Beloved handroll-focused sushi concept eyes late 2026 debut in Uptown
HOUSTON, TX (March 5, 2026) – Duckstache Hospitality, the Houston-based restaurant group led by chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee and known for distinct Japanese concepts - including Kokoro Handroll Bar, Kokoro Sushi & Yakitori, Doko, Bar Doko, Aiko and Himari - has signed a lease to bring its fast-growing handroll restaurant, Handies Douzo, to Central Park Post Oak, the redevelopment of the former Post Oak Central campus in Uptown Houston. Located at 2000 Post Oak Blvd Suite 130 77056,Handies Douzo is expected to be the first dining concept to open within the Central Park Post Oak development.
Slated to open in late 2026, the new location will mark Handies Douzo’s fourth Houston-area outpost following successful expansions in the Heights, Montrose, and Spring Branch, further expanding the brand’s presence across Houston’s most dynamic dining districts.
Redeveloped by Midway, Central Park Post Oak is a thoughtfully designed mixed-use destination blending office, retail, and lifestyle amenities in one of Houston’s most high-profile business corridors.
The new location will span approximately 1,658square feet and feature an intimate, counter-style layout with 26 seats, showcasing Handies Douzo’s signature hand rolls, sashimi, crudos, and seasonal fish selections such as masu, maguro, hotate, and kani.
Designed in collaboration with Gin Design Group, the Post Oak location centers on precision, visibility, and craft inspired by the immediacy of handroll and the ritual of the sushi bar. The space will feature a sculptural wrap-style chef counter as the focal point, complemented by a moodier palette of inky tones, matte black finishes, and dark terrazzo, a long with a reimagined canopy and calibrated lighting. While the environment leans more intentional and elevated than previous locations, the brand’s signature personality remains including the iconic rubber ducks lining the counter. Unlike its existing locations in primarily residential neighborhoods, this marks Handies Douzo’s first outpost positioned within a more commercial, mixed-use environment.
“We’re really intentional about the neighborhoods we choose and where we think Handies Douzo will feel like a natural fit,” said Daniel Lee, chef and co-owner of Duckstache Hospitality. “Houston diners know what they like, and Uptown is such a vibrant, fast-growing area. Central Park Post Oak felt like the right match for our handroll experience and the way people in Houston live, work, and dine.”
Known as Texas’ first handroll-focused sushi bar, Handies Douzo emphasizes premium ingredients, a curated and streamlined menu, and an interactive counter experience that highlights the artistry of handroll making. The Uptown location will build on that foundation while catering to the area’s strong daytime office population, nearby residential communities, and steady influx of visitors.
“Handies Douzo represents the kind of thoughtful, chef-driven hospitality we want at the heart of Central Park Post Oak,” said Clayton Freels, Executive Vice President at Midway. “Patrick, Daniel, and the Duckstache team have built a loyal following across Houston, and we are thrilled to help them extend that experience to Uptown in a way that feels authentic to both the brand and the neighborhood.”
The lease comes amid a year of significant milestones for Duckstache Hospitality. Earlier this year, the group’s internationally recognized concept Kokoro Hand Roll Bar was named No. 15 on the Middle East & North Africa’s The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, coinciding with the opening of its third Dubai location at Dubai Mall. The recognition underscores the continued global momentum of the Houston-born hospitality group.
ABOUT DUCKSTACHE HOSPITALITY
Duckstache Hospitality is a Houston-based, chef-driven restaurant group celebrated for its innovative Japanese concepts and intimate dining experiences that elevate sushi, handrolls, omakase, and more. Founded in 2019 by co-founders Chefs Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham with business partner and CFO C.J. Short, Duckstache has grown from a single 20-seat sushi counter into a multi-concept hospitality company with seven concepts and twelve locations across Houston and Dubai, Kokoro Handroll Bar in The Woodlands, Kokoro Sushi & Yakitori in Downtown Houston, Doko, Bar Doko, Himari, and Kokoro Hand Roll Bar in Dubai. Rooted in creativity, craftsmanship, the group’s playful spirit comes through in its chef-led menus to its signature “duckies,” a Recognizable symbol for guests wherever they travel.
In 2026, Duckstache Hospitality launched the Duckstache Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to supporting community-focused programs and expanding the group’s impact beyond hospitality through social engagement and cultural enrichment. The foundation reflects Duckstache’s commitment to giving back to the communities that have supported its growth and success.
For more information, visit duckstache.com and follow @duckstache on social media.
ABOUT MIDWAY
Houston-based Midway is a privately owned, real estate investment and development firm that has provided the highest level of quality, service and value to clients and investors for over 55 years. Midway’s portfolio of projects completed and/or underway consists of more than 50 million square feet of properties including mixed-use destinations, office, industrial, hospitality, multifamily, and single-family residential communities. Midway continues to develop projects of distinction, aesthetic relevance and enduring value for investors, clients, and the people who live, work, and thrive in the environments they create. For more information, visit www.midway.team.
