On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” chefs Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Duckstache Hospitality. The company’s rapidly-expanding roster of Japanese restaurants includes Kokoro, two locations of Handies Douzo, Himari, and Aiko, which won Best New Restaurant in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.
The conversation begins with both chefs sharing the paths that led them to Uchi, which is where they met and decided to work together. From there, they opened Kokoro, which is the only original restaurant that remains at Bravery Chef Hall. Their following grew thanks to Handies, which, as Pham notes, still charges the same prices for its core menu items that it did when it opened.
Initially intended to serve sushi and hand rolls, the chefs say that the tweaked Aiko’s menu in response to customer demands. Now the restaurant offers different omakase options at a range of price points as well as an a la carte menu, cocktails, and more. Both chefs recommend sitting at the sushi bar for the full experience.
“It’s such a special place when you sit at the sushi bar . The culture we have, the chefs we have are all amazing. They’re very knowledgeable. They’re very engaging. No matter what, you’re going to have fun,” Lee says.
“Most people don’t like to sit at the sushi bar at other restaurants. The chefs are always looking down. They’re very intimidating. We’ve cultivated with our chefs to talk to the guests. Treat every guest as if it were one of your best friends coming to eat,” Pham adds.
Listen to the full episode to hear them discuss Himari in more depth. They also preview Doko and Bar Doko, their two new concepts coming to the Autry Park mixed-use development later this year.
In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Monica Danna discuss the news of the week. Their topics include healthy-eating restaurant Vibrant opening a second location in Memorial Park; the prospects of Blue Tuba, an innovative concept opening next month in the Heights; and Plume, a stylish new cocktail lounge coming to Shady Acres.
In the restaurants of the week segment, Danna and Sandler share first impressions of two new taquerias. First, they discuss their meals at Little Rey, the new restaurant near River Oaks District from the team behind Superica. Then, they rave about Maximo, the new restaurant in the former El Topo that combines the talents of restaurateur Benjy Levit and chef Tony Luhrman.
Courtesy of Duckstache Hospitality
Chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee are this week's guests.
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