Cult Favorite Asian Diner Suddenly Shutters in Midtown: Cheap Prices and Critic Adoration Can’t Save Spot Once Ranked Houston’s 11th Best Restaurant

Midtown just got a little less tasty. It’s curtains for the neighborhood’s cult favorite Maba Pan-Asian Diner. The modern Vietnamese spot at 510 Gray suddenly shuttered on Saturday. Maba closed just shy of its two-year anniversary.

Owner Wayne Nguyen is offering an explanation, apologies and thanks on Facebook.

“Maba Pan-Asian Diner is now permanently closed,” Nguyen writes. “Maba was created to provide high-quality Asian cuisine at an affordable price. Although we had a tremendous increase in support since our grand opening in December 2016, it saddens us to say that it was not enough to keep our doors open.

“We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our patrons and all those who have supported Maba Pan-Asian Diner. It was a huge privilege to have served you.”

Limited parking in the strip center where Maba was located — which also includes a busy Buffalo Wild Wings — may have contributed to the restaurant’s inability to make ends meet. And the “Pan-Asian” designation may have deterred some more skittish diners (but you’d hope that’s not the case in the most diverse city in America). Maba was never trying to be a  Pei Wei — and appeal to everyone.

There may not have been a broad fan base, but Maba’s cluster of loyal fans were diehard. Many praised the boneless lemongrass tilapia, bacon-wrapped shrimp, wild mushroom vermicelli noodles and pork wontons. Fans’ and reviewers’ kudos also took note of the attentive service and the low, diner prices. Most appetizers came in at under $10, while most entrees were below $15.

But the restaurant also scored with highbrow eaters. Chronicle food critic Alison Cook ranked Maba as the 11th best restaurant in the entire Houston area in her 2017 Top 100 Restaurants.

Now, just a year later, it’s closed for good.