Theodore Rex

The story

Theodore Rex, Houston: Relaxed Fine Dining with a French Touch

A personal point of view

Theodore Rex describes itself as “relaxed fine dining with a French touch, a personal point of view, a lot of local ingredients and a little sense of humor.” That line, lifted from the restaurant’s own homepage, is as accurate a summary as you’ll find. It also hints at something rarer: a kitchen that knows exactly what it wants to be and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The restaurant occupies a former warehouse in Houston’s Warehouse District, a neighborhood where artists and musicians live, creatives visit, and funky old buildings still stand. The space feels of the place — unpretentious, deliberate, with an energy that matches the food.

The team behind the stove

Chef and owner Justin Yu leads the kitchen. His team page lists his go-to Whataburger order (potato, egg, and cheese taquitos with grilled jalapeños, extra crispy, from the N. Main location after 2 AM). That’s the kind of detail that tells you more about a chef’s palate than a dozen press releases. Chef de Cuisine Frank Hermosilla and General Manager Stacy Swygert round out the core team.

The cooking is contemporary, rooted in French technique but filtered through a personal, locally-minded lens. The menu changes with the seasons and the market, built around what’s available in and around Houston. The result is food that feels both precise and spontaneous.

Recognition and philosophy

Theodore Rex earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026, an award that recognizes good quality, good value cooking. That recognition fits the restaurant’s ethos: fine dining without the stiffness, a serious kitchen that stays approachable. The dining room is small, and reservations are offered in time increments — two hours for parties of one to two guests, up to three hours for larger groups. A 22% service charge covers health insurance, paid time off, and higher wages for the kitchen staff. It’s a policy that reflects the restaurant’s values as clearly as its menu does.

The wine list is interesting, the atmosphere is warm, and the entire experience — from the food to the service — carries that “little sense of humor.” Theodore Rex is a place where relaxed and refined coexist, and where the best introduction is simply showing up.