From July 5 through July 19, be ready to dig into the diversity of Latin American cuisine bite by bite at the Latin Restaurant Weeks (LRW). The largest celebration of its kind, LRW returns for its sixth year to Houston, where the initiative began. This is your opportunity to explore the complexities and nuances of Latin cuisine and have a singular culinary adventure. All participating restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, food trucks, and bakers will be offering special menu items, limited-time deals, and pre-fixe menus that will highlight more than 10 Latin American countries represented in Houston.
Participants of LRW range from higher-end restaurants like The Lymbar and Churrascos Steakhouses to traditional and casual spots, including Taqueria La Perla de Jalisco, Los Ranchitos, and Space City Birria. Beyond restaurants are coffee shops like Segundo Coffee Lab in EaDo, cocktail bars like Aero Cocktail Co, grocers like Henderson & Kane General Store and Guanajuato Supermarket, and healthy choices like Healthy Start Nutrition (photo above), and Gaspachos Mexican Bites. While participants are primarily located in Greater Houston, residents from Katy to The Woodlands and beyond can discover new choices. LRW expects to reach a new record with more than 70 participants this year.
New to LRW this year are Aero Cocktail Co, Backstreet Café, Buena Vista Cuban Cafe, Echoes Cafe, Ema HTX, El Asador, Ferso’s, Gees Mini Pancakes, La Güerita Roasted Corn, Late August, Muerde la Burger, Monchy’s, The Original Ninfa’s Uptown, Peru Gourmet, Pochitos Mariscos y Mas, Urbe, and Teotihuacán.
Here’s our list of some must-try restaurants. Be sure to ask for their LRW menu when ordering!
El Meson Restaurant
2425 University Blv.
El Meson Restaurant has been serving its signature Spanish and Latin American cuisine for more than four decades at its location in the Rice Village shopping district near Houston’s Rice University. Chef Pedro’s menu blends Spanish and Cuban influences, offering a variety of grilled and roasted meats, seafood, and tapas such as piquillo peppers stuffed with lamb, raisins, and pine nuts, seared foie gras with caramelized apple and pear, and bacon-wrapped dates with Riojano sausage and blue cheese. The menu also features a list of Paellas and rice dishes made with the finest golden thread Saffron from Valencia and the authentic Bomba rice from Calasparra.
Late August
4201 Main St.
Step into Late August, an Afro-Mexican restaurant where history, culture, and culinary heritage converge to create an unforgettable dining experience. Chefs Chris Williams and Sergio Hidalgo draw inspiration from their childhoods and culinary journeys, infusing each dish with a blend of culture and flavor that excites the soul and creates lasting memories. Enjoy their cross-cultural approach to the menu, featuring gumbo, Texas Caesar salad, half rack with plantain, and citrus pork confit with greens masa.
Backstreet Café
1103 S Shepherd Dr.
Backstreet Café has been a Houston dining tradition for over 40 years. The restaurant's owner Hugo Ortega, a James Beard award-winning chef with five restaurants in Houston, offers at Backstreet Café a menu that reflects Houston’s diverse food culture, with Southern, Cajun, Creole, Hispanic and Asian influences. During Latin Restaurant Weeks, try his Hot Chicken Sandwich. Chef Hugo puts a Latin twist on it by adding his habanero salsa recipe for a nice kick (fried chili-brined chicken, habanero salsa, coleslaw, dill pickles, chipotle aioli, brioche bun, and fries).
The Lymbar
4201 Main St.
The Lymbar is an all-day restaurant, bar and lounge with Latin and Mediterranean flavors from chef David Cordúa. The Lymbar crystalizes the Cordúa family’s legacy as ambassadors of flavor and hospitality for a whole new generation of discerning Houstonians. During LRW, try for lunch (choose one) Mini Crispy Tacos,Tempura Fish Taco, 44 Farms Muffaletta Dog, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Spinach + Halloumi Empanada, and a choice of Vermicelli Rice, Baked Potato Wedges, Brussels Sprouts, Tabbouleh, Hummus. For dinner, Chef Cordúa offers Parrillada Mixta that includes Grilled Chicken, Smoked Sausage, Lamb Chops, Wagyu Skirt Steak, Chimichurri, Wedge Fried, and Caprese Salad.
La Fishería
213 Milam St.
If you are looking for new downtown restaurants to try, add La Fishería to your list. This award-winning restaurant features authentic Mexican coastal cuisine, including a variety of seafood, meat, soups, and salads. During LRW, order their 3-course special with Ribeye Aguachile for the appetizer. For the entree (choose one): Pampano al limón, Tamal de camarones, Ribeye Poblano. For dessert, enjoy Carlota limon y pistachio.
Andes Cafe
401 Franklin St.
Andes Cafe, by Chef David Guerrero, is named for La Cordillera de los Andes, the world’s longest mountain range that links together 7 South American countries stretching from Venezuela to Argentina. You will find authentic flavors from these seven regional cuisines in a comfortable but refined setting at POST. For LRW, the menu features La Colombiana, a delicious trio of homemade sausage, beef empanada and arepita, served with a side of aji criollo; from Ecuador, Maduro Asado con Queso, whole baked sweet plantain topped with mozzarella cheese, salprieta and aji criollo sauce; from Venezuela, Pabellón Criollo, Venezuelan style slow cooked shredded flank beef stew, served with a side black beans, sweet plantains, corn patty and white rice; from Chile, Pescado a la Lata, delicious Chilean baked salmon cooked with white wine on a bed of pork sausage, potatoes, onions and tomato topped with provolone cheese; from Peru, Ceviche Don Fidel, fresh diced mahi-mahi quickly cooked in fresh squeezed lime juice and aji rocoto tiger milk, topped with choclo, red onions, sweet potatoes, fried fish and plantain chips.
Ojo de Agua
4444 Westheimer Rd.
Directly from Mexico City, Ojo de Agua was born with the commitment to serve authentic Mexican food with a trendy twist. Using high-quality and fresh ingredients, their ample menu ranges from traditional Mexican dishes to innovative uses of classic ingredients. Enjoy classic chilaquiles, delicious in-house baked bread, freshly made juices, amazing cocktails, one-of-a-kind tacos, or a delicious octopus with cauliflower mole. During LRW, try their Enchiladas, delicious white corn tortillas filled with chicken breast, covered with their special roasted green sauce and melted Manchego cheese.
Mamajuana Cafe
909 Texas St.
Mamajuana Cafe is renowned for its compelling and ingeniously inventive Latino cuisine. Their culinary artisans craft dishes that marry time-honored traditional recipes with delightful new interpretations. From handcrafted sauces representing the rich flavors of the Dominican Republic to the diverse influences from Colombia, each plate reflects the authentic essence of Caribbean Hispanic and South American culinary traditions.
View the list of all restaurants participating at LRW in Houston. Enjoy the diversity of Latin American cuisine and take what the organizers call “El Tour del Sabor” in Houston! This is what Latin Restaurant Weeks is all about!
Photos: Courtesy of restaurants and cafes mentioned in this post. Header photo: The Lymbar, opening photo: Late August.