10 Chefs on The Past, Present, and Future of The Houston Food Scene
September 17, 2018
Where you can have it all, provided you're willing to sit in traffic to get there.
ChefJustin Yu
Houston
About Justin Yu
Justin Yu is the Chef/Owner of Theodore Rex restaurant, Better Luck Tomorrow bar, and Public Services Wine and Whisky, all in Houston, Texas. He's a native Houstonian, and launched his first restaurant, Oxheart, in 2012. He followed that by opening Public Services, a wine and whisky bar with sommelier/partner Justin Vann in 2014, and Better Luck Tomorrow, a neighborhood bar with bartender/owner Bobby Heugel in 2017. Earlier this year, he transformed Oxheart into a modern bistro called Theodore Rex.
My Venues
- Theodore Rex
- 1302 Nance St Ste A
- Houston, TX
Accolades
- America's Best New RestaurantsBon Appétit
- Nominee for Bet Chef: SouthwestJames Beard Foundation
- Nominee for Best New RestaurantJames Beard Foundation
- Hottest Restaurant OpeningsGQ Magazine
- Top 100 RestaurantsHouston Chronicle
- Best New ChefFood & Wine
- "Pat’s Pick"Texas Monthly
- ChefsFeed WinnerOne of the Best Things to Eat in Houston
Featured Content
Where I Go Out
Salted Sweet Potato
$$$, Reservations, Scandinavian,
"There are not a lot of restaurants that change the course of your life. Even saying it, it sounds like this corny, huge over exaggeration. But regardless, for @restrelae, this is true for me. Nearly 8 years ago to the day, I had my first meal there and the entire experience left me loopy.
From how the kitchen seriously treated the food to how not seriously they took themselves, it was a blueprint for what I wanted even before I even knew it. Tonight’s meal under @leeselov!) I’ve gained for life just by hanging out there for a short minute has been an immense impact on my career and life. Cheers to you all, I can’t wait to come back again.
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Also, if you have a reservation there and are from the US, make sure you bring them clickable @sharpie"
Pike Perch Part 2
$$$, Reservations, Scandinavian,
"There are not a lot of restaurants that change the course of your life. Even saying it, it sounds like this corny, huge over exaggeration. But regardless, for @restrelae, this is true for me. Nearly 8 years ago to the day, I had my first meal there and the entire experience left me loopy.
From how the kitchen seriously treated the food to how not seriously they took themselves, it was a blueprint for what I wanted even before I even knew it. Tonight’s meal under @leeselov!) I’ve gained for life just by hanging out there for a short minute has been an immense impact on my career and life. Cheers to you all, I can’t wait to come back again.
.
.
.
.
Also, if you have a reservation there and are from the US, make sure you bring them clickable @sharpie"
Dessert bite.
$$$, Reservations, Scandinavian,
"There are not a lot of restaurants that change the course of your life. Even saying it, it sounds like this corny, huge over exaggeration. But regardless, for @restrelae, this is true for me. Nearly 8 years ago to the day, I had my first meal there and the entire experience left me loopy.
From how the kitchen seriously treated the food to how not seriously they took themselves, it was a blueprint for what I wanted even before I even knew it. Tonight’s meal under @leeselov!) I’ve gained for life just by hanging out there for a short minute has been an immense impact on my career and life. Cheers to you all, I can’t wait to come back again.
.
.
.
.
Also, if you have a reservation there and are from the US, make sure you bring them clickable @sharpie"
Dessert Bite part 2.
$$$, Reservations, Scandinavian,
"There are not a lot of restaurants that change the course of your life. Even saying it, it sounds like this corny, huge over exaggeration. But regardless, for @restrelae, this is true for me. Nearly 8 years ago to the day, I had my first meal there and the entire experience left me loopy.
From how the kitchen seriously treated the food to how not seriously they took themselves, it was a blueprint for what I wanted even before I even knew it. Tonight’s meal under @leeselov!) I’ve gained for life just by hanging out there for a short minute has been an immense impact on my career and life. Cheers to you all, I can’t wait to come back again.
.
.
.
.
Also, if you have a reservation there and are from the US, make sure you bring them clickable @sharpie"
Roasted Goose and Onion with 0 Seasoning.
$$$, Reservations, Scandinavian,
"There are not a lot of restaurants that change the course of your life. Even saying it, it sounds like this corny, huge over exaggeration. But regardless, for @restrelae, this is true for me. Nearly 8 years ago to the day, I had my first meal there and the entire experience left me loopy.
From how the kitchen seriously treated the food to how not seriously they took themselves, it was a blueprint for what I wanted even before I even knew it. Tonight’s meal under @leeselov!) I’ve gained for life just by hanging out there for a short minute has been an immense impact on my career and life. Cheers to you all, I can’t wait to come back again.
.
.
.
.
Also, if you have a reservation there and are from the US, make sure you bring them clickable @sharpie"
Pike Perch
$$$, Reservations, Scandinavian,
"There are not a lot of restaurants that change the course of your life. Even saying it, it sounds like this corny, huge over exaggeration. But regardless, for @restrelae, this is true for me. Nearly 8 years ago to the day, I had my first meal there and the entire experience left me loopy.
From how the kitchen seriously treated the food to how not seriously they took themselves, it was a blueprint for what I wanted even before I even knew it. Tonight’s meal under @leeselov!) I’ve gained for life just by hanging out there for a short minute has been an immense impact on my career and life. Cheers to you all, I can’t wait to come back again.
.
.
.
.
Also, if you have a reservation there and are from the US, make sure you bring them clickable @sharpie"
At My Venues
Dinner
$$, Restaurant, Downtown
"Really great to see what @trexhouston! Really comfortable, relaxing with super delicious food. So great being able to experience it."
