Reikina Reviews

Ambiance and location was great and created a casual yet inviting upscale atmosphere. Along with a very creative menu with top noch ingredients. Created a wonderful evening that I look forward to experiencing again soon. Excellent work Chef Thomas!

What a surprise this was, and just the intimate experience my wife and I were looking for. The food was matched in quality by the service, dedication, and focus on the culinary arts. Chef Stacy is one to keep an eye on as a rising star in the Houston food scene. Thank you for making our anniversary unforgettable.

Average dinner time is three hrs. The food was good concidering you get so many plate... Seasonal menue. Vhanges every 2 months The space was not loud and the food is jap French based... As you can see from the pictures there is variety of dishes... You should try it out and bring some friends.

In his current installation, Thomas Stacy transforms a casual space into the intimate with an attitude of humility and confidence. His courses, however, are radical and clear statements of his influences and vision. Each setting has its own distinct flavors and I enjoyed the variety and balance presented. While every course was tasty (with moments of sweet, savory, into and out of umami), my favorites were definitely the Black Cod and the Seared Foie Gras. Overall, the menu is a playful and smart adventure into Japanese cuisine, especially if you're looking for something other than sushi. Looking forward to how this concept grows.

First of all, the address noted above is incorrect. The restaurant is located in the very popular City Centre development in West Houston. It's a bit difficult to actually find the restaurant on the second floor, but we understand that additional directional signage is coming. The adventure to find the restaurant is only the beginning of a very unique experience. This is a multi-course, seasonal tasting menu inspired by the chef/owner's experiences at other restaurants and adaptations of his beloved family's home recipes. A curated (and generously poured) wine pairing selection is also offered. There is one dinner service/evening at 7:30pm only, limited to 20 guests, I believe. Reservations are required and walk-ins are not accommodated for dinner, although welcomed in the lounge/bar area. So plan ahead! Service is friendly and efficient. The chef personally explains each dish, it's inspiration and the ingredients. Each presentation is unique with delectable combinations that seemingly blend effortlessly. The tasting menu changes every two months. The 8-course November/December menu featured two special, holiday-themed courses: "Thanksgiving Dinner" which included everything typically served at Thanksgiving (turkey, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, cranberries) presented and combined as a single serving, meant to be consumed together. The "Christmas Dinner" featured an amazing lamb chop in a spiced Cajun/barbecue/delicious sauce with pearl onions and other veggies. The chef starts the meal with a short Zen-like meditation (a bit weird, but go-with-the-flow) and ends the dinner service with a short concerto at his piano while dessert is served. There are very few opportunities to experience a curated, multi-course tasting menu in Houston, especially one where the chef/owner is so visible, personable and genuinely thrilled to please his guests. If you enjoy the experience of a multi-course tasting menu, you will not be disappointed at ReikiNa.

The chef behind Reikina puts a serious amount of thought and detail into each dish on the menu. He uses freshly sourced ingredients to create incredibly unique food. My party was overly impressed both times I’ve dined here. Highly recommended!

I have had the honor of dining at ReikiNa twice, with two different menus. The first time I went, it was the best meal I ever had. The second time I went, it was the best meal I ever had. Dinner consists of 7 to 10 courses prepared and served by Chef Thomas Stacy. Each item on the menu is carefully crafted to impart a unique flavor profile upon the one eating the dish. In some cases, recipes that are tried and true are transformed into something wholly alien yet intimately familiar at the same time. In other cases, rare ingredients with unique flavor profiles are paired in such a way that the food seems to change flavors while on the palate. Yet these dishes all have some things in common: they are remarkable, delicious, and perspective-changing. This is where the review for a normal restaurant would end, but ReikiNa is anything but normal. The unimposing location, the unmarked outside, and the intimately cozy atmosphere only add to the utter surprises and delights that await. In some instances the food is merely served to the table, and in other instances there are theatrics that complete the dish. Where the first menu was playful, offering patrons to cook their own wagyu sashimi with a blowtorch, the second menu was more focused, with a soup reminiscent of a starry sky over a nighttime mountain lake. The art behind the dishes is undeniable. To conclude, eating these meals changed how I judge restaurants. I feel that I experienced something great and I will continue to watch Chef Stacy, excited to see what happens next.

This is a blow your mind kind of meal. No detail is overlooked from the ambiance, to the music, and the thoughtful creative dishes. My tastebuds were dancing!! Chef Thomas is bringing a new kind of dining experience to Houston. You don't want to miss this.

This was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The menu is updated regularly by the chef owner, he finds ways to completely transform ingredients in ways that make you rethink what food should taste like. Highly recommend.

Dining experience was great. Wonderful concept with chef driven and artfully crafted dishes. Right next to Menil Musuem and other outdoor sculptures. Very memorable experience in Houston.