Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Juan Antonio Hernandez, a.k.a. Tony, and Aquiles Chávez of Pochitos Mariscos y Más. The duo speak with Eric about working together, where the name of the concept came from, creating the new menu for Pochitos Mariscos y Más, the fusion of ideas in creating some of the menu items, the origin story of the sushi hot dog, Aquiles being happy to be back in Houston for this project, goals, and more. Plus, Aquiles speaks about what he's been up to, Tony shares what took him from music to the restaurant business, having stars do TikTok dances to his music, and more. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Aaron Bludorn's Michelin-Recognized Tavern Sets Woodlands Opening Date Award-Winning Houston Smash Burger Restaurant Sets Katy Opening Date Pier 6's James Beard-Nominated Duo Fires Up a New Grille in Friendswood 2 Michelin-Rated Houston Restaurants Teamed Up for Taco-Fueled Fundraiser Houston Tex-Mex Institution's Original Location to Close After 43 Years

Chelsea Thomas is back on the podcast today to speak with Eric about all the latest happenings and annoying things happening in the Houston food scene. The pair discuss Pizzaro's expanding with 2 new locations and CultureMap contributor Brianna McClane's Steak Night Round Up article. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, The Audrey is featured. Then the duo react/discuss former Houston Chronicle Food Critic Alison Cook's recent blog post regarding her recent experience at Osteria di Mercato. Was she fair in her critiques? Eric and Chelsea, say nope... not at all.     Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Family-Owned Houston Pizzeria Rises with 2 New Locations Houston Tex-Mex Institution's Original Location to Close After 43 Years 2 Michelin-Rated Houston Restaurants Teamed Up for Taco-Fueled Fundraiser Staple West Houston Chinese Buffet Reopens After Glamourous Makeover Houston Restaurateur's Posh Italian Spot Closes After 4 Years in Cypress

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Marco Thompson and Mauricio Alvarado of Osteria di Mercato. Marco and Mauricio share how they both got into the world of culinary, what brought them back to Houston, working together at Osteria di Mercato, what brought each of them to the concept, why the small menu, developing the menu, the benefits of working in a small concept, the neighborhood restaurant feel, the creation of some of the dishes including the tuna crudo, the wine list, how things are going so far, their goals, a comment regarding Alison Cook's recent blog post, and more! Plus, the guys share a couple stories about the late Grant Gordon. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Family-Owned Houston Pizzeria Rises with 2 New Locations Houston Restaurateur's Posh Italian Spot Closes After 4 Years in Cypress Tilman Fertitta's Seafood Restaurant Sets Sail with New Sugar Land Store New Pitmaster Brings Top 50 Cred to Historic Houston Barbecue Joint Houston Chopped Champ's Casual Indian Restaurants will Shutter in Midtown

Today on the show Eric is joined by Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita! The guys dive into some of the latest news from the Houston food scene including Chris Williams' restaurant Late August closing, Agnes and Sherman being recognized by Bon Appetit as one of it's Best New Restaurants of 2026, Pochitos Mariscos y Más soon featuring a new menu created by chef Aquiles Chávez, and the Michelin Guide making changes to how it'll announce this year's Texas recipients... Eric's not a fan. Then in the Restaurants of the Week portion, One Roast is featured. Plus, Raffi shares a bit about what diners can expect from his upcoming collaborative pop up with Agnes and Sherman called Pepitas, coming this September. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Michelin-Recognized Houston Restaurant Quietly Closes After Only 2.5 Years Michelin-Recognized Houston Diner Makes Bon Appetit Best New Restaurants Superstar Mexican Chef Returns to Houston via New 3-Year Partnership Michelin Guide Makes Big Change to 2026 Texas Restaurant Announcement Terry Black's Co-Founder Dishes on Houston Opening and Future Hotel Plans

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Luis Lopez, Jake Granville, & Ryan Penn of Eastbound Barbecue. The guys speak with Eric about how they got their respective culinary starts, their experiences working with Ronnie Killen, why the time was right to start Eastbound Barbecue, what aspect about the new concept appealed to them, developing the menu to incorporate other items besides just barbecue, making items very distinct from other places like Killen's, doing their best to keep costs low for themselves as well as customers, mixing up the menu at times, why their burger is special, the birth of Eastbound Gold, the service experience, the cocktail program, how things are going so far since opening, and much more!Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston's Asian American Diner Featured on Good Morning America Historically-Minded New Coffee Shop Perks Up Downtown Houston Hotel Michelin-Recognized Houston Restaurant Quietly Closes After Only 2.5 Years Bun B Serves Up Smash Hit Smash Burgers at Houston's Rice University Michelin-Starred Houston Restaurant Heads to Portugal for New Season

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer and Montrose Grocer. Eric speaks with Mary about some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the closure of Barbecue Inn after 80 years of service, Pudgy's Fine Cookies/Underground Creamery head to Meyerland to open their 2nd collaborative location, and the hometown chef that Beat Bobby Flay recently. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Angie's Pizza and Bar Angie are featured. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Historic Houston Fried Chicken Destination Will Close After 80 Years Collaborative Cookie Bakery and Ice Cream Shop Spin Up New Meyerland Spot Houston Chef Thomas Bille Sounds Off on his Beat Bobby Flay Appearance Family-Friendly Houston Sports Bar Scores with New Katy Location Michelin-Starred Houston Restaurant Heads to Portugal for New Season

Time to reveal the winner of The Ultimate Chain Restaurant Draft! Graham Laborde of Winnie's joins Eric on today's podcast to serve as the special guest judge for the draft. Graham speaks with Eric as to why he felt [redacted] won the draft, what stood out from the winners selections, who was closest in beating [redacted], restaurants he was surprised didn't get picked, the rest of the teams selections, and more! Plus, Graham shares with Eric the latest happenings over at Winnie's and what they're doing for Houston Restaurant Weeks.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Top Houston Chefs Fire Up New Pizza Pop-Up Series for Local Nonprofit 10 Eateries Participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks for the First Time Houston Ice Cream Shop from 'World's Best Pastry Chef' Quietly Closes Historic Houston Fried Chicken Destination Will Close After 80 Years Michelin-Recognized Texas Barbecue Chain Fires Up Houston Opening Date

It's draft day on What's Eric Eating! Eric, Sarah Dowling of Baso, Abbas Dhanani of Burger Bodega, Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita, and Chelsea Thomas are drafting The Ultimate Chain Restaurant line up on today's edition of the podcast. First though, what is the definition of a chain restaurant? For podcast drafting purposes, The Ultimate Chain Restaurant Draft defines a chain restaurant as having at least 20 locations in at least five states. For example, this would exclude a place like Steak 48 (only has 8 locations), but does include Nobu (locations on 5 continents). The Chain Restaurant categories our drafters will drafting in are; Breakfast, Burgers, Fast Casual, Ice Cream Steakhouse, and a Wild Card.  The winner will be announced on the next episode of the podcast as selected by special judge, so stayed tuned to your podcast feeds to find out who the winner of the first ever Ultimate Chain Restaurant Draft is.  The Draft RulesRule 1: For burgers, you can pick any restaurant that serves a burger, it doesn't have to be a dedicated burger concept but no selections from a fast food concept. Rule 2: Steakhouses are restaurants with at least 6 different a la carte steaks on the menu that cook orders to temperature.Rule 3: All 6 selections must be from different places for each drafter. Once a restaurant has been selected for any category, it's off the board for all other categories/drafters. Rule 4: Snake draft format. The draft order will go one through five in round 1 then go backwards five through one in round 2, and so on.Rule 5: Categories may be selected in any order.Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston Ice Cream Shop from 'World's Best Pastry Chef' Quietly Closes Historic Houston Fried Chicken Destination Will Close After 80 Years Michelin-Recognized Texas Barbecue Chain Fires Up Houston Opening Date Collaborative Cookie Bakery and Ice Cream Shop Spin Up New Meyerland Spot Austin BBQ Joint Brings Smoked Lamb and Line Dancing to Houston Pop-Up

Today on the show Eric is joined by Paul Friedman of Chef's Table. Paul speaks with Eric about pursuing a career in culinary, designing restaurants at first, wanting to become a professional chef, working with Mike's Kitchen, coming to Houston, losing everything, how he and Thomas Nguyen started Peli Peli, why Chef's Table was the right next move for him following Peli Peli, why his son Kyle is partially to blame for starting the concept, what it's like working with Kyle, developing the Chef's Table menu, ostrich becoming a best seller, why he decided to add go to River Oaks for the 2nd location of Chef's Table, the challenges he's face so far, installing sprinklers being a problem, what the goals are moving forward, and the monkey gland sauce story.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Collaborative Cookie Bakery and Ice Cream Shop Spin Up New Meyerland Spot Austin BBQ Joint Brings Smoked Lamb and Line Dancing to Houston Pop-Up Hot New Houston Pizzeria Rolls Out Wood-Fired Pies in the Heights Houston Restaurant Touched by Tragedy will Close After 2 Years in Montrose Austin Restaurant Known for Khachapuri Sets Sail for Houston

On today's edition of the show, Eric is joined by Houston BBQ Festival co-founder Michael Fulmer to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston food world including Relish Restaurant & Bar moving to a new location, Island Grill already claiming the former home of Relish, and the return of Houston Restaurant Weeks. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Charolais and Coarse are featured.    Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Comfort Food Restaurant Confirms Big Move to New River Oaks Development Family-Owned Houston Grill Claims Prime River Oaks Space for 6th Location 3 More Houston Restaurant Charity Dining Events Raising Money in August Houston Restaurant Touched by Tragedy will Close After 2 Years in Montrose Austin Restaurant Known for Khachapuri Sets Sail for Houston