i. Biography
Justin Yu, chef and owner of Theodore Rex in Houston, works from a local register that stays tied to Texas ingredients even as the menu reaches beyond the city. A native Houstonian who studied at University of Houston and later trained at Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Yu moved through kitchens in Texas and Napa, including The Grove, Ubuntu, and Oxheart, before establishing the arc that now defines his work. The James Beard Award sits in that record as recognition, but the throughline is craft: Houston as source material, revisited with discipline and range.
Coming Up
Training at Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park gave Justin Yu a formal base before he returned to Houston, Texas, and took on the role of chef and owner at Oxheart in 2012–2017. That period sharpened the line of his cooking and set the terms of his later work. In 2017, he moved to Theodore Rex, where he is chef and owner today, keeping the same exacting standard while allowing the restaurant to take on its own shape.
Where They Are Now
At Theodore Rex in Houston, Justin Yu has steered a restaurant that moves differently from the Oxheart years. The format is à la carte, with a lighter, more playful feel, and the menu opens outward rather than holding to a single lane. Dishes are informed by travels abroad and bring Gulf ingredients together with European and Asian influence, using that range without losing control of the plate. Local Texan ingredients remain the anchor. That focus keeps Theodore Rex tied to the region even as the cooking widens in reference. The work sits in the balance between place and exchange: Houston at the center, with broader influences folded in around it. The name itself reflects that same plain-spoken wit. As Yu said, "I added 'Rex,' because I thought it would be hilarious to have a restaurant abbreviated 'T. Rex.'" The line is funny, but it also reads as operating method: precision without stiffness, room for character without losing the craft.
Signature
Justin's signature dishes include Claypot Rice.
In Their Words “All I wanted to do was cook my little itty bitty heart out. It didn’t matter how it happened, if it included destroying everything in my path. The whole project was incredibly narcissistic.”
Honors
Justin's honors include James Beard Award, Best Chef: Southwest.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Justin
Where did Justin Yu train or study?
Justin Yu trained at Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
What recognition has Justin Yu received?
James Beard Award, Best Chef: Southwest (2016).
