Michelin-Recognized ChòpnBlọk Is Bringing West African Cuisine to Memorial City in 2027

Houston's dining scene is getting a new destination for West African cuisine. ChòpnBlọk, the Houston-born restaurant known for its bold Nigerian and West African flavors, is expanding to Memorial City with a third location planned for summer 2027.

The restaurant will open at Greenside Memorial, MetroNational's mixed-use development near Memorial City Mall. The new location will be the brand's largest yet, featuring approximately 3,700 square feet of indoor dining space and a 1,100-square-foot outdoor patio.

For West Houston residents, the opening will bring a nationally recognized Houston restaurant closer to home. ChòpnBlọk has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction and national attention for introducing diners to West African culinary traditions through a contemporary menu.

The expansion also has a personal connection for founder and chef Ope Amosu, who grew up in Southwest Houston and sees the Memorial location as a homecoming.

What Is ChòpnBlọk?

ChòpnBlọk is a Houston-based fast-casual restaurant concept founded by Nigerian American chef Ope Amosu. Its menu draws inspiration from Nigerian and broader West African culinary traditions, combining familiar regional ingredients, traditional cooking techniques and contemporary presentations.

The concept started in 2021 as a food stall at POST Houston, where its signature rice bowls and West African-inspired flavors began attracting a following. In 2024, Amosu expanded the business with its first standalone restaurant in Montrose, giving the concept room to introduce a broader menu and a more complete dining experience.

Today, ChòpnBlọk is recognized as one of Houston's notable destinations for West African food. Its culinary approach centers on making traditional flavors more accessible while introducing diners to ingredients and dishes they may not encounter at typical American restaurants.

The restaurant's recognition includes a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction, an award that highlights restaurants serving high-quality food at a good value. It also appeared on The New York Times' list of America's best restaurants in 2025, earned a spot on Esquire's best new restaurants list, and received national attention for its approach to West African cuisine.

What Can Diners Expect on the Menu?

ChòpnBlọk's menu offers a range of dishes inspired by West African home cooking, particularly Nigerian cuisine.

Rice is a central part of the restaurant's offerings, with different preparations serving as the foundation for flavorful combinations of proteins, vegetables, sauces and plantains.

Some of the dishes that have helped establish its reputation include:

• The Motherland: A signature bowl featuring rice, curry, vegetables and sweet plantains, served with a choice of protein.

• The Black Star: A combination of fried rice, curry, plantains and shrimp.

• The Buka: A rice-and-beans dish served with short rib red stew and plantains.

• Suya beef skewers: Grilled beef seasoned with yaji, a traditional West African spice blend featuring peanuts and pepper.

• Jollof-inspired dishes: Rice preparations built around the rich, smoky and savory flavors associated with West African cooking.

Sweet plantains, coconut curry, peanut-based sauces and spice blends also play important roles throughout the menu.

The restaurant's Montrose location offers an expanded selection of dishes, beverages and desserts, giving diners more ways to explore the flavors and ingredients behind the concept.

While the complete menu for the Memorial location has not yet been announced, the new restaurant is expected to continue the culinary approach that has made ChòpnBlọk popular.

A Houston Restaurant With a Personal Connection to West Houston

The Memorial City expansion carries special meaning for Amosu.

The chef and founder grew up in Southwest Houston, and his decision to bring ChòpnBlọk to West Houston is closely tied to his personal history and the communities that influenced him.

The new location will also bring the restaurant closer to Houston's West African diaspora, including communities in Alief, Westchase and the Energy Corridor.

For residents who have wanted to try ChòpnBlọk but found its existing locations less convenient, the Memorial restaurant will provide another option.

It also gives the restaurant an opportunity to introduce more Houston families to West African cuisine and create a gathering place where food and cultural traditions can be shared across generations.

Inside the New ChòpnBlọk at Greenside Memorial

The upcoming restaurant will occupy approximately 3,700 square feet at Greenside Memorial, making it the largest ChòpnBlọk location to date.

Plans include a dedicated 1,100-square-foot outdoor patio, providing additional space for guests to dine and gather.

The restaurant's design will be developed with Houston-based creative firms AMAO Creative and Gin Design Group, continuing the brand's approach of incorporating cultural storytelling into its dining spaces.

The larger footprint will give the team more room to develop the dining experience while building on the concept established at its Montrose restaurant.

The Memorial location will also feature full-service food and beverage offerings, expanding the brand's presence beyond its original food-hall roots.

ChòpnBlọk Joins the Growing Restaurant Lineup at Greenside Memorial

ChòpnBlọk will become part of Greenside Memorial, a mixed-use development by MetroNational located at 1085 Gessner Road, just north of Memorial City Mall.

The development transforms a collection of former industrial buildings into a destination for restaurants, retail, wellness businesses and other neighborhood-oriented uses.

Several other businesses have been announced for the project, including:

• Hudson House: A restaurant concept known for its East Coast-inspired menu, seafood, cocktails and social dining atmosphere.

• Honest Mary's: A fast-casual restaurant specializing in customizable bowls made with fresh ingredients.

• Merit Coffee: A specialty coffee company with locations across Texas.

• Epic Cycles: A bicycle retailer serving cycling enthusiasts.

• Hiatus Day Spa: A wellness destination offering spa and personal care services.

• Swish Dental: A dental practice expanding its presence in the Memorial area.

With restaurants, shops and wellness businesses coming together, Greenside Memorial is adding another destination for residents around Memorial City, Spring Branch and the Energy Corridor.

When Will ChòpnBlọk Open in Memorial City?

ChòpnBlọk is targeting a summer 2027 opening at Greenside Memorial, located at 1085 Gessner Road in Houston.

The new restaurant will be the brand's third location, joining its existing restaurants at POST Houston downtown and in Montrose.

Although additional details about the Memorial menu and exact opening date have yet to be announced, the expansion is already an exciting development for Houston's dining scene.

For West Houston residents, it means easier access to one of the city's most recognized West African restaurant concepts. And for ChòpnBlọk, it represents an opportunity to bring its food and cultural story back to a community that helped shape its founder.

If you haven't tried West African cuisine yet, this could be a good opportunity to discover something new.

Tag someone in West Houston who needs to try ChòpnBlọk, and follow @houston.unlocked for more Houston restaurant openings, local news and development updates!