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Houston, TX

Expanding operations with a second restaurant location to grow catering services and frozen food production.

• Growth-focused expansion: Launching a second location to scale operations and reach new markets.
• Culinary fusion: Blends Dominican and Southern soul food into a unique, community-loved brand.
• Diverse ownership: Immigrant and family-owned, rooted in cultural authenticity and local pride.
• Multi-channel success: Operates brick-and-mortar, catering, and a frozen empanada line.
• Recognized leadership: Recipient of multiple national grants and part of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.

Comfort Foodies is raising debt financing to fund the expansion into its second location in Missouri City, Texas. The capital will be used for the build-out of a new restaurant space, including the purchase of kitchen equipment, furniture, signage, and technology infrastructure necessary for a fully operational dining and catering hub. This new location will support increased production capacity for the company’s popular frozen empanada line and accommodate growing demand for dine-in service and large-scale catering. By entering a higher-income market, Comfort Foodies aims to broaden its customer base, elevate its service capabilities, and lay the foundation for sustained revenue growth.

Since its founding in 2019 by Afro-Latina immigrant Elsa Matthews and her husband Jeff, Comfort Foodies has evolved from a tent operation to a food truck and then a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The company has earned recognition and grant support for its cultural authenticity and community engagement, including awards from Black Restaurant Week’s Feed the Soul Foundation and Verizon’s small business initiative. Looking forward, the business plans to scale through additional locations, expanded school and corporate catering partnerships, and a nationwide rollout of its frozen empanada product. With deep culinary roots and a mission grounded in cultural storytelling, Comfort Foodies is poised to build on its success while staying true to its core values of comfort, culture, and community.

Company Info

Comfort Foodies is a Houston restaurant and catering company offering Latin Caribbean and Southern soul food with plans to expand into retail and franchising.

Comfort Foodies is a Houston-based restaurant and catering company that fuses Latin Caribbean and Southern soul food into a unique culinary experience. Founded by Elsa and Jeff Matthews, the business draws inspiration from Elsa’s Dominican roots and local Southern flavors to serve dishes that feel both comforting and culturally rich. Since its founding in 2019, Comfort Foodies has evolved from a food tent to a food truck and eventually a brick-and-mortar location, expanding its offerings to include catering, school food partnerships, and a nationwide frozen empanada product line. The brand is known for its authenticity, bold flavors, and commitment to community engagement.

Under Elsa Matthews’ leadership, the company has built a loyal following and received multiple grants and recognitions, including awards from Black Restaurant Week, Verizon, and Bacardi. The next phase of growth involves opening a second location in Missouri City to increase production capacity and improve service quality. This expansion will support the business’s frozen product operations and enable further scaling through retail and e-commerce channels. Comfort Foodies’ long-term vision includes multiple Houston-area locations and future franchising, all while maintaining a focus on job creation and cultural storytelling through food.