A taste of Texas

The Tastemaker Awards toasts the best in Texas dining for 2022

Guests raised a toast to our Tastemaker nominees.

Photo by Guillermo Rosas

CultureMap trekked across Texas this spring to toast the Tastemakers during our annual culinary awards program — and this year was bigger than ever. In addition to our longstanding events in Dallas, Austin, and Houston, we brought the party to Fort Worth and San Antonio for the very first time.

The series began April 26 with our inaugural San Antonio event before returning to Austin's Fair Market on April 28. The Texas culinary tour then headed to Cowtown for our Fort Worth debut on May 10, followed by an evening at Dallas' Fashion Industry Gallery on May 12. The foodie fun wrapped up May 25 in Houston with another sold-out night at Silver Street Studios.

The 2022 Tastemaker Awards served as a Texas-sized celebration of the culinary scenes they honored, with guests savoring bites from participating nominees, sipping signature cocktails alongside culinary stars, and raising a glass to the winners during our live awards ceremonies.

Nominees were selected by local panels of industry experts, including past Tastemaker winners and CultureMap editors. The panels then selected all winners, except for Best New Restaurant, which was determined by readers in our online tournament.

Meet all of the 2022 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners, listed by city, below.

Dallas:

Restaurant of the Year: Meridian
Chef of the Year: Ji Kang, Sloane's Corner
Bar of the Year: Rattlesnake Bar
Best New Restaurant: Hawkers Asian Street Food
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Aldo Lugo, Jose
Pastry Chef of the Year: Amy La Rue, Carte Blanche
Bartender of the Year: Reid Lewis, Atlas
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Hillside Tavern
Brewery of the Year: Vector Brewing
Wine Program of the Year: Monarch
Best New Pizza: 400 Gradi

Fort Worth:

Restaurant of the Year: Belenty's Love Vegan Mexican Restaurant
Chef of the Year: Jenny Castor, Luckybee Kitchen
Bar of the Year: The Lobby Bar at Hotel Dryce
Best New Restaurant: Dusty Biscuit Beignets
Best Breakfast: Ol' South Pancake House

San Antonio:

Restaurant of the Year: 2M Smokehouse
Chef of the Year: Jason Dady, Jardín
Bar of the Year: Bar 1919
Best New Restaurant: Dashi Sichuan Kitchen & Bar
Best Brewery: Dorćol Distilling & Brewing Co.

Austin:

Restaurant of the Year: Cuantos Tacos
Chef of the Year: Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria
Bar of the Year: Tiki Tatsu-Ya
Best New Restaurant: Wax Myrtle's
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Amanda Turner, Olamaie
Pastry Chef of the Year: Susana Querejazu, Lutie's
Bartender of the Year: Cory Starr, Tiki Tatsu-Ya
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
Wine Program of the Year: Birdie's
Brewery of the Year: Meanwhile Brewing Co.
Best Vegan Restaurant: Counter Culture

Houston:

Restaurant of the Year: Street to Kitchen
Chef of the Year: Aaron Bludorn, Bludorn
Bar of the Year: Tongue-cut Sparrow
Best New Restaurant: d’Alba Craft Kitchen & Cocktails
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Benchawan Painter, Street to Kitchen
Pastry Chef of the Year: Christina Au, Blacksmith
Bartender of the Year: Sarah Crowl, Better Luck Tomorrow
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Click Virtual Food Hall
Wine Program of the Year: Tiny Champions
Best Pop-up: Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo, Neo

See you in 2023.

2022 Tastemaker Awards Silver Street Studios

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

See you in 2023.

tastemakers

Opening Alert

Dallas Tex-Mex favorite Manny's cooks up new concept at CityLine Richardson

Manny's Mexican Kitchen is open at CityLine. Courtesy Photo

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Manny’s Tex-Mex, the popular Dallas-born chain known for its classic Mexican dishes, is dishing up something new in Richardson.

Manny's Mexican Kitchen, a "new elevated concept from the family behind Manny’s Tex Mex," has arrived at 1250 State St., across the street from the CityLine Plaza development, according to a press release.

It joins a growing lineup of eateries at CityLine, which includes the newly opened Show Mini Hot-Pot and spots like Good Union Urban BBQ, Edoko Sushi, and Oni Ramen.

Manny’s Tex-Mex first debuted in Uptown Dallas in 2005, and currently has four Dallas-area locations. At the new Richardson spinoff, diners can look forward to a refreshed menu from the team, which a release describes as “More Mex, Less Tex.”

Focusing on "authentic Mexican cuisine," the menu at Manny's Mexican Kitchen includes regional Mexican dishes like chamorro en adobo, or slow-braised pork in a chile-spiked sauce, and Michoacan-style carnitas. The restaurant will also make its own birria, which will be griddled with lots of cheese into quesabirria tacos. Manny's fan favorites, such as chorizo-topped queso and classic combo platters, are also available.

The cocktail menu takes significant influence from regional Mexican libations, with drinks like the Chapultepec, a mezcal drink inspired by Oaxaca, and the Jalisco Punch, a paloma served in a traditional earthenware vessel called a cazuela, on offer.

Manny's Mexican Kitchen at CityLine.Photo courtesy of CityLine

The new restaurant takes over a sprawling 5,115 square foot space with a “lively, colorful setting designed for gatherings and celebrations,” according to the release. The space was designed in partnership with Coeval Studio, the Dallas design firm responsible for the look at restaurants like Pizza Leila, Hendy’s on Henderson, and chic Highland Park champagne bar Coupes, among other establishments.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Manny’s Mexican Kitchen to CityLine and introduce a new dining experience that’s full of flavor, culture and personality,” said CityLine marketing director Marissa Gonzalez. “Located just steps from our Plaza and signature events, we’re excited to continue growing a dining lineup that brings people together and gives our guests something new to discover every time they visit.”

Manny’s Mexican Kitchen held its grand opening festivities on Wednesday, February 25, and is now open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

richardson cityline openings tex-mex

A taste of Texas

The Tastemaker Awards toasts the best in Texas dining for 2022

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Opening Alert

Dallas Tex-Mex favorite Manny's cooks up new concept at CityLine Richardson