Cabo Bob's, the Austin-born burrito chain, is sliding into the former Taco Cabana building on Kirby Drive inside Houston's Inner Loop, setting up another shakeup in Upper Kirby's late-night Tex-Mex landscape. City and state filings tied to the site point to a full renovation and a construction schedule that could have the new spot up and running by the end of the year, as local chains and regional brands keep shuffling around the neighborhood.
Permit filings show a $500K remodel
According to the Houston Chronicle, project details submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation show Cabo Bob's filed a permit to open at 3905 Kirby Dr. The filing outlines an estimated $500,000 renovation for a roughly 4,000-square-foot restaurant, with construction slated to begin in September and wrap by the end of the year. The Chronicle also notes the company confirmed earlier this spring that it is taking over the former Taco Cabana space, although it has not yet announced an official opening date.
What Cabo Bob's is
Cabo Bob's launched in Austin in 2008 and markets itself around made-to-order tortillas, oversized burritos and a build-your-own setup, according to Cabo Bob's. The chain's site highlights multiple Texas locations and describes Houston as a growth market for the concept.
Local footprint grows
Once the Kirby restaurant opens, it will become Cabo Bob's first Inner Loop Houston location and its fifth in the greater Houston area, joining locations near Meadows Place, Uptown, Willowbrook and Katy, the Chronicle reports. That lineup reflects a steady, years-long push into the Houston market.
Former Taco Cabana and neighborhood context
The building at 3905 Kirby Dr. previously housed a Taco Cabana that shut down during a wave of Houston-area closures in late 2025, the company confirmed to Community Impact. The corner at Kirby and U.S. 59 has long operated as a late-night, drive-thru destination, so Cabo Bob's move essentially swaps one Texas Tex-Mex operator for another without breaking the late-hours streak.
Property listing and permitting notes
The site went on the market for lease in December 2025, according to a commercial listing on LoopNet, where brokers have promoted the parcel for potential redevelopment. Neighbors and hungry passersby can expect more visible permit postings and inspection activity as the remodel moves forward.
What to watch next
Cabo Bob's has not shared an opening date yet, so the timing will likely come into focus as permits progress and construction milestones are checked off. For the most direct updates, keep an eye on Cabo Bob's and the City of Houston permit portal for filings tied to 3905 Kirby Dr.
