Award-winning Malaysian restaurant finally unveils new location in Woodlands

One of the Houston area’s most acclaimed Asian restaurants opens its second location this week. Phat Restaurant Lunch and dinner service will begin this Wednesday, June 26.

First announced two years ago., the restaurant suffered numerous delays as it prepared to expand from its original location in Katy Asia Town. None was more significant than the death of the founder. Alex Au YeungWHO succumbed to cancer in March. operations directors Kevin Lee and Marvin He, who have been part of Phat Eatery since its opening in 2018, are poised to maintain and expand Au-Yeung’s legacy. Specifically, Lee rose through the ranks at sushi restaurants before becoming general manager of the Azuma Group, while he is the culinary mind behind dishes like lobster dumplings and beef rendang Wellington.

“We are very grateful to Houston chefs and restaurateurs, many of whom sent their condolences and offered to guide us through many obstacles,” Lee said in a statement. “With Alex’s passing, a lot of things were delayed, but I’m grateful that everyone has been more than understanding. I’m sorry it took so long, but we’re here. We are ready!”

The award-winning Malaysian restaurant underwent extensive renovations to transform a 40-year-old Fuddruckers in Grogan’s Mill into a modern restaurant that nods to Singapore and Malaysia (2290 Buckthorne Place in The Woodlands). Phat Eatery worked with Tramonte Design Studio on the 8,200-square-foot space.

Details include 24-foot ceilings, exposed cedar beams, and Chinese lanterns hanging above the wood-frame cabins. An oversized neon sign explaining that “phat” means “very attractive and rewarding” links the new location to the original Katy location. Overall, the new restaurant seats nearly 200 people, including two private rooms: the atrium with seating for 75 people and a chef’s table room with seating for 15 people at a round party table that includes an electric Lazy Susan .

Behind the scenes, the Phat Eatery team visited restaurants in New York to get inspiration and design the most efficient kitchen possible. Diners may not notice the separate stations for entrees like roti, dim sum, and Peking duck, but they will appreciate the efficiency with which dishes arrive at their tables.

One thing that won’t change is Phat Eatery’s food. Diners can enjoy the same roti canai, kerabu prawns, curry laksa, beef rendang and other dishes that earned Au-Yeung a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Best chef: Texas in 2022.

Once the restaurant is more adapted, He and Lee will fulfill Au-Yeung’s original vision for the menu by adding Chinese barbecue, including Peking duck, and expanding the restaurant’s dim sum offerings. Over time, the restaurant will also add a bar menu that includes fan-favorite specialties like salt and pepper chicken wings and the beef rendang burger that Au-Yeung created for a pop-up at the award-winning Restaurant CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Neighborhood of the Year. Burger cellar. Although he is not there to see it, the team is confident that he is honoring Au-Yeung’s legacy.

“If Alex was still with us, he would say, ‘Finally. We have it open. Dreams really do come true,’” she added.

Phat Eatery opens daily at 11am Reservations available in Resy.