Seeking to build upon momentum generated with the recent successful opening of its Bellaire Mandito’s Tex-Mex restaurant, Palacios Murphy Hospitality announced that it will debut a second Houston iteration of the popular concept in Katy at 9910 Gaston Rd Suite 200, Katy, TX 77494 in early 2024. A slightly larger retail footprint than the Bellaire outpost, the Katy Mandito’s Tex-Mex will encompass roughly 5,000 square feet and have 208 seats, including a 50-seat patio.
When it debuts in the winter of next year, Mandito’s Tex-Mex will join a diverse array of food and beverage options in the Katy area, including the suburb’s popular Asia Town dining nucleus and a host of others. Despite this bevy of options for foodies, Palacios Murphy co-owners Cinda and Armando Palacios identified a gap in the marketplace for high-quality Tex-Mex that delivers bold yet accessible flavors to patrons with each dish served. Demographically, the Katy area is growing at around 6 percent annually, and its population increased by 20 percent since 2020, according to the most recent U.S. census data.
A key component of the westward expansion of the Mandito’s brand will be the leadership of Chief Operating Officer Alex Curley, whose family lives in the Cinco Ranch area – a point of pride for him as he prepares to shepherd the new iteration of the concept. Curley’s three children attend public schools within Katy ISD, and he and his wife Jessica are ardent supporters of the PTSA at each school. Additionally, they volunteer as athletic boosters at one of the schools, Tompkins High, and support its orchestra program. Not to be outdone, Alex’s ties to the Katy community extend even deeper, as he annually serves as a volunteer tee ball and baseball coach for several youth leagues—I9 Sports, NZone, and Katy Pony League. His unabashed pride to be part of such a special community shines through whenever he speaks about the place where he and Jessica are raising their family.
“As a Katy resident, I am ecstatic to be able to oversee the construction of a Mandito’s Tex-Mex in the community that I love deeply,” Curley says. He adds, “I have no doubt that Katy residents and visitors to the area’s numerous attractions will quickly fall in love with Mandito’s Tex-Mex. We have put a significant amount of work into making this concept a neighborhood locale that caters to a number of different audiences who are collectively in search of a communal space that prides itself upon delivering delicious food and drink selections and outstanding service to each and every guest.”
To create a similar feel to the Bellaire location, Mandito’s Tex-Mex Katy is being brought to life by New York-based architect Rocco DiLeo in collaboration with the Palacios’s own design influences. The expansive 50-seat patio facing the picturesque Stableside green space at Falcon Landing will provide a space for parents to enjoy dinner while their kids play on the lawn. Specific to the Katy location, a more robust to-go station will be a highlight of the overall restaurant floorplan in order to streamline pick-up operations. Under this expanded to-go emphasis, the concept’s popular bulk Fiesta Packs will be ready within an expedient 15-to-20-minute window in a dedicated area with a separate entrance that will afford busy neighborhood residents the ease of running in and out with their favorite bites.
Authentic Tex-Mex offerings found at Mandito’s Tex-Mex Bellaire (and Round Top) will populate the Mandito’s Katy menu, including the concept’s ‘World Famous’ Burrito Bowl, Tex-Mex Kale Caesar, Tres Hombres Plate and critically acclaimed desserts like the Tex-Mex Banana Split. Katy residents in search of a delectable margarita will find that Mandito’s Tex-Mex boasts a variety of high-end and classic varieties, as well as other cocktails and beverage options.
Beyond the menu’s delicious selections, a core component of the Palacios Murphy brand ethos is commitment to advancing the tenets of education and leadership – both of which are held in the highest regard by company leadership. To that end, Mandito’s Katy will launch a “Spirit Night” program for local schools and sports teams; specific details to follow. Additionally, it will offer a 10% discount for Katy ISD employees with a valid district employment ID and offer a 10% discount for first responders.
The Palacios Murphy team enlisted Simon Ha of Braun Enterprises to execute the Mandito’s Tex-Mex lease in Katy.
