CultureMap Last Chef Standing

The great Houston restaurant showdown: You decide which hotspots should reign supreme

As the final seconds ticked away on the Last Chef Standing's first round clock, the scores were close. It was clearly difficult for CultureMap readers to choose between some of the best restaurants in Houston.

A Top 10 has emerged though and the survivors are now taking on each other in the second round. (Vote here to decide which restaurants advance to the third round.)

This all leads up to the second annual CultureMap Last Chef Standing — a foodie extravaganza that will have the chefs of 21 top Houston restaurants cooking against each other in the same ballroom and offering their dishes to attendees. That's June 4 in the Royal Sonesta. The People's Online Choice Award winner will be determined before that in the bracket-style online competition though.

And some favorites are already emerging there.

Benjy’s (in Rice Village) beat out The Grove in round one. Now, Benjy’s goes up against Haven.

The innovative Max’s Wine Dive will be competing against what chef Jonathan LeBlanc is whipping up at The Tasting Room in Uptown Park.

After narrowly beating out Local Foods by a mere two percent, Latin Bites moves on to take on power player's favorite Vic & Anthony’s.

And what happens when a Houston restaurant institution and sleek, sports-styled restaurant face off? Brennan’s unique spin on classic dishes with a dash of modern Creole and a pinch Caribbean influence will be hard to beat, but Houston Texans Grille knows how to marshal supporters .

Sparrows Bar + Cookshop and Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston both won close first round battles and now they are competing against each other. It's Monica Pope versus Peter Laufer.

The heat is on for all these chefs. Click here to vote now.

Have no fear if your favorite restaurant gets cut. You can still join CultureMap at the Last Chef Standing live event, sponsored by Cadillac and Ben E. Keith, from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 4 at the Royal Sonesta. All the participating restaurants will be there cooking their signature dishes.

But what’s a dish without alcohol? Well don’t worry, Pisco Portón, Dripping Springs Vodka, Cabresto Tequila and Bombay Sapphire will be serving drink pairings too.

KHOU foodies Lily Jang and Katherine Whaley, Cleverley Stone (founder of Houston Restaurant Weeks), Mix 96.5’s Blake Hayes, Eric Sandler of Eater Houston and CultureMap contributor Marcy de Luna will be judging at the event.

Tickets cost $65 and benefit the Houston Food Bank. Early admission, a meet-and-greet with the chefs and more exclusive food samples come with the $125 VIP tickets. Click here to purchase tickets.

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restaurants remain open

2 Houston restaurants break their silence on owners' tragic deaths

Photo by Troy Ezequiel

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The Houston restaurants connected to the murder-suicide of their owners have broken their silence on the tragedy. Traveler's Table and Traveler’s Cart, the two restaurants owned by Thy and Matthew Mitchell, shared the following update to social media on the morning of Wednesday, May 6.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Traveler's Table (@travelerstablerestaurant)

The post notes that both restaurants remain open and requests that the staff at both businesses be treated respectfully. In the wake of the Mitchells’ deaths, Ryan Brown, the company’s long-time director of operations, is leading both restaurants.

As CultureMap reported on Tuesday, the Mitchells opened Traveler’s Table in 2019 as a manifestation of the importance of experiencing cultures through food. The restaurant has earned wide recognition, including an appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The Houston chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association named the couple their Restaurateurs of the Year in 2025.

Traveler’s Cart followed in 2024. More casual than Traveler’s Table, the restaurant is devoted to global street food, serving anything from tacos to burgers to steak frites and chicken parmesan. Originally opened as a fast casual concept, the Mitchells switched to full service in November 2025.

Social media tributes
Some members of the Houston hospitality community paid tribute to Thy Mitchell, who police suspect was murdered by her husband, on social media. They celebrated her as a co-owner of two restaurants, the mind behind fashion brand Foreign Fare, and the mother to two children, ages eight and four, who also died on Monday.

In a length Instagram post, Sandy Nguyen, co-owner of Saigon Hustle and Sunday Press, hailed Mitchell as follows:

“She was a force never defined by her petite frame, always commanding respect with her presence, her conviction, and her voice. A true leader in our industry, she moved with vision and purpose, unafraid to speak the truth while lifting those around her. She had that rare balance of honesty and heart.”

Ronnie Nguyen, co-owner of Roostar Vietnamese Grill, remembered the family in his own Instagram tribute. “What a tragedy. Absolutely heartbroken. We will miss you all. Rest well my friends,” he wrote.

Photographer Kirsten Gilliam posted a portrait of Thy Mitchell with the caption, “Rest in peace, @thy_travelers. Today has been a complete shock. Thank you for your kindness, support, and lasting impact on our community. Sending strength to her family and loved ones.”

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A post shared by Kirsten Gilliam (@kirstengilliamphotography)

Lukkaew Srasrisuwan, the chef and owner of three Houston-area Thai restaurants, offered similar praise to Thy Mitchell in an Instagram post. “This woman was beautiful inside and out. She had a way of lifting people’s spirits wherever she went,” she writes. “We started our journeys at almost the same time, chasing similar dreams. We shared the highs, the unbearable challenges, and the pressure that comes with building something from nothing. It’s not easy.”

No details on a memorial service or funerals have been released yet.

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