The time has come to celebrate all the people and places who make Houston such an exciting city to dine in. The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards are back, and we can now reveal the 2025 nominees.
As has been our tradition since 2014, we’ve asked leaders of Houston’s hospitality community to tell us which chefs, restaurants, bars, and more set the standard that their peers aspire to achieve. Our judging panel will pick the winners in nine of the 10 categories. CultureMap readers will pick the winner of Best New Restaurant in a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament that always generates plenty of conversation on social media.
Overall, this year’s nominees are a distinguished bunch. They include three chefs whose restaurants earned one of Houston’s first Michelin stars. We’re also recognizing 12 of the city’s 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists. Reality TV is well represented, too, with nominees who have appeared on Top Chef, MasterChef, and Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship: Easter.
We’ll celebrate the nominees and reveal the winners at our awards ceremony and signature tasting event on Thursday, April 3 at Silver Street Studios. The annual party is a chance for CultureMap readers to mingle with Houston’s culinary elite who sport their finest threads and let their hair down for the epic bash.
More than a dozen of this year’s finalists will be serving bites, and our sponsors will supply all of the beer and cocktails necessary to keep the party going. Then we’ll reveal the winners in our short and sweet awards ceremony.
A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $70 for general admission and $110 for VIP (includes early access to the event, valet, and a dedicated bar). Tickets will sell out — they always do. Act fast. You don’t want to miss out.
We’ll dive more deeply into the nominees in a special editorial series that celebrates their accomplishments. But first, a round of applause for all of this year's finalists:
Restaurant of the Year
- Andiron Grille & Patio
- Baso
- Belly of the Beast
- Katami
- Little's Oyster Bar
- March
- Musaafer
- Nancy's Hustle
- Nobie's
- Squable
- Theodore Rex
Chef of the Year
- Aaron Davis, Viola & Agnes
- Benchawan Painter, Street to Kitchen
- David Skinner, Ishtia
- Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemo
- Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, Jun
- Felipe Riccio, March
- Jason Ryczek, Little's Oyster Bar
- Manabu Horiuchi, Kata Robata/Katami
- Mayank Istwal, Musaafer
- Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast
- Victoria Elizondo, Cochinita & Co.
Rising Star Chef of the Year
- Adrian Torres, Maximo
- Alexandra “Allie” Peña, Bar Bludorn
- Austin Waiter, The Marigold Club
- Chris Davies, March
- Jacob Coronado, Nobie's
- Kent Domas, Milton's
- Max Lappe and Jacques Varon, Baso
- Nicolas Vera, Ema/Papalo Taqueria
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
- Yotam Dolev, Okto
Pastry Chef of the Year
- Avril Martinez, Baso
- Christina Au, Blacksmith
- Emily Rivas, Josephine's
- Josh Deleon, Underground Creamery
- Kelly Helgesen, Nancy's Hustle
- Marie Riddle, Bludorn Hospitality
- Micaela Victoria, Goodnight Hospitality
- Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar
- Ruchit Harneja, Berg Hospitality
- Stefani Velasquez, Ema/Papalo Taqueria
- Van Teemer, Pudgy's Fine Cookies
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year
- Aga's
- Feges BBQ
- Gold Tooth Tony's
- Handies Douzo
- Josephine's Gulf Coast Tradition
- Kata Robata
- Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
- Ostia
- Pondicheri
- The Pit Room
- Truth BBQ
Bar of the Year
- Bandista
- Catbirds
- Clarkwood
- Double Trouble
- EZ's Liquor Lounge
- Johnny's Gold Brick
- Lee's
- The Library
- Melrose
- Nickel City
- Reserve 101
Bartender of the Year
- Aaron Lara, Kira
- Alejandro Medina, Bar Bludorn
- Brandon Choate, Nancy's Hustle
- Himanshu Desai, Sof Hospitality
- Julia Miles, Refuge
- Karole Hardwick, Nickel City
- Máté Hartai, Lee's
- Peter Jahnke, Catbirds
- Robin Jordan, March
- Thomas Marsella, 13 Celsius
Best New Restaurant
- Bar Bludorn
- ChòpnBlọk
- Credence
- Drake's Hollywood
- Ema
- Ishtia
- Kira
- Late August
- Leo's River Oaks
- Little Rey
- Maximo
- MF Lobster & Seafood
- Milton's
- Okto
- The Marigold Club
- Traveler's Cart
Best Pop-Up/Startup
- Ally Barrera, Sweet Bee's Bakehouse
- Andrea de Gortari, The Bake Happening
- Gabriel Gooley, Gabriel's Goodies
- Gabriel Medina, Subo
- Garrett Rice and Ryan Kristensen, Bayou Butchers
- Joseph Boudreaux, Boo's Burgers
- Luciana Emiliani, La Crumb
- Michelle Wallace, B'tween Sandwich Co.
- Ralph Palmer and Daniel Andrade, Deckle & Hide
- Suu Khin, Burmalicious
Best Coffee Shop
- Blacksmith
- Blendin Coffee Club
- Brass Tacks
- Catalina Coffee
- Koffeteria
- Slowpokes
- Tenfold Coffee
- Un Caffe
- Xela Coffee Roasters
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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is brought to you by Stella Artois, Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water, PicMe Events, and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation. To learn more about the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, visit culturemaptastemakers.com.
