, rice plates and other Vietnamese comfort staples that became favorites for nearby office workers.
A Tough Year For Local Eateries
The farewell is part of a bigger wave of restaurant closures across Houston this year. The Chron noted that the original This Is It Soul Food, Ostia, Ginger & Fork and Riel are among the city’s 2025 shutdowns, and reported that Arnaldo Richards' Picos is planning to close on Dec. 31. Restaurateurs around town have pointed to rising food and labor costs, higher property taxes and rent, and persistent staff shortages as reasons so many places are going dark.
In its Facebook post, the In D Kitchen team thanked customers for eight years of support and said serving the neighborhood “has truly been an honor.” With the last bowls and sandwiches set to go out on Tuesday, the little dining room is expected to fall quiet after the holiday week unless the owners follow through on that hint that something new could be on the horizon.
