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    New Steakhouse finds its chef

    Downtown's newest steakhouse sizzles with announcement of seasoned head chef

    Eric Sandler
    Sep 21, 2021 | 12:12 pm
    Rafael Villalpando Toro Toro Four Seasons Houston
    Chef Rafael Villalpando.
    Courtesy of Toro Toro

    Downtown's newest steakhouse has taken an important step towards its open. Toro Toro has named Rafael Villalpando as its chef de cuisine.

    Slated to open this fall, Toro Toro, a pan-Latin steakhouse from star chef Richard Sandoval, will replace Quattro at the Four Seasons. Named for a word that refers to both “tuna” in Japanese and “bull” in Spanish, the restaurant offers a lighter, fresher take on steakhouse fare.

    Instead of creamed spinach and shrimp cocktail served at traditional, American-style steakhouses, diners will find dishes inspired by Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian), Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian), Mexican, and Brazilian cuisine.

    A meal may start with shareables such as tuna Nikkei ceviche, lomo saltado empanadas, or grilled octopus. Entree options include individual steak and seafood dishes or large format platters that includes lamb, ribeye, and picanha — all paired with wines and cocktails sourced from Latin and South America.

    Villalpando brings an impressive resume to his role. A native of Los Angeles who grew up in Mexico, the chefs comes to Houston after working in both Monterrey, Mexico and New York City. He's also worked at the Rosewood Hotel in San Miguel de Allende and the J.W. Marriott in San Antonio. Most recently, he's been chef de cuisine at Toro Toro's Fort Worth location.

    "Chef Rafael brings his creativity, leadership, and extensive experience working in top hotels and resorts and with modern and contemporary Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine from his home of Mexico to New York City to Texas,” Sandoval said in a statement. “For this opening, he will reunite with our global culinary team who worked with him at Rosewood Hotels and at Toro Toro in Fort Worth. His passion is evident in his execution of flavors, aromas, and presentation, and I think he will very quickly make a great impression on Houston."

    To prepare for his new role, Villalpando has already begun training with Four Seasons executive chef Paul Peddle and is learning more about the city, according to a release. A fan of both NASCAR and Formula 1, Villalpando spends his free time with his family and exploring food trucks.

    “As a Latin born in Los Angeles, California and raised half my life in Mexico, I have always enjoyed cooking and experimenting with Latin flavors,” Villalpando said. “I am quickly discovering Houston to be a major culinary city that brings diversity and pride to its melting pot of cultures. So far, my time here has been incredible and I cannot wait to share my cuisine with the city.”

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    With or Without Whiz

    Houston burger mastermind fires up new pop-up devoted to Philly cheesesteaks

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 4:35 pm
    Bas's Cheesesteaks Abbas Dhanani
    Photo by Michael Ma
    Abbas Dhanani is serving up cheesesteaks at his new pop-up.

    Abbas Dhanani is at it again. The food influencer-turned-restaurateur behind the CultureMap Tastemaker Award-winning smash burger concept Burger Bodega is firing up a new pop-up concept devoted to another iconic sandwich.

    Called Bas’s Cheesesteaks, the new concept will Dhanani’s take on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made with sliced ribeye and white cheese on a seeded hoagie roll — onions and a spicy sauce are optional. A second version swaps the white cheese for Cheez Whiz. Like Burger Bodega, Dhanani is using halal beef for his cheesesteaks.

    Bas's Cheesesteaks cheesesteak sandwichThe cheesesteak is served on a seeded hoagie roll.Photo by Michael Ma

    “We have experimented with cheesesteaks as specials on the menu at Burger Bodega and received amazing feedback,” Dhanani said in a statement. “However, the cheesesteaks at Bas’s are the most refined versions we have done so far. I am excited to bring authentic Philly cheesesteaks to Houston as a new flavor experience while continuing to build on the energy and community we have created at Burger Bodega. This is a huge passion project for me, and I plan to take it step by step, just like Burger Bodega."

    As Dhanani notes, he introduced Burger Bodega with a series of pop-ups throughout Houston. To answer the obvious question, of course a restaurant could be in the cards for Bas’s, too.

    “I think thats the goal of any new pop-up concept,” Dhanani tells CultureMap. “Like Burger Bodega, we want to take it one step at a time and see where it goes.”

    Bas’s Cheesesteaks will have its first pop-up on Monday, June 30 at Burger Bodega’s location (4520 Washington Avenue). In addition to the two cheesesteaks, diners can get fries. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

    As for Burger Bodega’s second location in Katy, Dhanani says it’s still working through securing the necessary permits to begin construction.

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