Phat Eatery Woodlands: A Testament to Love, Great Food and Hard Work.

What a story. A tale of success, hard work, sympathies, and unprecedented triumph for the sake of memories and a legacy.

Opened in 2018 in Katy Asian Town by 2022 James Beard Awards Semifinalist Alex Au-Yeung, Phat Eatery has earned a devoted following for its freshly prepared Malaysian street food, relaxed atmosphere, and warm hospitality. Influenced by Au-Yeung's upbringing in Hong Kong and his Malaysian ancestry, Phat Eatery offers creative interpretations of regional Southeast Asian specialties. The menu features Chef Au-Yeung’s award-winning beef rendang, curry laksa, nasi lemak, sizzling egg tofu, and flaky roti canai, along with a variety of stir-fried noodles, rice, and vegetable dishes, house dim sum, and seasonal specials. Early success and critical acclaim, including recognition as one of the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants, led to a restaurant expansion to accommodate twice as many guests. In 2022, Au-Yeung was nominated as a James Beard Awards Semifinalist for Best Chef: Texas and for “Chef of the Year” in CultureMap’s Tastemaker Awards.

The restaurant was also a contender for “Restaurant of the Year,” and listed by others as “The 38 Essential Houston Restaurants.” In fact, Phat Eatery was highlighted by The New York Times as one of “America’s Next Great Restaurants” in the suburbs.

Sadly, Alex Au-Yeung, the chef and owner of Phat Eatery, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2024, after bravely battling cancer. Alex played a significant role in Houston's food scene, but his modesty and work ethic were the core of his legacy. He kept his struggle private, but his team, working with Phat Eatery directors of operations Kevin Lee and Marvin He, worked very hard to open the Woodlands location in Alex's honor.

My husband and I have returned to this new location four times in just eight days. Yes, four times in just about one week...and here's why - Phat Eatery delivers a burst of flavor with its take on Malaysian cuisine and it's drink menu is equally impressive. When it comes to the specialty drinks menu, you'll be amazed with their unique fruit juices, mocktails, cocktails, and a full bar. This bar has something for everyone. And when it comes to their menu, it's a full blend of curries, seafood, noodles, beef, chicken, rice, and fresh vegetables. Trust me, there's something for everyone.

As expected, the service was excellent, with new staff finishing a weekend of training alongside seasoned members of the Katy crew. From the first day it opened for business, my husband and I were there and ordered everything imaginable: Hainanese Chicken, Char Kway Teow, Sizzling Beef, Belacan Kang Kung/Water Spinach, and their famous Roti Canai (truly to die for). Additionally, we ordered a variety of drinks for each course and everything matched the quality of their original spot in Houston—outstanding!

The new location is roomy and truly impressive. My husband said, "We’ll be back soon," and he wasn't wrong. When we returned a second time, we started with what we loved: Roti Canai—two pieces of tortilla-like bread with a curry dip. It was phenomenal. I recommend ordering two servings as they will disappear fast! For main courses, we had the Beef Rendang featuring incredibly tender beef in a curry with potatoes and the sizzling beef black pepper, reminiscent of pepper beef at many Chinese restaurants. Both dishes were top quality, not too spicy for my mild palate, and accompanied by rice. The juices were phenomenal too. I especially enjoyed the blood orange/cherry drink and the watermelon/prickly pear concoction, which disappeared quickly.

Then, we returned the next night. I'm not kidding. 24 hours later, we were back. The doors had opened at 5 pm for dinner, and in less than 10 minutes, the entire restaurant was filled with people and conversation. Our server's name was Patrick, and he was kind, inviting, informative, and funny. Although we already knew what to order, he energetically told us all about the various dishes. Patrick knew the menu very well. As expected, we started the dinner with a Mixed Satay with peanut dipping sauce. Once again, the meat was perfectly grilled and remarkably tender! Next, we tried the Malaysian Chicken Curry, another order of their award-winning Beef Rendang, and the Nasi Lemak platter, including coconut rice and other nibbles. The undeniable groaning at our table throughout the meal indicated our enjoyment. We loved it. All the dishes we ate were really flavorful and yummy...again! When we were done, we sat in the dining area with the beautiful view of the trees. When we stood up to leave, my husband said to me, "We are just so lucky."

Take my word for it—everything at Phat Eatery's new location is impressive. The food quality, presentation, and taste are consistently excellent.

Management has done an excellent job reconfiguring the building, creating a welcoming upscale casual feel with great views. In fact, due to their unprecedented success, they announced on June 29th, 2024, that they would close temporarily to restock their kitchen, reopening the next day.

Three quick things to note: (1) They're breaking in the new space and working out the challenges of any new spot, so please be patient and encouraging. (2) Don't order one thing. Order five things. Trust me, you won't complain when bringing food home. (3) Get there as soon as they open, or expect to wait (and then we're back to number one...be patient).

Phat Eatery is undoubtedly bringing magic to The Woodlands! Pay them a visit today!

2290 Buckthorne Pl, The Woodlands, TX 77380

(832) 562-3775

www.phateatery.com