Award-winning East End Thai restaurant, Street To Kitchen, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan “G” Jabthong Painter, is set to significantly expand this fall. Known for serving “unapologetically Thai” cuisine, Street to Kitchen is relocating from its original 10-table gas station spot to a much larger space within the mixed-use development, The Plant, in Houston’s Second Ward this November. This move marks an exciting new chapter for the restaurant, allowing it to cater to a growing customer base and further enrich Houston’s vibrant food scene.
The new Street to Kitchen will be located at 3401 Harrisburg Boulevard, in the space formerly occupied by Cafe Louie and Louie’s. This 2,800-square-foot location will dramatically increase the restaurant’s capacity, accommodating 100 guests – triple the size of its current establishment. Beyond increased seating, the expansion will also introduce an enhanced drinks menu featuring wine and cocktails, adding to the dining experience. A much-anticipated addition to the menu, Thai omelets, currently a Saturday special at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market, will become a regular offering, even available through a convenient walk-up window at the new location. Owners Chef G and her husband Graham Painter are already undertaking renovations to transform the space, with the new Street to Kitchen, complete with an outdoor patio, expected to be ready before the year’s end.
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Chef G expressed her enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, “As a big fan of my adopted home, the great city of Houston, and with humble gratitude for the recognition from the James Beard Foundation as ‘Best Chef: Texas,’ I am thrilled to be able to expand Street to Kitchen, so that we can not only serve more Houstonians, but bring our unapologetically Thai food and our philosophy of fun to the [Houston] food scene.” This expansion is particularly timely, following Chef G’s prestigious James Beard Foundation award win for Best Chef: Texas, which has further amplified the restaurant’s popularity and demand.
While the new location is being prepared, Street to Kitchen will continue to operate from its original East End location. Securing a table at the current, intimate setting has become increasingly challenging, especially after Chef G’s recent accolade. The move to a larger venue will alleviate this demand and provide more opportunities for diners to experience Street to Kitchen’s acclaimed Thai cuisine.
Interestingly, the space Street to Kitchen is moving into was initially intended for New York-style pizzeria Angie’s Pizza. However, Angelo Emiliani, the chef behind Angie’s Pizza, has since rebranded it as Neighbors Pizza Bar and opened in a nearby location on the same street, in the former How to Survive on Land and Sea wine bar space. Angie’s Pizza, now Neighbors Pizza Bar, is already serving 18-inch New York-style pizzas at The Plant, utilizing locally sourced ingredients, and offers a full-service bar with Italian ice, cocktails, wine, and beer.
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The Plant, developed by Concept Neighborhood, is envisioned as Houston’s first “15-minute neighborhood.” This mixed-use development aims to create a central, walkable community featuring restaurants, retail, gathering spaces, public amenities, and eventually residential and office areas, making it a vibrant hub in the Second Ward. Street to Kitchen’s relocation to The Plant positions it within this exciting and growing community, promising an even brighter future for this celebrated Houston restaurant.
