Foodie News

Major barbecue festival brings an Australian flair to Houston — and chef competition

Things are heating up for Celebrate Australia, the VIP party at this year's Houston International Festival that takes place Thursday May 1 at Hermann Square Park in front of City Hall. As CultureMap first reported back in March, organizers have enlisted some of Houston's highest profile chefs for a friendly competition of barbecue vs. barbie.

Fittingly for iFest, the chefs are bringing a variety of international flavors to the competition. People hoping for smoked brisket and pulled pork should look elsewhere.

Ten chefs are set to compete at the event. In addition to previously announced participants like Eleven XI's Kevin Bryant and Cyclone Anaya's Jason Gould (an actual Australian), a couple of new Houstonians have joined the party in the form of Trenza's Susie Jimenez and Bob Iacovone of Fish & The Knife. Here's the full list of chefs and dishes:

Kevin Bryant, Eleven XI: Jalapeno-stuffed, bacon-wrapped pork shank with heirloom tomato creamed corn

Donald Chang, Nara: Spicy Korean pork ribs stew

Jason Gould, Cyclone Anaya's: Mountain pepper-rubbed grilled lamb loin with raisin chutney

Susie Jimenez, Trenza: Spiced pork ribs with papaya chipotle barbecue sauce

Soren Pedersen, Upcoming Danish restaurant: Gulf prawns with achiote and avocado

Bob Iacovone, Fish & The Knife: Sake-marinated pork rib with sweet heat sauce and Creole coleslaw

Joe Gerardi, Fleming's: Thai marinated filet skewers served with an Asian vegetable and soy nut slaw

Staci Davis, Radical Eats: Barbecue brisket on sweet potato waffle

Patricia Alvarez-Burdette, Mr. Peeples: Bourbon baby back ribs with apple slaw

Dwayne Carrington, Fiesta Mart: Aussie Outback barbecued lamb breast

A panel of media judges that includes Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, 790 AM morning show host Lance Zierlein, Houston magazine publisher Peter Remington, Houston Press food critic Kaitlin Steinberg and me will evaluate the entrants and declare who wins the bragging rights.

The event will benefit the Houston Festival Foundation’s year-round arts and education programs that reach up to 900,000 students in the Greater Houston area and beyond.

iFest sponsor Fiesta is providing Lone Star Legacy Beef, seafood and other animal proteins for the competition. CultureMap is a media partner of the event.

The $75 tickets include food, drinks and live entertainment from the Down Under Band and FrenetiCore Dance Company. Only 250 tickets will be sold — you might want to act fast.

Soren Pedersen, formerly of Sorrel Urban Bistro.

Photo by Kimberly Park

Soren Pedersen, formerly of Sorrel Urban Bistro.

unspecified

Domo Arigato

Award-winning Texas ramen shop sets opening date for Meyerland location

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.

Houstonians had to wait seven years for a second location of Ramen Tatsu-ya, but the Austin-based restaurant’s third Houston outpost is coming much more quickly.

The restaurant’s Meyerland location will open on Saturday, October 31, in the former Boston Market location at 4672 Beechnut St.

Known for its signature tonkotsu broth, which takes up to three days to prepare, chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto opened the original Ramen Tatsu-ya in 2012. It quickly earned wide acclaim, including a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2013.

Since then, the restaurant has grown to six locations in Austin and two in Houston — a Montrose store that opened in 2017 and a Town & Country outpost that debuted in December 2025. More could be on the way.

“There's certainly room and good trade area dynamics to support more Ramen Tatsu-Ya locations in Houston,” CEO Todd Coerver writes in an email. “I have no magic number or timeline in mind for such growth. A lot will depend on the performance of the newer locations we are opening in Houston. Community reaction will dictate the answer to how many, how fast.”

In addition to its noodles, Ramen Tatsu-ya also serves small plates such as its signature Sweet and Sour Yodas (aka, Brussels sprouts), karaage, and gyoza. They can be paired with a full range of drinks, including beer, sake, frozens, and non-alcoholic sips such as lemongrass-cucumber limeade and strawberry-yuzu lemonade.

The company operates three other concepts: Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya, a casual patio bar; Tiki Tatsu-Ya, a tiki bar and restaurant; and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, a Texas-inspired izakaya that holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Could they be headed to Houston, too?

“I wouldn't rule out the possibility for a version of Kemuri to expand to Houston one day. But we are really just focused on Ramen Tatsu-Ya at the moment,” he writes.

Ramen Tatsu-ya will celebrate its Bellaire grand opening with free t-shirts for the 25 customers, the chance to win free ramen for a year, a free popsicle with purchase for anyone in costume, and a DJ set from 6-8 pm. It will also give out treats to trick-or-treaters.

“We’re excited to bring a new location to the Bellaire area,” Coerver added in a statement. “And having our grand opening on Halloween gives us a chance to really ratchet up the fun!”

Ramen Tatsu-ya is only the latest addition to the Bellaire/Meyerland area. The second location of Tex-Mex restaurant Candente opened in late 2025. Pudgy’s Fine Cookies and Underground Creamery will open their second location across the street from Ramen Tatsu-ya this Sunday, October 25.

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.

anderson