After serving Houston’s East Downtown community for more than four decades, the beloved Kim Son restaurant will close its longtime Jefferson Street location on October 12, 2025.

This closure marks a significant moment in Houston’s dining and cultural history, as Kim Son has been a cherished institution for authentic Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, family celebrations, and community gatherings since its founding in 1982. Originally opened on Pease Street, the La family moved Kim Son to the Jefferson Street location in 1993, turning it into one of the last vestiges of Houston’s Old Chinatown and a staple of the East Downtown (EaDo) neighborhood.

The closure is directly attributed to the massive Interstate 45 (I-45) expansion project currently underway in Houston, with the Texas Department of Transportation’s North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) prompting the displacement of numerous area businesses, cultural landmarks, and residents.

This $9 billion infrastructure initiative aims to widen key freeway corridors and improve drainage, but its impacts have provoked considerable controversy regarding urban displacement and the future of traffic congestion in Houston. Kim Son joins a growing list of restaurants and local venues—such as Agricole Hospitality and Huynh—that have been forced to shutter or relocate as construction proceeds.

Throughout its tenure, Kim Son has played a vital role in popularizing Vietnamese cuisine in Houston, known for signature dishes like Vietnamese fajitas and black pepper crab. Beyond regular dining, the restaurant has served as a hub for celebrations including weddings and family gatherings, offering spacious private dining rooms that fostered a strong sense of community. Even as the East Downtown location prepares to close, Kim Son will continue catering services into late 2025, and its Bellaire location remains open, preserving the family’s culinary legacy in Houston.

The closure signals more than just the loss of a restaurant—it underscores the cultural and social impact of rapid urban development and infrastructure modernization in Houston’s historic neighborhoods.

Community members have expressed heartfelt farewells and reminisced about Kim Son’s role in their lives through social media and local press, highlighting the emotional significance attached to the restaurant and the broader changes reshaping East Downtown.

Despite the closure, the La family has expressed intentions to maintain a downtown presence, exploring opportunities to open a new location nearby. This nod to resilience reflects a desire to continue contributing to Houston’s diverse dining scene and honor the roots established over more than 40 years.

The story of Kim Son and its closure amid the I-45 expansion encapsulates a broader narrative of growth, displacement, and cultural preservation in Houston. As the city invests heavily in infrastructure improvements aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and modernizing transportation, the challenge remains to balance progress with the preservation of community identity and support for local businesses impacted by these transformations.

For longtime patrons and food lovers, October 12 will be a bittersweet day marking the end of an era but also a celebration of Kim Son’s enduring legacy in Houston’s culinary and cultural fabric.