Foodie News

Houston Chef's Table: Soma Sushi's Jason Hauck is anti-brunch, pro-Feast

No one knows Houston restaurants better than the people who run them, own them, and work in the kitchens. In this continuing series, CultureMap is asking our favorite foodie personalities around town where they go for great eats when they're not working.

Jason Hauck has worked at some of the best restaurants in Houston — Quattro, Ouisie's Table, Aries and Rainbow Lodge — and now he's becoming a major name in his own right with the inventive French-Asian fusion at Soma Sushi. Fresh off Soma serving several hundred hungry arts hounds at the Saint Arnold Brewing Company viewing party for gunpowder artist Cai Guo-Qiang's explosion, Hauck tells CultureMap his go-to spots on Washington Avenue, his favorite funky stops and where he brought dad.

Hauck also reveals his strong feelings on a certain Sunday tradition.

Restaurant for a special occasion: Catalan, just because they're down the street from us and I know Chris (Shepherd) and I know how amazing his food is.

Restaurant to take out-of-towners to: The last person I had in from out of town was my dad, and we made sure we took him to Goode Co. Barbecue, Feast, and Anvil. He loved Feast, we had a grand time. Richard (Knight) was there and he really went out of his way to make our meal special.

Favorite meal: Right now what I'm into is finding all the funky spots on Bellaire, like Sinh Sinh, Tan Tan, all the Asian grocers, we just go around sampling things like steamed buns,and fish stomach soup.

Breakfast/Brunch favorite: I refuse to do brunch. I have been on the service industry side of the brunch shift, and I am not going to promote it — I have nothing good to say about it.

Breakfast is all about the breakfast taco, we have been raiding El Tiempo Market — they always have the funky stuff, pig's ear, tripe, chicharrónes. And Laredo Taqueria is just great, they make all their stuff from scratch and are really good at what they do. If you go at lunchtime there's a line around the block.

Dessert: Wherever Rebecca Masson is making dessert. If I can find her trail of caramel and follow it to wherever she's at, I'm happy.

Other articles in the Houston Chef's Table series:

Lee Ellis loves Les Givral

Sugar hooker Rebecca Masson can't get enough of Catalan's Cake

Beachy L.J. Wiley digs the special occasion simple flavors at Dos Brisas

David Grossman goes for Vic & Anthony's crab cake, Yelapa late nights & some Bootsie

Jeramie Robison appreciates Kata Robata's sushi, Beaver's bangin' meatloaf & foodie chicks

Tony Mandola finds breakfast magic at Sunrise Taquitos

Philippe Schmit craves a Picnic romance & Stella Sola's French toast

Benjy Levit is torn between Indika's salads and Hank's Ice Cream

Flora & Muse's David Luna likes to hang with his fishing buddy and hit the Blue Nile

Asian Bistro's Gigi Huang seeks out spicy fried chicken at a Dive

Houston Chef's Table: Hugo Ortega believes in a Goode tradition

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LRW 2025

Two week dining event celebrates Houston's Latin-owned restaurants

Photo by Dylan McEwan

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A two-week celebration of Latin food and culture has begun in Houston. Latin Restaurant Weeks has returned for its seventh year.

Held from Friday, July 11 until July 25, Latin Restaurant Weeks has more than 40 participants that showcase the diversity of Latin American cuisine. It includes everything from all four of James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega’s restaurants — Mexican staple Hugo’s, seafood restaurant Caracol, Oaxacan restaurant Xochi, and street food favorite Urbe — as well as Brazilian steakhouses, casual taquerias, and bakeries.

Unlike Houston Restaurant Weeks where restaurant serve prix fixe menus at set prices, each participating restaurant in Late Restaurant Weeks determines its own offer. For example, at The Lymbar, David Cordua’s Latin-Mediterranean fusion restaurant in Midtown, diners have the option of a two-course, $25 lunch or a three-course, $39 dinner. Next door at Late August, chef Chris Williams and Sergio Hidalgo’s Michelin-recommended restaurant, the options consist of a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner (pricing information wasn’t available at press time). In contrast, Urbe’s sole offering is a three crispy pork belly taco plate for $17.

Those looking for more of a bar experience should consider Botónica, the recently-opened, Latin-inspired cocktail bar near River Oaks District. Aye Candy, a speakeasy-style bar in Spring Branch, is serving a $35 margarita flight with four variations on the popular cocktail.

Married couple Karinn Chavarria-Luckett and Warren Luckett founded Latin Restaurant Weeks in 2019 to increase awareness of Latin-owned restaurants. Since then, the event has expanded from Houston to Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

“Latin Restaurant Weeks was created to spotlight the cultural richness woven into each dish and story,” said Karinn Chavarria-Luckett, co-founder of Latin Restaurant Weeks. “It’s a celebration of identity, of creativity, and of the people behind the flavors who make our communities vibrant and strong.”

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