Here are the winners of the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. These bars, restaurants, and individuals represent the best of Houston’s culinary scene, as selected by our judges’ panel of former winners and local experts and revealed at an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 3 at Silver Street Studios.
Our winners include local favorites that have been satisfying customers for 10 years or more, as well as four restaurants that have been open for less than two years.
Regardless of how long they’ve been in business, they’re setting the standard for hospitality in Houston. All are worth visiting. When you go, tell them hello from CultureMap.
Rising Star Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year - Jacques Varon and Max Lappe, Baso
It took less than a year-and-a-half for Baso to go from an under-the-radar, late December 2023 opening to become the toast of the Tastemaker Awards. Credit for that goes to chefs Varon and Lappe for continually improving the menu as they refine what it means to be a Basque-influenced, Texas-inspired restaurant. It’s also important to acknowledge the restaurant’s hard-working front of house staff that shares the chefs’ excitement for the cuisine being served.
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year - Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
Houston has plenty of restaurants serving Gulf Coast dishes, but none are quite like Josephine’s. It serves excellent versions of all the classics — think shrimp po’ boys, boiled crawfish, and grilled redfish — alongside some of chef Lucas McKinney’s one-off creations like the blue crab rice bowl and Mississippi Hot Catfish Sandwich. Taken together, it’s a restaurant that Midtown residents should feel fortunate calls their neighborhood home.
Bar of the Year - Johnny’s Gold Brick
Fresh off celebrating its 10th anniversary, the low-key cocktail bar in the Heights takes home the Tastemaker Awards equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. Part of what makes Johnny’s so appealing is its inherent high-low nature. Patrons may choose a cold beer, one of the classic cocktails that’s painted on the wall (priced at just $10), or a more creative sip from the monthly menu. The dimly lit room serves as a hospitable venue for all kinds of gatherings, ranging from happy hour to the last stop on date night.
Bartender of the Year - Aaron Lara, Kira
The veteran bartender has found a home as the beverage director for Comma Hospitality, the growing group behind omakase counter Neo and Kira, its hand roll-focused sister concept near River Oaks. At Kira, Lara’s cocktails incorporate ingredients such as melon, sakura blossom, and loose-leaf teas that don’t overwhelm a dish’s flavors. His childhood memories of enjoying meals with his mother at restaurant bars inspire him to make each customer interaction a positive one.
Pastry Chef of the Year - Stephanie Velasquez, Ema/Papalo
As Ema’s James Beard Award finalist nomination for America’s Best New Restaurant demonstrates, something special is happening within its walls. As one of the concept’s three owners, Velasquez is responsible for the pastries, conchas, and other sweet treats that are a core component of Ema’s offerings. The proof comes from the dozens of Houstonians lining up for Velasquez’s signature horchata Berlinesa, which earned a shoutout in The New York Times.
Best Pop-up/Startup - Suu Khin, Burmalicious
Having burst onto the scene as a finalist on season 11 of the Gordon Ramsay cooking competition show Masterchef, Khin has earned legions of fans by remaining true to Burmese culture. Houstonians are selling her out of tea leaf salad, duck puffs, and catfish lemongrass soup. The acclaim led Khin to a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination — could a brick and mortar restaurant be far behind?
Best Coffee Shop - Blacksmith
Given that our judges work in the hospitality industry, it’s no surprise that the Montrose favorite took home the prize in this year’s wildcard category. Blacksmith’s proximity to many of the city’s best restaurants and bars makes it a popular option for a pre-shift caffeine boost. Besides, no trip to Blacksmith is complete without a cookie or a muffin from pastry chef (and Tastemaker Awards winner) Christina Au.
Best New Restaurant - Leo’s River Oaks
After four rounds of voting, our field of 16 Best New Restaurant finalists has led to Leo’s as our winner. The intimate supper club has been a hit with diners, courtesy of its comfortable dining room that features live music nightly. Led by executive chef Tim Reading, the restaurant’s menu of steaks and seafood keeps things classic and satisfying.
Chef of the Year - Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
This is the third year in a row Chavez has taken home an award, following wins for Rising Star Chef in 2023 and Restaurant of the Year in 2024. That matches his national acclaim, which includes three James Beard Award finalist nominations, a Food & Wine Best New Chef award, and a Michelin star. Despite all the attention, not only does Chavez remain focused on continuously improving Tatemó’s masa-focused tasting menu, but he’s also quick to credit his cooks for helping him achieve success.
----
The Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by Stella Artois, Chardon, Jim Beam Black, Ritual Zero Proof, Seedlip, Valencia's Tex-Mex Garage, Hornitos, Ghost Hill Organic Vodka, and PicMe Events. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.
