Irma Galvan

Irma Galvan
Born1941 or 1942 (age 84–85)
OccupationRestaurateur
Known forIrma's Original
Children4
AwardsJames Beard Foundation America's Classics Award

Irma Galvan is an American restaurateur. She owns Irma's Original in Houston, Texas, which was named an America's Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2008. Food & Wine called Galvan a "local legend" in Houston.

Early life

Galvan was born in Brownsville, Texas and moved to Houston's Second Ward with her mother and siblings when she was five. She has a sister and two brothers. She attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Marshall Junior High, and Jefferson Davis High School.

Galvan's mother immigrated from Matehuala, Mexico, near Guadalajara.

Career

In 1989, after Galvan lost her job when the furniture wholesaler she worked for went out of business, she opened a taco stand in to help make ends meet. The taco stand was located across the street from her former employer near Minute Maid Park in Houston's warehouse district.

In 2008 Irma's Original was named a James Beard Foundation America's Classic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when restaurants worldwide were closed, she and her restaurant were selected for an episode of Restaurant Recovery.

In 2022 Galvan was a guest judge on Top Chef Houston. Food & Wine called her a Houston "local legend".

Personal life

Galvan married Louis Galvan, a cancer researcher at Baylor University, with whom she has four children. She was widowed in 1981, when their children were aged 5 to 14, when he was murdered during a mugging.

References

  1. ↑ Correa, Melissa. "Local restaurant owner becomes subject of viral Hurricane Irma meme". KHOU. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Irma Galvan Interview | My Houston". Visit Houston. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Davidson, Sandra. "Food for the Body, Food for the Spirit: Irma Galvan and Her Award-Winning Mexican Restaurant, Irma's" (PDF). Houston History. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kummer, Corby (1 June 2008). "Cooking for a Sunday Day". The Atlantic. ISSN 2151-9463. Archived from the original on 4 November 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Gibson, Phoebe (4 April 2024). "The Legends Behind Houston's Greatest Food Empires". Houstonia Magazine. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Williams, Art (6 November 2017). "12 Texas Chefs Share Their Favorite Holiday Recipes". Texas Highways. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "From Houston favorite to American classic". Washington Post. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Morago, Greg (5 May 2021). "Irma's Original gets pandemic rescue". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  9. 1 2 Miller, Merlyn (1 June 2022). "The Ultimate 'Top Chef' Houston Location Guide". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on 2 December 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Feibel, Carolyn (7 July 2007). "Woman behind Irma's built success from tragedy". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2026.