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texas tastemakers

Texas' top restaurants and chefs crowned at the 2026 Tastemaker Awards

Amber Heckler
May 25, 2026 | 10:15 am

After months of hard work and culinary determination, CultureMap has completed its statewide journey to honor the best chefs, restaurants, and more with the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

The series kicked off April 9 with our Austin Tastemaker Awards at Distribution Hall, then we moved to Houston on April 16 for our tasting event at Silver Street Studios. Next up was North Texas, for the Fort Worth celebration at Social Space on April 30 and Dallas fête at Astoria Event Venue on May 7. Our Texas culinary tour finished strong with a San Antonio extravaganza at the Briscoe Museum on May 14.

The 2026 Tastemaker Awards celebrated Texas' diverse culinary landscape and honored those who've made the biggest impact in Lone Star State dining in the past year. A host of nominated chefs and restaurants showcased their flavorful bites and treats during each of the celebrations, and winners were revealed in an onstage ceremony.

Guests dined on chef-created dishes and sipped on a variety of creative cocktails. But nothing could take away the focus from our acclaimed nominees and winners, who are the reason we bring these celebrations to life each year. Readers in each city got to know all the nominees through a special editorial series for weeks leading up to the events.

Nominees were, as always, determined by a panel of local industry experts, including previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap editors. They voted on winners in categories such as Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year, and more. The champion in the Best New Restaurant category was determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament. Our 2026 "wild card" category celebrated the Best Sandwich in each city.

Nicosi
Photo courtesy of Nicosi

San Antonio Dessert Program of the Year winner Nicosi.

Let's raise a glass to our 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Award winners all across Texas, listed by city:

Dallas:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Mamani
  • Chef of the Year: Peja Krstic; Mot Hai Ba, Pillar
  • Bar of the Year: Ayahuasca Cantina
  • Best New Restaurant: Frenchie
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Beverly's Bistro & Bar
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eduardo Osorio, Meridian
  • Dessert Program of the Year: Lucia
  • Coffee Shop of the Year: Ascension
  • Best Sandwich: Trades Delicatessen

Fort Worth:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Cattlemen's Steak House
  • Chef of the Year: Jon Bonnell; Bonnell's, Waters, Buffalo Bros., Jon’s Grille
  • Bar of the Year: Crystal Springs Hideaway
  • Best New Restaurant: Cocodrie's Bayou Kitchen
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Rex's Bar & Grill
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Levi Gardner, Westland Hospitality
  • Dessert Program of the Year: FunkyTown Donuts & Drafts
  • Coffee Shop of the Year: Buon Giorno Coffee
  • Best Sandwich: Carshon's Deli

Austin:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Odd Duck
  • Chef of the Year: Daniela Landaverde and Rosa Landaverde, La Santa Barbacha
  • Bar of the Year: Parley
  • Best New Restaurant: Moderna Bar & Pizzeria
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Allday Pizza
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Ale Kuri, Este
  • Dessert Program of the Year: Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop
  • Coffee Shop of the Year: Palomino Coffee
  • Best Sandwich: Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen

Houston:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Casaema
  • Chef of the Year: Manabu Horiuchi; Kata Robata, Katami, Sushi Horiuchi
  • Bar of the Year: Donna's
  • Best New Restaurant: Barbacana
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: ChòpnBlọk
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Adrian Torres, Maximo
  • Bartender of the Year: Julia Miles, Refuge
  • Dessert Program of the Year: Barbacana
  • Coffee Shop of the Year: Un Caffe
  • Best Sandwich: B'Tween Sandwich Co.

San Antonio:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Cullum's Attaboy
  • Chef of the Year: Sue Kim, The Magpie
  • Bar of the Year: Jue Let
  • Best New Restaurant: Honey's Chicken Joint
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Con Huevos Tacos
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Matt Garcia, Gigi's Deli
  • Dessert Program of the Year: Nicosi
  • Coffee Shop of the Year: NoFi Slow Bar
  • Best Sandwich: Beacon Hill Market & Deli

---

The Dallas CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by Maker's Mark, Shutto, NXT LVL Event, Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof, H-E-B, Marine Foods Express, and S.Pellegrino Acqua Panna. A portion of the proceeds benefited Harvest Project Food Rescue.

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This week in gluttony

These are the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Celestina Blok
May 25, 2026 | 12:00 pm
Monarch
Monarch
Monarch marks five years this week with a five senses dinner.

A 49th-floor restaurant will mark five years this week with a dinner set to engage all five senses. The week is also busy with a paella patio party, a barbecue fest, chocolate tasting soiree, and a wine mixer themed after a movie known for its comedic gold.

Thursday, May 28

Beats & Bites at Terra
Eataly’s rooftop restaurant Terra just refreshed its focus to highlight seasonal ingredients centered around a new wood-fired grill. Now the restaurant will launch its summer Beats & Bites series. Enjoy live jazz paired with a special menu of three chef-curated bites and a choice of craft cocktail for $20. The program will run on Thursdays throughout the early July from 5-8 pm.

Paella Night at Bucket & Rope
The New American restaurant located in the Dallas Farmers Market District will showcase the spirit of Spain during its monthly paella party on the patio. Chef Victor Hugo will serve Spanish paella, communal style, straight from the pan. Reservations are $48 and the evening begins at 6 pm with passed appetizers before paella service at 7 pm.

Monarch Five-Year Anniversary “Five Senses” Dinner
The wood-fired Italian restaurant on the 49th floor of The National downtown will mark its fifth anniversary with a five-course dinner intended to tantalize all five senses. Patrons can expect dramatic tableside presentations, Antinori Italian wine pairings, live entertainment, and an after party upstairs at Kessaku with dancing, DJ music, cocktails, and bites. The menu includes a “sound” course with tuna carpaccio inspired by ocean waves, a “feel” course with prosciutto, mozzarella and Ossetra caviar, a “smell” course with wagyu Italian sausage flambé, and more. The dinner is $250 and begins at 6 pm. Add the after party for $50 more, or $125 on its own.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit BBQ Fest
The original Dickey’s Barbecue Pit will celebrate National Brisket Day and its 85th anniversary with the inaugural BBQ Fest, a fundraiser benefiting The Dickey Foundation. The family-friendly event will feature live music, barbecue samples, raffles, and a friendly eating competition between members of Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Dallas Police Department. Admission includes a Rancher’s Premium Sausage Sandwich and a Big Yellow Cup. May 28. It'll take place 3-6 pm at the original Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 4610 N. Central Expwy. Tickets are $10.

Saturday, May 30

Drink North Texas Wine Festival
Taking place at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, this all-day wine tasting event will feature samplings from a dozen North Texas wineries. Sip and stroll amid a collection of aircraft while enjoying live jazz, food vendors, and shopping, too. Ticket start at $38 for regular general admission pricing and the event will run from 10 am-8 pm.

Catalina Wine Mixer at Cane Rosso
Cane Rosso White Rock will host its second annual patio party (named for a scene in the comedy Step Brothers) with wine stations, cocktails, live action food stations, and live music. Menu highlights include grilled mortadella with chimichurri, panzanella salad, vodka pasta with Calabrian chicken meatballs, and porchetta sliders. Tickets (which are expected to sell out) are $40, and the event will run from 5-9 pm.

Sunday, May 31

For the Love of Chocolate at Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Dallas’ pioneering artisan chocolate shop will host its annual evening of chocolate and food tastings. The $110 ticket includes cocktails; bites by guest restaurants and chefs including Georgie, Taco y Vino, Snap BBQ, and more; and of course, chocolate. The event begins at 5 pm.

Chef Collective Dinner at Meridian featuring David Uygur from Lucia
Meridian has launched a guest chef dinner series featuring local chefs cooking alongside executive chef Eduardo Osorio at the Village Dallas restaurant. Next up is David Uyger of the Michelin-recognized restaurant Lucia. A tasting menu will be served and 20 percent of the $185 ticket price will be donated to Meat Fight, a nonprofit that supports those living with multiple sclerosis. Reservations available all evening starting at 5 pm.

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