Nothing to Escoffier At

Houston has the third best culinary school in the country for 2025

Learn the secrets of French technique at the Culinary Institute LeNotre.

Culinary Institute LeNotre/Facebook

When people get good educations, the people around them usually benefit too. Sometimes you can feel it, but now Houstonians can taste it, with the local Culinary Institute LeNotretaking a top national ranking. The Houston campus was No. 3 on education review platform Niche's 2025 "Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America" list, which included 131 schools in total.

Austin's Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts edged out the Houston school, snagging the No. 2 spot. The only other Texas college in the top 20 was the Texas State Technical College in Waco, which ranked No. 14 for its culinary program.

Students at the Culinary Institute LeNotre can choose from five main programs: three associates degrees in hospitality and restaurant management, culinary arts, and baking and pastry arts, as well as diplomas in the two culinary fields. Those with an interested in healthy eating can learn how to prepare meals designed to suit people with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Niche's in-depth ratings are coveted in more general arenas, like public universities, where the University of Texas scored in the top 10 for 2025. The more niche disciplines (ironic, yes) are a bit broader in their grading, but what's important is how they stack up relative to each other.

The Culinary Institute LeNotre received a strong A rating in safety as well as a B-plus for campus and student life. Its C-plus in diversity refers not just to racial diversity, but also students from other countries, out of state, from different economic backgrounds, and more. The student life category encompasses basically any aspect of attending the school, including parties and the surrounding area.

The academics and location categories both eked out a C-plus, which isn't bad looking at the other schools on the list.

While the value gets a dismal D-plus, the professors earn a strong B rating. That grade reflects student surveys, which are the highest weighted factor, along with salaries, the student-to-faculty ratio, and awards received by full-time faculty, among others.

The top 10 Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America, according to Niche, are:

No. 1: Escoffier School of Culinary Arts — Boulder
No. 2: Escoffier School of Culinary Arts — Austin
No. 3: Culinary Institute Lenotre (Houston)
No. 4: Walnut Hill College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
No. 5: Johnson & Wales University — Charlotte
No. 6: White Mountains Community College (Berlin, New Hampshire)
No. 7: Johnson & Wales University — Providence
No. 8: Helms College (Augusta, Georgia)
No. 9: Monroe College — Bronx, New Rochelle
No. 10: Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, New York)

The full list of 131 culinary programs is ranked at niche.com. More information on the Culinary Institute LeNotre is available at culinaryinstitute.edu.

flying into Houston

Chopped champion's Indian-spiced fried chicken joint opens in Midtown

One of Houston’s most dynamic chefs has unveiled his take on fried chicken. Pok Pok Po is now open in Midtown.

Located at 3201 Louisiana, the restaurant is the latest concept from chef and Chopped champion Jassi Bindra and business partners Surpreet and Preet Paul Singh, the trio behind Indian fine dining restaurant Amrina in The Woodlands. Bindra’s fried chicken recipe uses a gluten-free flour and starch batter that’s seasoned with Indian Kashmiri red chili powder along with other herbs and spices. It’s pressure cooked to ensure the meat stays both juicy and crispy.

The certified halal chicken is available as strips, sandwiches (made with thigh meat), and chicken breast bites.Those looking for a heartier meal, can get their chicken served on top of sidewinder fries or in the “Rice & Shine,” which includes basmati rice and Bindra’s “Desi kimchi.” Beverage options include Akra, an American-style lager that’s brewed in India, cannabis-infused drinks from 8th Wonder and non-alcoholic options such as sodas and a mango lassi.

“At Pok Pok Po, we’re creating something that’s not just a meal but an experience,” Bindra said in a statement. “We’ve taken everything people love about fried chicken and given it a twist with bold, gluten-free recipes and flavors that truly speak to the diversity of Houston.”

While most counter service restaurants are designed primarily for to-go, Pok Pok Po’s 55-seat dining room caters to those who want to enjoy their meals. It features banquette seating and a white-and-black motif that will also be present at Bol, the restaurant’s sister concept that’s opening soon.

The two restaurants occupy part of the former Artisans space. Medium Rare, an affordable steak frites restaurant from Washington, D.C., recently opened next to Bol and Pok Pok Po.

Courtesy of Pok Pok Po

Pok Pok Po is now open in Midtown.

news-you-can-eat openings pok pok po