Latin Restaurant Weeks is back for its third year. From June 1 through 14, this event turns Houstonians’ attention to Latin and Latin-owned culinary businesses. During the first two weeks of June, more than 50 Houston-area restaurants are offering prix fixe meals or specialty items, ranging from $15 to $50. Most are available for dine-in, takeout or delivery.

Considering the severe economic difficulties of the past year, Karinn Chavarria, who co-founded Latin Restaurant Weeks with Warren Luckett (who also co-founded Black Restaurant Week), is working with Feed The Soul Foundation to provide financial, advertising and business development support to Latin restaurant owners. For example, Los Ranchitos, an El Salvadorian restaurant in Southwest Houston, recently received a winter-storm relief grant from the nonprofit.

The cuisines represented during this year’s Latin Restaurant Weeks include Mexican, barbecue, Colombian, Cuban, El Salvadoran, Tex-Mex and even Venezuelan-Japanese fusion. Participating restaurants are located in Houston, Friendswood, Sugar Land, Kingwood, Katy, Cypress and League City. Some of the new restaurants for 2021 are:

• Harris County General Store BBQ, 5435 Lawndale
• La Olla, three locations in Houston, Spring and Katy
• Paisa’s Twin, multiple locations
• Paisas Chicken, 4240 Highway 6
• Papalo Mercado at Finn Hall, 712 Main
• Pinchy’s Taco’s, 14515 Katy Freeway
• Roasti Pollo, 5630 North Eldridge
• La Selva Taqueria, 5207 Telephone

Just a few of the returning participants include Cafe Piquet, El Caribeno, La Fisheria and Pablo’s Restaurant & Club. The full list of restaurants is on the Latin Restaurant Weeks website.

Cristina Benítez, owner of Cafe Piquet said via press release, “Despite all the challenges last year, we were incredibly impressed at how being part of Latin Restaurant Weeks helped us reach new customers who may not have discovered us otherwise. My family has run this restaurant for nearly 20 years — we’re grateful for a community that helps us stay on this vital path of recuperation and continues to honor us with their support. We love being part of an event that helps others and brings attention to our diverse cuisines.”

For more information about the Latin Restaurant Weeks, visit the website, the Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.