Phat Eatery has named Terry Wong, co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and LuLoo’s Day & Night, its new culinary director, marking a meaningful new chapter for the acclaimed Malaysian restaurant. Wong, a longtime friend of the late Alex Au-Yeung, joins co-directors of operations Kevin Lee and Marvin He as they continue to carry forward the vision of their beloved friend, who passed away in March 2024.

Since Au-Yeung’s passing, Lee and He have worked tirelessly to uphold the chef’s high standards, running the original Phat Eatery in Katy Asian Town while opening a much larger second location in The Woodlands in June 2024. With Wong’s addition, the leadership team is gaining an experienced and trusted voice who will support their efforts and bring fresh culinary perspectives to Phat Eatery’s continued evolution.

“I am beyond honored to help carry on Alex’s legacy,” says Wong. “Phat Eatery isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a reflection of Alex’s passion for sharing his culture through food. He built something truly special, and I feel privileged to be part of it. Kevin and Marvin have done an incredible job upholding Alex’s vision. I look forward to working alongside them to ensure it continues to thrive.”

The camera faces Marvin He, Terry Wong, and Kevin Lee under the neon yellow "Phat (adjective) Highly attractive or gratifying" sign inside Phat Eatery.

Marvin He, Terry Wong and Kevin Lee, co-directors of Phat Eatery | Photo courtesy of Jenn Duncan

Alex Au-Yeung smiles at the camera. He has short black hair, black-rimmed glasses, and is wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a light gray apron. He has his arms folded casually against one of the tables in his restaurant. Behind him is a yellow neon sign that says, "PHAT (adjective) Highly attractive or gratifying."

Alex Au-Yeung, late founder and director of Phat Eatery | Photo courtesy of Phat Eatery

A FRIENDSHIP ROOTED IN FOOD & HOSPITALITY

Wong and Au-Yeung’s friendship began in the 1990s when Wong, a party promoter hosting nightlife events, met Au-Yeung while distributing flyers at Hocus Pocus, Au-Yeung’s auto shop. Their bond formed quickly, rooted in a shared love of great food, cold beer and late-night karaoke at their favorite Asiatown haunts.

Over the years, their careers took different paths, but their friendship remained constant. Wong went on to launch Glitter Karaoke, initially in Asiatown before relocating to Midtown, where it became a nightlife staple known for its industry nights featuring guest chefs. Meanwhile, Au-Yeung pursued his culinary passion, eventually debuting Phat Eatery in 2018, the same year that Wong and his Blood Bros. partners, Robin Wong and Quy Hoang, opened their critically acclaimed barbecue restaurant.

As both found success, they championed each other’s ventures, Au-Yeung as one of Blood Bros. BBQ’s earliest supporters and Wong as a regular presence at Phat Eatery. Since opening, Blood Bros. has been named to The New York Times’ 50 Best Restaurants, Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints and Bon Appetit’s 8 Best Barbecue Restaurants and as a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand. Both teams were honored to be shortlisted for a James Beard Best Chef award in 2022, and in addition to gracing top restaurant lists and must-visit travel guides, Phat Eatery was highlighted by The New York Times as one of “America’s Next Great Restaurants” in the suburbs.

The camera faces the interior of the Phat Eatery Woodlands location. There are brick walls, sloped metal ceilings, and tan-tiled floors. There are eight tables visible, each with four wicker chairs, along the wall or in a row beside them. In the middle of the space is a slatted wood awning over a row of four bright orange booths, each seating four. Behind the booths is an obscured view of the kitchen. On the brick wall is a yellow neon sign that reads, "PHAT (adjective) Highly attractive or gratifying."

A NEW ERA FOR PHAT EATERY

Now, Wong is stepping in not only as a seasoned restaurateur but also as someone who deeply understands Au-Yeung’s dedication to excellence, innovation and community. While he will remain actively involved with Blood Bros. and LuLoo’s, his focus at Phat Eatery will be on supporting the leadership team and overseeing culinary operations at both locations. For Lee and He, Wong’s arrival is a welcome addition to an already strong foundation.

“Terry is easy to work with, a great listener and brings a fresh set of eyes,” Lee says. “Since opening The Woodlands location, we’ve focused on consistency, but now it’s time to shake things up. Terry has incredible experience and connections that will open up exciting new possibilities for Phat Eatery.”

His counterpart, He, had similar thoughts:

“Alex surrounded himself with people who shared his values, and Terry is no exception. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and he understands the heart of Phat Eatery. With everything we have planned, from new specials to the barbecue program, Terry will be a key part of making it all happen.”

The camera faces the bar (from the height of the bar), which is topped with seven glasses of various shapes and sizes, each filled with a unique and colorful cocktail. The first and fifth glasses are short and squatty, one filled with a bright pink drink topped with ice while the other is burgundy with a large herbal leaf peeking out the top. The second, fourth, and seventh glasses are medium-height and teardrop shaped: one containing a clear liquid with a decorative leaf, another features a bright minty green liquid with a decorative mushroom (?), and another with a bright sunset-colored drink and a toothpick. The third glass in the row is a martini glass filled with a blood orange-colored drink and slice. The sixth glass is tall and thin with a light pink drink and blood orange slice.

The camera zooms in on a table piled high with various Asian dishes. The one closest to the viewer appears to be a fried tofu skillet (white cubes stacked like a pyramid, doused in a nutty, orange-colored sauce, and topped with herbs). Surrounding this piece are various other entrees and appetizers. One looks to be fried chicken, another, steamed veggies. A third has fried chicken, steamed veggies, a pyramid of rice, and what looks to be a small pancake.

First up is the long-awaited Cantonese barbecue program featuring crispy-skinned roast duck and pork—a passion project that Au-Yeung dreamed of launching. The team is also poised to roll out Phat Eatery’s new happy hour, which will debut with small plates featuring bestsellers. Expect to see the bar menu evolve into a culinary playground soon.

With additional support in the kitchen, Lee, He and Wong plan to ramp up limited-time specials, including the legendary Malaysian Curry Crawfish as mudbug season gets underway. The Basil Salt-and-Pepper Wings featured on Super Bowl Sunday will also return for Independence Day weekend, with more seasonal features in the works.

As Wong settles into his role, his approach is simple: Honor Alex’s spirit while embracing innovation.

“Alex wasn’t afraid to put things on the menu that weren’t traditionally Malaysian—he loved being creative,” says Wong. “I’m the same way. He had a gift for bringing people together through food, and I want to continue that tradition.”

The camera shows an overhead view of a table at Phat Eatery. It features more than a dozens plates, cups, bowls, and skillets piled high with various Asian dishes: orange chicken, grilled fish, rice pilaf, pita bread, kebobs, etc. At least six people are seated at the table, but only their hands are visible as they reach for their glass, use chopsticks, or gently tear the food apart with their fingers.

CARRYING FORWARD A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY

Like Au-Yeung, Wong’s influence in Houston extends beyond his restaurants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when Asian restaurants faced fear-driven economic struggles, Wong co-founded Chow Down in Chinatown, a Facebook group that spotlighted and supported Asiatown businesses, encouraging locals to rally behind them. His deep ties to Houston’s AAPI community and hospitality industry mirror Alex’s commitment to uplifting others. As part of Phat Eatery, Wong sees his role not just as culinary director, but as a custodian of Alex’s vision, ensuring it continues to flourish.

What does Wong think Alex would say about this new chapter? “Welcome aboard, brother. We’re glad you’re here. Cheers!"

Phat Eatery has locations in Katy and The Woodlands, offering full-service lunch and dinner daily. Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are available on Resy. Walk-ins are also welcome. Guests can place orders for takeout or delivery through the restaurant's website.