Richard Sandoval's dLeña to Open in Galleria Hotel
The modern Mexican wood-fire restaurant is slated to open in the Greenleigh hotel in spring 2027.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Dining Out
Chef Richard Sandoval plans to open dLeña, a modern Mexican restaurant focused on wood-fire cooking, in the under-construction Greenleigh hotel in Houston's Galleria area in spring 2027. The Greenleigh was formerly Hotel Derek.
Why it matters
dLeña is the first concept from Sandoval's hospitality company that was not previously developed elsewhere, and it will be his third Houston restaurant. For Houston diners, it adds a new wood-fire Mexican option to the Galleria area.
The restaurant will seat 123 indoors and 15 in outdoor lounge seating, and its beverage program features more than 300 tequila and mezcal spirits. The figures come from the restaurant's planned specifications, and the final operating details remain subject to the hotel's construction schedule.
The players
Richard Sandoval
Mexico City-born chef whose hospitality company operates more than 60 restaurants worldwide, including Toro Toro and Bayou & Bottle in Houston's Four Seasons hotel.
Wilson/Ishihara
Bay Area design firm that previously worked with Sandoval and designed the dLeña interior.
The details
Sandoval developed dLeña with his son Giancarlo and daughter Isabella, drawing on flavor experiments with different wood types during a stay in Cabo amid the pandemic. The restaurant is designed by Bay Area firm Wilson/Ishihara, which has previously worked with Sandoval.
Timeline
Spring 2027: dLeña is slated to open in the Greenleigh hotel.
Market Landscape
dLeña extends Sandoval's Houston footprint to a third restaurant, following Toro Toro and Bayou & Bottle at the downtown Four Seasons. It marks a departure for his company, whose new concepts have until now been imported from other markets.
Houston diners gain a new wood-fire Mexican option in the Galleria area once the restaurant opens. Planning a visit will depend on the opening date and reservation policies, which have not yet been announced.
The takeaway
Watch for the opening announcement if you plan to try dLeña, since spring 2027 is the only timing given so far. Hotel construction schedules can shift, so confirm details before planning a trip to the Galleria area.
What happens next
dLeña is slated to open in spring 2027 at the Greenleigh hotel, with the exact date to be announced.
Further reading
For more local openings, browse Dining Out coverage across Houston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Houston Chronicle.
