Phat Eatery has become a staple Malaysian restaurant in Katy’s burgeoning Asia Town.

Is Houston’s food scene big enough to handle two areas devoted entirely to Asian restaurants, cafés and shops? The answer is an overwhelming “Yes!” Katy Asia Town, located off of Colonial Pkwy (Grand Parkway/I-10), is holding its own as a culinary destination for Katy folk and inner loopers alike.

Dining at Phat Eatery is an experience in and of itself. There are many neon lit signs throughout the restaurant, but the largest one is the Webster’s Dictionary definition for the slang adjective phat: “Highly attractive or satisfying.” It is not entirely clear if phat refers to the restaurant or the food, but either would be correct.

Phat Eatery has a mix of booths, tables and a bar that diners can cozy up to. The ambiance of the restaurant is fun, young and reminiscent of the Asian street markets the menu is based on. The wait staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and Phat prides itself on having a rotating menu of happy hour specials and prix-fixe dining options.

Named one of the top restaurants in Houston by the Houston Chronicle and Culture Map, reservations are definitely recommended as it fills up quickly even on weekdays. We’ve done some of the hard work for you and put together a list of three reasons to eat at Phat Eatery today.

Phat Bites

All of them are so good, but if you have to be reasonable and only order two, the Roti Canai and Kerabu Prawn are menu favorites. Roti Canai combines the best of Malaysian flavors with Indian flat bread and curry dip. The vegetarian dish will have you asking for seconds.

The Kerabu Prawn has large prawn served cold with papaya, mango, red onion, peanuts, toasted black sesame and a light dipping sauce. The combination of sweet and savory flavors makes this dish undeniably delicious.

Noodles

Would it really be Malaysian street food without noodles? There are several noodle dishes to choose from and you can’t go wrong with any of them. Flat or egg noodles, and the customary mix of proteins or tofu, spices and textures – these noodles dishes taste best with a cold tangy beer.

Seafood

You must sample Phat’s specialty, Ikan Bakar, which is a whole fish cooked in banana leaf. The saucy combination of spices and sambal sauce make the fish flaky and easy to eat. There are so many prawns to choose from on the seafood menu, but the Coconut Prawns were easily my favorite. Covered in toasted coconut and oatmeal, the texture and flavor of the prawns is superb.

Phat Eatery: 23119 Colonial Parkway, Katy, TX 77449

Cover photo Chuck Cook

Gabi De la Rosa lives in Houston with her husband and three children. You can usually find her at a great local restaurant or out exploring HTX with her family. Visit her on Instagram @gabioftheroses_htx