Mi Tierra Mexican Kitchen has permanently closed in northwest Houston after nearly 20 months of operation. Owners Katherine Mancia and Houston-born chef Martin Weaver announced the difficult decision. The closure of the Oak Forest neighborhood restaurant, located at 3327 Mangum Rd, adds to Houston’s growing list of recent restaurant closings.
Highlights
- Mi Tierra operated for nearly 20 months, opening in October 2023.
- The restaurant specialized in modern Mexican cuisine inspired by Mexico City.
- Weekly bachata nights and happy hour offerings helped build a loyal customer following in the Oak Forest community.
Mi Tierra’s Unexpected Closure Announcement
In a Facebook post on June 11, 2025, Katherine Mancia announced the closure, “After much reflection and with a heart full of mixed emotions, I want to share that Mi Tierra Mexican Kitchen has officially closed its doors,” she added in her statement.
“This decision did not come easy. Mi Tierra was more than just a restaurant. It was a dream, a risk, a labor of love, and a huge part of my soul,” Mancia continued in the post.
The owners did not provide specific details about the reasons behind the closure. However, they thanked their customers and employees for their support throughout the restaurant’s journey.
Origins and Journey of Mi Tierra
Katherine Mancia, born and raised in El Salvador, partnered with Houston-born chef Martin Weaver after meeting at a culinary event in the city. Together, they created Mi Tierra as “a love letter to Mexico City.” “Mi Tierra” in Spanish means “my land” or “my dirt” representing the foundation everything grows from.
The restaurant served contemporary Mexican dishes, with standouts such as pulpo a la parrilla. Other highlights were smoked duck carnitas in mole and traditional Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas and tacos. Mi Tierra served finely made cocktails and hosted themed nights, like weekly bachata nights.
Oak Forest Community Reacts
Mi Tierra’s closure represents another loss for Houston’s dining scene. The restaurant had slowly built a following through quality food and community events.
Regular customers expressed their sadness in the Facebook post comments. “Heart shattered,” wrote one customer, while another commented, “So sorry to see this chapter close, but excited to see what lies ahead!”
Though the current chapter for Mi Tierra has ended, Mancia indicated this isn’t goodbye to the dream. “This isn’t goodbye to the dream. It’s just a pause, a redirection,” she wrote in the farewell post.
The closure joins other recent restaurant shutdowns in Houston. The city has witnessed multiple restaurant closures in recent times for reasons ranging from economic uncertainty to changing consumer habits.
