Latin Restaurant Weeks celebrates its 6th year 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 to Houston, where the initiative began.

Local restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, food trucks and bakeries will showcase their unique offerings and share their stories with Houstonians. Diners can explore new flavors and cuisines with attendees offering special menu items, limited-time offers and pre-fix 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 participants range from upscale restaurants like The Lymbar and Churrascos Steakhouses to traditional, casual eateries like Taqueria La Perla de Jalisco, Los Ranchitos and Space City Birria. Beyond restaurants, there are coffee shops like Segundo Coffee Lab at EaDo, cocktail bars like Aero Cocktail Co, grocery stores like Henderson & Kane General Store and Guanajuato Supermarket, and healthy options like Healthy Start Nutrition and Gazpachos Mexican Bites. While participants are primarily located in Greater Houston, residents from Katy to The Woodlands and beyond can discover new choices. LRW hopes to set 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 visibility of our valued 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 partner 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 on 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. Crossing the Atlantic, Café Piquet Cuban Cuisine offers a taste of the Caribbean with favorites like Ropa Vieja. Peruvian representation shines through establishments like Peru Gourmet and Latin Bites, where diners can enjoy staples like Lomo Saltado.

LRW also connects with resources through three-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 vice president and chief diversity officer.

New at 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, End of August, 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, grant 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 activity.

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

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 @LatinRestaurantWeeks on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Source: Latin Restaurant Weeks

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