After two years of pop ups and snaking lines, Enso is finally putting down roots in the Heights. The matcha outfit that helped kick off Houston’s recent green-tea obsession is opening its first permanent counter at 718 W. 18th St., with a grand opening set for June 27, 2026. The traveling operation is turning into a daily neighborhood stop.
According to the Houston Chronicle, co-owners Danny Kim, Anh Ngo and Tyler Ho launched Enso as a pop up in May 2024, then ramped up quickly in 2025. The Chronicle reports that the team skipped paid influencer campaigns yet still pulled in hefty lines, and that the June 27 opening will feature giveaways and a nod to the businesses that hosted their early pop ups.
What To Expect At The Counter
Per Enso’s menu, the Heights shop will keep the rotating specialty lattes that regulars know from the pop ups and will also serve five traditional unflavored matcha strains with tasting notes such as toasted nuts, toasted oat and cacao. The listed specialty flavors include Buruberi (blueberry lavender), Cherri (cherry vanilla), Mango, Pandan and Cloud (coconut water). All syrups and infused milks are made in house. The owners also plan to add brewed teas alongside their ceremonial grade powders.
Hours And Launch Week
The shop is slated to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 21, then pause from June 22 to 26 for final prep. A grand opening on June 27 will come with extended hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The owners told the Chronicle they are expecting heavy foot traffic at first and are planning giveaways for opening day customers.
Where They Built Their Following
Enso’s fan base grew through a steady run of pop ups and collaborations around Houston, including a months-long residency at Norigami. Per Enso’s event calendar, the brand appeared at Norigami several days a week, and Norigami shows the restaurant hosting the matcha pop up.
Matcha In Houston
The move from folding table to fixed address tracks with Houston’s broader matcha moment, where specialist cafes and creative latte menus have multiplied across the city, according to Eater Houston. For anyone keeping an eye on caffeine, Harvard Health notes that matcha typically carries more caffeine than steeped green tea but less than coffee, with roughly 38–89 mg per 8 ounce cup compared with about 100–120 mg for a similar serving of coffee.
Lines are likely during opening week. The team says they are bracing for busy days and plans to use the launch to recognize the neighborhood businesses that supported them when they were a pop up. Heights regulars will soon have a permanent counter for ceremonial grade matcha and seasonal concoctions.
