Zoa Moroccan Kitchen is zeroing in on Memorial City with a new location at 9807 Katy Freeway, giving the fast-casual chain its fourth Houston-area outpost. The spot, listed as "Coming Soon" on the restaurant's website, will take over a former coffee shop in a ground-floor unit near Memorial City Mall and convert it into roughly 1,750 square feet of restaurant space.
A filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation pegs the unit at about 1,750 square feet and puts the build-out cost around $250,000, with construction scheduled from March through June. The filing notes that the space will sit next to Le Peep and Snap Kitchen on the ground floor of a five-story building. ZOA did not immediately return a request for comment, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Where It Will Sit
The address, 9807 Katy Freeway, is the Air Liquide Center North, a five-story, Class A office building inside the Memorial City complex. Leasing information notes the building sits at the southwest corner of Memorial City Way and the I-10 access road and features a mix of ground-floor retail that serves nearby offices and the mall. That ground-floor setup puts the new unit within easy reach of both workers and shoppers; see Memorial City.
What To Expect From ZOA
ZOA's website describes the Memorial outpost as focusing on customizable bowls built with warm spices, marinated proteins and handcrafted Moroccan sauces, with dine-in, pickup, delivery, and catering options on tap. The brand highlights halal proteins and quick, fast-casual service at its other Houston locations. The Memorial listing on ZOA's site currently reads "Coming Soon." See ZOA Moroccan Kitchen.
Who's Behind ZOA
Chef-owner Youssef Nafaa founded ZOA and operates it under Bella Restaurants Group. He opened the first location in 2020 and has been expanding the concept since. Nafaa told Axios last year that a Memorial City spot was already in the brand's growth plans. The new TDLR filing locks that in with a specific address and construction window.
There is still no official opening date beyond the March-to-June remodel timeline, and ZOA's site remains the only public signal so far. We will be watching the build-out and any updates from the company or the building's leasing team.
