Meet the Tastemakers

Announcing the Dallas nominees for 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards

This year's wildcard category highlights Dallas' best sandwiches.

Ashley Gongora

Dallas' culinary scene is unstoppable, and each year we celebrate the city's top restaurant and bar talent with the annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Recently, we revealed the 2026 event dates and released a limited number of discounted tickets, and now it's time for the anticipated unveiling of our Dallas nominees.

These nominees represent the very best in Dallas dining right now, from casual neighborhood spots to Michelin-worthy menus.

Our panel of judges — including local culinary experts and a who's who of past Tastemaker Awards winners — have selected outstanding nominees across nine categories. They'll choose the winner for all but one award — the Best New Restaurant will be crowned by CultureMap readers in an interactive tournament this spring.

Meet the nominees below, then join us May 7 at Astoria Event Venue to find out who wins. You'll nosh on chef-prepared bites from a host of participating nominees, sip perfectly paired cocktails, and be in the room when the winners are revealed. A limited number of First Dibs tickets are still available with big discounts ($50 for general admission and $85 for VIP), so don't delay.

Now, please join us in toasting the 2026 Dallas Tastemaker Awards nominees:

Restaurant of the Year

Cattleack Barbeque
Crown Block
Gemma
Mabo
Mamani
Mot Hai Ba
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen
Nonna
Sushi Kozy
Tatsu Dallas

Chef of the Year

Tiffany Derry, Roots Southern Table, Radici
Omar Flores, Casa Brasa
John Kleifgen, Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse
Andreas Kotsifos, Andreas Prime
Peja Krstic, Mot Hai Ba, Pillar
Olivia López, Molino Olōyō
Aubrey Murphy, SĒR Steak + Spirits
Misti Norris, Far Out
Charles Olalia, The Mansion
Chris Vogeli, III Forks Steakhouse - Addison

Bar of the Year

Apothecary
Ayahuasca Cantina
Bar Colette
Black Swan Saloon
Bowen House
Boxcar
La Viuda Negra
Leela's Wine Bar
Midnight Rambler
The Wilfred

Best New Restaurant

Avra Estiatorio
Burger Schmurger
Cafe Dior by Dominique Crenn
Casa Brasa
Centrale Italia
Domodomo Ko
El Molino Mexican Bistro
Evelyn
Far Out
Flamant
Frenchie
Jo’Seon Wagyu Omakase
Little Blue Bistro
Norman's Japanese Grill
Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q
Winsome Prime

Rising Star Chef of the Year

Reilly Brown, Frenchie
Scott Girling, Osteria Il Muro
Mollie Guerra, Chef Mollie G
Zeina Kamal, Babel Mediterranean Grill
Belal Kattan, Bazaar
Brian Kim, Domodomo Ko
Sonia Mancillas, Via Triozzi
Benjamin Norton, Norman’s Japanese Grill
Eduardo Osorio, Meridian
Kelly Vargas, Curuba Colombian Kitchen

Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year

Beverley's
Blues Burgers
Cafe Izmir
Family Thais Asian Bistro
Kenny’s East Coast Pizza
il Bracco Restaurant
La Parisienne
Miriam Cocina Latina
The Mexican
Pillar

Dessert Program of the Year

Crispy Cones
IYKYK Mochi Churro
Le Reve Gelato & Patisserie
Lucia
Pietro’s Italian Bakery
Restaurant Beatrice
Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
San Martin Bakery & Restaurant
Uchi
Village Baking Co.

Coffee Shop of the Year

Ascension
Cafe Ciro
Cafe Duro
Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co.
Good Boy Cafe
La Réunion
La Souq Coffee
Palmieri Cafe
Wayward Coffee Co.
White Rock Coffee

Best Sandwich

Beyond the Bun
Bread Zeppelin
Deli News Restaurant
Empire Baking Co.
Goodfriend Package
Jimmy's Food Store
Latin Deli
Mendocino Farms
Tortas la Hechizera
Trades Delicatessen

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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Dallas by Maker's Mark, Shutto, NXT LVL Event, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Harvest Project Food Rescue.

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This week in gluttony

Caviar crowns the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Punk Noir/Instagram

Punk Noir will host a caviar tasting this week.

Indulge this week with not one, but two, caviar events along with other luxe experiences like a Burgundy wine tasting and Amalfi Coast brunch. There's also opportunity to keeps things more laid back with a summer burger party, and even a humorous dinner with a former TV writer from The Simpsons.

Wednesday, July 15

Caviar & Wine Tasting Experience at Punk Noir
This guided wine and caviar tasting will feature wines from Hyde Vineyards Estates paired with Altima caviars in a bump-and-sip setting at the new Punk Noir tasting-menu restaurant on Turtle Creek Boulevard. Tickets are $50, and the tasting will run from 6-8 pm.

Thursday, July 16

30th DFW Restaurant Week Reservation Day Happy Hour at The Stoneleigh Hotel
The historic Stoneleigh Hotel will host a kickoff party in conjunction with reservations officially opening for the 30th annual DFW Restaurant Week. Visit the hotel from 4-6 pm for complimentary passed appetizers, samples of Stella Artois beer and Penfolds wines (the official beer and wine of DFW Restaurant Week), chalice engravings, a shuffleboard competition with prizes, and a champagne toast at 5 pm. (DFW Restaurant Week runs August 10-September 7.)

Friday, July 17

Red Burgundy Wine Tasting at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Join the Pappas Bros. Steakhouse sommelier team for a tasting of rare wines from Burgundy, France, including selections from the storied Cote d’Or. A dozen wines are included at various stations as well as paired hors d’oeuvres. The tasting is $150 and will run from 6-8 pm.

Saturday, July 18

Sun's Out, Buns Out Patio Party at Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar
Embrace peak summer heat with a playful party built around burgers - and buns - at both Loro Asian Smokehouse locations (East Dallas and Addison). Guests can expect $10 sandwiches, like smoked pulled pork, pork katsu, smoked brisket, and smoked chicken, along with $8 “Porch Pouches” and a popsicle pop-up with free popsicles from 1-4 pm, or while they last.

National Caviar Day at Dee Lincoln Prime
The Frisco steakhouse will offer an indulgent special pairing to mark National Caviar Day. The menu includes two caviar “sammies” – butter-toasted mine Hawaiian rolls with chive crème fraiche and premium caviar – paired with the new Dee Luxe Sour, made with Hendrick’s gin, Lillet Blanc, white crème de cacao, and Supasawa premium sour cocktail mixer. The pairing is $65. Call 214-387-3333 for reservations.

Sunday, July 19

A Taste of the Amalfi Coast at Monarch
Experience a taste of coastal Italy paired with sweeping views of the Dallas skyline. The prix-fixe menu includes warm focaccia, heirloom tomato caprese, lobster benedict, rigatoni carbonara, lemon ricotta pancakes, steak and eggs, and more. The brunch is $95 ($35 for kids under 12), plus tax and gratuity, with the option of adding bottomless mimosas for $33 more. Seating times run from 10 am-1:30 pm.

Championship Match Watch Party at Columbian Country Club
Celebrate the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a final watch party at Columbian Country Club featuring DJ music, an ice luge, soccer-themed décor, and drinks sponsored by Don Julio, Casamigos, and La Marca. Admission is free and the party will run all day from 1 pm-2 am. Match time is 2 pm.

Bill Oakley's An American Culinary Curiosity Dinner at Vector Brewing
Bill Oakley is the Emmy Award winning former show writer of The Simpsons TV series, and he’s teaming up with Vector Brewing for two nights of dining and imbibing. This seven-course dinner event will offer a “secret” menu of rare regional American foods and a humorous talk by Oakley. Tickets are $135, with an optional beer pairing for $25 more. The dinner begins at 7 pm both Sunday and Monday nights.

chefs dinners food events