The 8 Best Houston Cooking Classes of 2020

Best Overall: Chef of the House

Sign Up Now

Chef of the House on NASA Parkway is a must-visit for anyone who’s interested in the culinary arts. Staffed by a team of well-trained chefs, Chef of the House offers cooking classes for kids, teens, couples, and adults, as well as competitions that mimic Food Network shows like "Chopped." You can choose from classes that are divided by skill level, as well. There's truly something for everyone at Chef of the House.

Adults will enjoy the regular Charcuterie and Champagne workshops, where you can spend an evening sipping wine with friends and learning how to assemble the perfect charcuterie board. More experienced cooks will enjoy one of the intermediate to advanced classes, such as the tamale workshop, sushi class, or Taste of Thailand. And kids can attend the 10-week after-school cooking class to learn their way around a kitchen.

Expect one-time classes to cost around $130 per person, while the kids’ 10-week class is approximately $275 for the entire semester. Keep an eye out for seasonal classes, too, such as Valentine’s Day cookie decorating classes. And if a little friendly competition gets your blood pumping, you’ll enjoy one of the "Nailed-It" competitions, based on the Netflix series.

Best Budget: The Kitchen Chick

Sign Up Now

Cooking classes can be expensive, with costs that can range from $59 to $180 per person for a two-hour class. Courses at The Kitchen Chick, however, are a little easier to do on a budget.

Classes range from approximately $55 to $75 for two to three hours. The average price is slightly lower than other options, but the variety and value The Kitchen Chick offers is unbeatable. Menus are high-quality and varied, with the Boozy Creole Feast class offering mardi-ritas, hush puppies, shrimp and grits, and bread pudding.

While some cooking schools have a price that’s set in stone, The Kitchen Chick is a little more flexible, offering multiple classes each week at different price points. No matter what size budget you have, you’ll be able to find something that’s doable at The Kitchen Chick. One standout is the studio's two-and-a-half-hour cookie-decorating classes where you learn how to make and use royal frosting on seasonal cookies. You'll also be able to take a dozen cookies home.

Class sizes are small, so you can interact with the instructors. Chefs are highly-educated and offer hands-on advice. The Kitchen Chick is a great place to get the most bang for your buck.

Best for Date Night: urbanCHEF

Sign Up Now

If you and your significant other enjoy working side-by-side in the kitchen, then UrbanCHEF is a great place to hone your skills and enjoy an evening together.

Founded in 2005, urbanCHEF is located on Greenway Plaza and has two kitchens, plus a dining room and patio area. UrbanCHEF offers date nights conducted by its staff of highly-trained chefs every month or two, with more options around holidays such as Valentine’s Day. Most date night classes are held on Friday nights for three hours, with a price tag of approximately $180 per couple.

At urbanCHEF, each class has a certain theme. In the popular Surf & Turf class, you’ll learn to make shrimp campechana, while Classic French Cooking will provide you with enough knowledge to make soupe au pistou, potatoes gratin, crème brûlée, and more. A lamb and risotto-themed class will teach you how to make herb-marinated lamb chops with chimichurri sauce as the centerpiece. If you’re looking for a culinary-themed date night in Houston, urbanCHEF is the place to spice up your night.

Best for Kids: Main Course Cooking School

Sign Up Now

Located in North Spring, Main Course Cooking School offers hands-on cooking experiences for all ages—making it a great place for your child to learn some kitchen skills.

Main Course’s most popular classes are the three-day Spring Break Boot Camp and the five-day Summer Camp, available for both kids ages seven to 12 and teens ages 13 to 17. In these courses, kids will learn the fundamentals of cooking and nutrition, letting them both make and eat some delicious treats.

Main Course also holds other one-day classes throughout the year. One-time classes cost around $59 for two-and-a-half hours, while boot camps start at about $165 for three days. Each class or camp has a certain theme, like cooking dishes from different states or countries. Main Course also has a boot camp that’s geared for college-bound students and teaches them the life skills they need to know before moving out.

You can also book your child a birthday party at Main Course: The cooking school offers parties for kids ages seven to 12 and teens ages 13 to 17. Choose from a list of themes, including pizza party, tea party, or All-American.

Best for Fundamentals: Well Done Cooking Classes

Sign Up Now

As seen on the popular Food Network TV show "Guy’s Grocery Games," Well Done Cooking Classes offers courses just about every day of the week. If you’re new to the kitchen, start with the fundamentals and techniques classes. Typically held on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Heights, these public classes teach you the art of using a knife or making staples like sauces.

Fundamentals and technique classes range from $59 to $69 per person. Techniques classes each focus on a certain type of meat or vegetable, educating attendees about the most common ways to cook that item. You’ll learn about steaming, frying, sautéing, broiling, and more. Fundamentals classes will teach you how to make bread and pizza, sauces, or how to safely chop vegetables using a knife.

These classes are also part of Well Done’s Culinary Certification program, a year-long program where you can take 20 courses and earn a Certificate of Completion in the Culinary Arts. This certificate can be used to find a job in the culinary field or as something to impress your friends.

Best for Sushi: Cozymeal

Sign Up Now

Great for beginner chefs who love Asian food, Cozymeal's Sushi 101 class teaches you the art of sushi making in a one-night event. Sushi 101 is taught by Chef Jared, an experienced chef who has worked around the world.

During this class, he’ll teach you how to make blistered peppers, cook sushi rice, and do everything else necessary to produce California rolls. Plus, a tuna tower, salmon nigiri, and sashimi are on the menu, too. The course costs around $95 per person, lasts for two-and-a-half hours, and includes a four-course meal. Sushi 101 also encourages you to bring your own wine or beer.

Classes are held every evening during the week, making Sushi 101 the perfect way to unwind after a day at work. And since the maximum amount of guests for each class is 10, you’ll be able to enjoy an intimate setting and plenty of individualized help from the teacher. Sushi 101 receives a long list of five-star reviews from past guests. The only criticism: They ate too much. 

Best for Desserts: Sur La Table

Sign Up Now

Sur La Table is a nationwide franchise with a well-known program of cooking classes. And at the Houston River Oaks location in the River Oaks Shopping Center, you can find a long list of sweet classes to satisfy your cravings. Common dessert classes held at Sur La Table include Artisan Chocolate, Three Desserts Every Chef Should Know, and several French-inspired courses that teach you how to make croissants and crêpes. 

Make three decadent desserts in the Artisan Chocolate class or sample classic French desserts like madeleines and profiteroles in the French Bakery overview course. Whatever you choose, Sur La Table’s dessert classes are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.

Most Sur La Table classes are either two- or two-and-a-half hours long, with some going up to three depending on the nature of the dish. Classes vary in cost, ranging from $59 to $79. Each class accepts no more than 16 students, and while teens ages 14 and up are welcome, a parent will need to attend class with any child under the age of 17.