HOUSTON — Chef Benchawan Painter, also known as "Chef G," and her husband Graham Painter started their business in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. They leased a former fried chicken place in Magnolia Park, attached to a gas station, because it had a drive-thru window. The Painters had always dreamt of bringing truly authentic Thai food—the way Chef G's grandmother Pluentha in Thailand makes it—to Houston.
And Houston showed up! In fact, they had so many orders the first day, they had to shut down the next day to stock back up for the week. As the restrictions loosened, the Painters began to build out the tiny dining room to accommodate guests. Very quickly, the dine-in service overtook the takeaway. Graham, a sommelier, then added interesting wine pairings to the menu, and the restaurant became a regular hangout in the East End.
After winning the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas last year, they moved to a bigger space down Harrisburg Blvd and are bringing unapologetic Thai food and vibes to Houston. Not only does Chef G cook unapologetically authentic Thai food, they also play the hottest hip-hop from Bangkok in the restaurant. Chef G doesn't want you to visit a Thai place in America; she wants you to travel to the Kingdom when you walk through their doors.
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To learn more about Street to Kitchen or to make a reservation, visit their website here.