Latin Restaurant Weeks celebrates its 6th anniversary in the Houston area July 5-19

From July 5-19, Latin Restaurant Weeks (LRW) will celebrate and support Latin American chefs and culinary businesses in Greater Houston. The largest celebration of its kind, with events in Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Atlanta, Latin Restaurant Weeks returns for its 6th year in Houston, where the initiative began.

Local restaurants, cafes, food trucks and bakeries will showcase their unique offerings and share their stories with Houstonians. Diners will be able to discover new flavors and cuisines with attendees offering specials, limited-time offers and pre-fixe menus that will highlight more than 10 Latin American countries represented in Houston.

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Houston’s Latino population is the city’s lifeblood, with Hispanics making up the majority at 44.8 percent. The impact of Hispanics on Houston’s economy is evident, with the city home to the highest concentration of Latino-owned businesses in the United States, according to a Stanford University study.

Sponsored by Sysco and in partnership with the Feed The Soul Foundation, Latin Restaurant Weeks (LRW) has consistently provided a platform during campaigns and throughout each year for Latin-owned culinary businesses to showcase their skills and their cultures. What sets LRW apart from similar initiatives is that the chefs and owners have complete control over the specialties to offer diners, allowing them to create menus that speak to their traditions at an attractive price.

LRW attendees range from upscale restaurants like The Lymbar and Churrascos Steakhouses to traditional, casual spots like Taqueria La Perla de Jalisco, Los Ranchitos, and Space City Birria. Beyond the restaurants are coffee shops like Segundo Coffee Lab in EaDo, cocktail bars like Aero Cocktail Co, grocery stores like Henderson & Kane General Store and Guanajuato Supermarket, and healthy choices like Healthy Start Nutrition and Gazpachos Mexican Bites. Although participants are primarily located in Greater Houston, residents from Katy to The Woodlands and beyond can discover new choices. LRW hopes to reach a new record with more than 70 participants this year.

Participating restaurants in the Montgomery County area include:

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“For the past six years, Latin Restaurant Weeks has worked tirelessly to increase the visibility of our treasured local restaurants, and this celebration comes at a critical time,” said Karinn Chavarria-Luckett, co-founder of Latin Restaurant Weeks. “Our participants see a decline in consumerism during the summer months, and many restaurants are having to find creative ways to stay afloat. We are partnering with these businesses to spotlight them on our platform for two weeks, giving them a deserving opportunity to thrive.”

LRW aims to educate the community about the complexities and nuances of Latin cuisine and provide an opportunity for adventure. At Ema HTX, diners can experience age-old cooking techniques like nixtamalization, a process that increases the nutritional value of corn and is one of the most sacred food practices in Mexican gastronomy. Across the pond, Café Piquet Cuban Cuisine offers a taste of the Caribbean with favorites like Ropa Vieja. Peruvian representation shines through at restaurants like Peru Gourmet and Latin Bites, where diners can sample favorites like Lomo Saltado.

LRW is also connecting with resources through third-year sponsor Sysco, which helps chefs and restaurateurs bring incredible flavors to life while supporting the community. “We believe in the power of food to bring people together and create meaningful connections,” said April Love, Sysco’s vice president and chief diversity officer.

New to LRW this year are Aero Cocktail Co, Backstreet Cafe, Buena Vista Cuban Cafe, Echoes Cafe, Ema HTX, El Asador, Ferso’s, Gees Mini Pancakes, La Güerita Roasted Corn, Fin août, Muerde la Burger, Monchy’s, The Original Ninfa’s. Uptown, Peru Gourmet, Pochitos Mariscos y Mas, Urbe and Teotihuacán.

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Latin Restaurant Weeks is dedicated to helping the culinary community by facilitating opportunities for participants with the Feed The Soul Foundation. Since partnering in 2020, LRW has connected several industry entrepreneurs with the nonprofit’s business development resources, scholarship opportunities, and emergency funding. In 2023, the nonprofit awarded a total of $40,000 ($10,000 individual grants) to LRW participants Andes Cafe, Henderson & Kane, Cranky Carrot, and Space City Birria Tacos to invest in a sector of their business.

Latin Restaurant Weeks participants are featured on the initiative’s online platform to showcase the businesses’ unique stories, offerings, flavors and techniques. Businesses interested in participating this year can choose to register for free or at a $250 premium level. LRW is accepting restaurant participants through July 1.

Latin Restaurant Weeks is sponsored in part by US Bank.

For a list of participants and menus, visit latinrestaurantweeks.com. For more information and updates, follow us on social media @LatinRestaurantWeeks on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Source: Latin Restaurant Weeks

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