What's Eric Eating Episodes 416 and 417

Houston restaurateurs dish on their 2 globally-inspired concepts

The owners of Traveler's Cart discuss their restaurant with Eric Sandler.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

On the most recent episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Thy and Matthew Mitchell join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss their two, globally-inspired restaurants, Traveler’s Table and Traveler’s Cart.

The conversation begins with Matthew Mitchell explaining his decision to leave behind a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry in favor of culinary school and becoming a restaurateur. Thy Mitchell brought experience from working at her family’s restaurant as well as others to the endeavor.

Traveler's Table Matthew Mitchell Thy Mitchell Stanton Bundy Owners Matthew and Thy Mitchell with culinary director Stanton Bundy. Courtesy of Traveler's Cart

After Houstonians responded favorably to Traveler’s Table — as anyone who’s attended its popular weekend brunch service will affirm — the couple created Traveler’s Cart as a more affordable sister concept that would potentially be easier to grow into additional locations. As Matthew explains, choosing to serve street food came with certain requirements.

“The first thing you have to do, which is to be exhaustive in this. You’re not going to have every food cuisine in the world. Some cultures don’t do a ton of street food,” he says. “There’s some things you have to have. Dumplings, some kind of satay or kebab, we debated where to enter the burger or taco wars. You have to enter the game a little bit, but I think there’s some things other people don’t have.”

Listen to the full episode to hear the Mitchells share some behind-the-scenes details from their appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, including how Guy Fieri helped influence the decision to open Traveler’s Cart.

In the previous episode, Sandler and food writer Chelsea Thomas of The Infatuation Houston discuss the news of their week. Their topics include the new dining district coming to downtown’s GreenStreet development as well as the openings of the first Houston-area locations of Portillo’s and P. Terry’s.

In the restaurant of the week segment, Thomas and Sandler discuss their recent meal at the recently-opened Heights location of Dandelion Cafe. Thomas praises the restaurant’s take on breakfast staples such as pancakes and omelets, while Sandler discusses how far the restaurant has come since its first location opened in 2016.

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Domo Arigato

Award-winning Texas ramen shop sets opening date for Meyerland location

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.

Houstonians had to wait seven years for a second location of Ramen Tatsu-ya, but the Austin-based restaurant’s third Houston outpost is coming much more quickly.

The restaurant’s Meyerland location will open on Saturday, October 31, in the former Boston Market location at 4672 Beechnut St.

Known for its signature tonkotsu broth, which takes up to three days to prepare, chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto opened the original Ramen Tatsu-ya in 2012. It quickly earned wide acclaim, including a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2013.

Since then, the restaurant has grown to six locations in Austin and two in Houston — a Montrose store that opened in 2017 and a Town & Country outpost that debuted in December 2025. More could be on the way.

“There's certainly room and good trade area dynamics to support more Ramen Tatsu-Ya locations in Houston,” CEO Todd Coerver writes in an email. “I have no magic number or timeline in mind for such growth. A lot will depend on the performance of the newer locations we are opening in Houston. Community reaction will dictate the answer to how many, how fast.”

In addition to its noodles, Ramen Tatsu-ya also serves small plates such as its signature Sweet and Sour Yodas (aka, Brussels sprouts), karaage, and gyoza. They can be paired with a full range of drinks, including beer, sake, frozens, and non-alcoholic sips such as lemongrass-cucumber limeade and strawberry-yuzu lemonade.

The company operates three other concepts: Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya, a casual patio bar; Tiki Tatsu-Ya, a tiki bar and restaurant; and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, a Texas-inspired izakaya that holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Could they be headed to Houston, too?

“I wouldn't rule out the possibility for a version of Kemuri to expand to Houston one day. But we are really just focused on Ramen Tatsu-Ya at the moment,” he writes.

Ramen Tatsu-ya will celebrate its Bellaire grand opening with free t-shirts for the 25 customers, the chance to win free ramen for a year, a free popsicle with purchase for anyone in costume, and a DJ set from 6-8 pm. It will also give out treats to trick-or-treaters.

“We’re excited to bring a new location to the Bellaire area,” Coerver added in a statement. “And having our grand opening on Halloween gives us a chance to really ratchet up the fun!”

Ramen Tatsu-ya is only the latest addition to the Bellaire/Meyerland area. The second location of Tex-Mex restaurant Candente opened in late 2025. Pudgy’s Fine Cookies and Underground Creamery will open their second location across the street from Ramen Tatsu-ya this Sunday, October 25.

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.