best fall food festivals

11 fantastic fall food festivals for September and beyond

This month kicks off a fall full of festivals, competitions, and showdowns that show off Houston's food scene. Whether it's a milestone celebration or a fundraiser for one of the city's many nonprofit organizations, these events are an opportunity to experience the creativity of Bayou City chefs and bartenders.

40th Anniversary Menu at Chez Nous
Through September 30
All month long the charming French restaurant in Humble will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special five-course prix fixe menu from chef Stacy Simonson. Priced at $125 per person, it includes caviar with buttermilk-chive waffle; seared diver scallops; Texas quail stuffed with Berkshire pork; bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin with foie gras-mushroom ravioli; and chocolate cherry souffle. Reservations are available via OpenTable or calling 281-446-6717.

Bourbon Master Classes at Bayou & Bottle
Beginning September 7
Marking Bourbon Heritage Month, these weekly sessions are hosted by Bottle & Bayou's general manager Bardia Ketabi, who brings in a series of brand ambassadors to help guests learn more about the art of bourbon making. Intimate and exclusive, each two-hour class features a welcome cocktail, four tastings, and light bites. Each week spotlights a different maker or style. Tickets start at $50. Reservations are required and can be made online.

Bourbon and Cocktail Masterclass at Julep
September 7
Julep owner and superstar bartender Alba Huerta hosts a masterclass and hands-on cocktail creation from 4-6 pm in honor of the bar's month-long Bourbon Fest. Participants will taste five spirits, create five cocktails, and nosh on bar bites. The truly adventurous can take part in the grand finale: a cocktail competition. Tickets are $100 and are available online.

Central Market 30th Anniversary Celebration: A Taste of Houston
Wednesday, September 11
The European-style market grocery store marks its third decade with a come-and-go event featuring dishes that showcase Houston’s flavorful food scene. Expect chef’s tables from Erik Cruz of Artisans, David Cordua of The Lymbar, Omar Pereney from Love Croissants, and others, along with live music, and an array of other delicacies. There will also be wine pairings and Saint Arnold's beer samples. The cost is $85 per person. Reservations can be made online. 6:30-8:30 pm.

Iron Bartender Competition
Thursday, September 12
This annual bash benefits The Periwinkle Foundation, which develops and provides programs for children, young adults, and families who are challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Earlier this summer, bartenders from restaurants and bars across Houston created original Periwinkle cocktails, showcasing their mixology skills. A panel of judges selected five finalists to compete for the 2024 Iron Bartender title. This year's competition will be held downtown at Lyric Market.

Contestants are Drew Jerdan from Bad News Bar, Humberto Garay of Cuchara, Lynzie Holland from Johnny’s Gold Brick, April Biagas from Refuge, and TJ Leibowitz from Winnie’s. Guests can sample their cocktails and vote for the People's Choice Award, and the judges will announce this year's winner. Individual tickets are $200 and can be purchased online.

Taste America
Thursday, September 12
The James Beard Foundation and the Houston First Corporation host this evening at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston that blends culinary innovation and cutting-edge immersive art. Participating chefs include James Beard Award finalist Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó, Beard Award semifinalist Ope Amosu of ChòpnBlọk, Beard Award Winner Hugo Ortega of Xochi, Beard Award winner Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen, Erin Smith of Feges BBQ, Sherman Yeung of Money Cat, and many more, serving a variety of dishes. Premier tickets are $250 and come with a gift bag access to a sneak peek of Meow Wolf Houston, before the new location opens to the public. General admission tickets are $175 and come with a swag bag from Meow Wolf and the evening's participants.

3rd Annual Rock & Roll Picnic
Sunday, September 15
I’ll Have What She’s Having, which funds preventative medical and mental healthcare services for people in Houston’s restaurant and bar community, hosts this afternoon of food and drinks at the Last Concert Amphitheater from 1-6 pm. Participating chefs and bartenders include Beatriz Martines from Xalisko, Nick Wong from Agnes & Sherman, Josh Deleon of Underground Creamery, Dominick Lee of Augustine’s, Liz Becerra from Anvil, Natrese Rudison of Toasted Coconut, Jennifer Pilling from Rosewater, Olivia Vargas of Lei Low, and many more. There's also live music, a silent auction, and prizes. Tickets start at $45, and VIP packages are also available.

Come to the Table Benefit for The Beacon
Thursday, September 19
Houston chefs like Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi of Kata Robata and Katami; Ryan Lachaine of Riel; Hugo and Ruben Ortega of Backstreet Cafe, Caracol, Hugo's, URBE and Xochi; Lucas McKinney of Josephine’s; and many others come together for a multi-course dinner. The event raises awareness of and funds for the nonprofit, which serves men and women who are experiencing homelessness, and takes place in The Beacon's dining room. A pre-event reception will be held at Christ Church Cathedral. Individual tickets are $500. The reception begins at 5:30 pm and dinner is at 7 pm.

8th Annual Houston BBQ Throwdown
Sunday, September 22
The Houston Barbecue Festival brings 14 of the city's best barbecue restaurants to the Saint Arnold beer hall for this competition to create the he next great dish that represents Houston-style 'cue. Participants include defending People's Choice champ Bar-A-BBQ and the Judge's Choice defender Brett's BBQ Shop, along with Daddy Duncan's BBQ, Fire Craft BBQ, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Heffernan BBQ, J-Bar-M Barbecue, La Cruda Brand BBQ, Reveille BBQ, Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q, Tejas Chocolate + BBQ, and The Pit Room. Guests get unlimited samples and beer. Tickets are available online and prices start at $60; $100 buys VIP access to the private Saint Arnold Investor’s Pub for viewing of the judge’s panel. The party runs from 1-4 pm.

Chefs for Farmers
Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29
Taking place in Autry Park along Allen Parkway from 1-5 pm, this weekend features curated, locally sourced dishes that showcase ingredients from family farms across Texas. Attendees will also find immersive experiences, live entertainment, wines from top vineyards, craft cocktails, line dancing lessons, shopping, and other fun.

The event benefits expanding community garden programming at Urban Harvest and Houston Foods Bank. Participating chefs include Quy Hoang, Robin Wong and Arash Kharat of Blood Bros BBQ, Luis Robledo of Mayahuel, Christine Ha of The Blind Goat, Yotam Dolev of Hamsa and Okto, Drake Leonards from Eunice, Marcos Juarez of Hidden Omakase, and many more. The full lineup, schedule, and tickets is available online. Early bird pricing for tickets is $125 for general admission and $175 for VIP access.

Southern Smoke Foundation Festival
October 5
Benefitting the Southern Smoke Foundation, which raises funds for hospitality workers experiencing hardship, this epic foodie festival brings top chefs from around the country to Discovery Green for an afternoon of food and celebration. This year's lineup includes for than 70 culinary superstars including James Beard Award-winning chef and culinary star Christina Tosi of Milk Bar; Jeff Chanchaleune, from Ma Der Lao Kitchen in Oklahoma City; Isabel Coss of Lutece in Washington, DC; Sam Fore from Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites in Lexington, Ky; Renee Erickson of Seattle's The Walrus and the Carpenter; Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama in Chicago; Aaron Franklin from Austin's Franklin Barbecue; Caroline Schiff of Monday Diner in New York; and a host of Houston familiar faces like Ope Amosu of ChòpnBlọk, Bun B from Trill Burgers; Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of Jūn; Martin Stayer of Nobie’s; and many, many more.

Guests can sample bites, beers and wine, get cookbooks signed, and enjoy a full evening of music and entertainment. VIP tickets offer entry an hour earlier than the general public and access to a private lounge. General admission is $225. The event runs from 3-8pm, with the first hour reserved for VIPs.

A chef cuts brisket at the 2023 Southern Smoke Foundation Festival.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

The Southern Smoke Foundation Festival brings more than 70 chefs from around the country to Houston.

news-you-can-eat festivals chefs

Meet the Tastemakers

Meet the 10 rising star chefs shining in Houston's culinary scene

Photo by Michael Anthony

Boo's Burgers chef-owner Joseph Boudreaux

The time has come for the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, our annual celebration of the people and places who make Houston’s culinary scene so special. As always, we begin with the nominees for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

Our nominees are a distinguished group. Five of them lead restaurants that have earned a place in the Michelin Guide. Others have earned national recognition from the likes of the New York Times and StarChefs. Some are the trusted lieutenants of well-established restaurateurs, while others own their businesses.

Collectively, they’re the future leaders of Houston’s restaurant community. We suggest getting to know them now, because they’ve already shared so much with their fellow Houstonians.

Who will win? Find out at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony April 16 at Silver Street Studios. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets now. A limited number of Early Bird General Admission tickets remain. VIP tickets offer early entry, valet parking, and more perks. All tickets will sell out before the event, so don't wait.

Here are the nominees for 2026 Rising Star Chef of the Year:

Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
Few Houston chefs are riding as high as the “block captain” of the West African restaurant. Since opening its Montrose location in 2024, ChòpnBlọk has earned a spot on the New York Times’ list of America’s 50 best restaurants, a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide, and a spot on Esquire’s list of Best New Restaurants. Amosu is also a semifinalist for Best Chef: Texas in the 2026 James Beard Awards. Amosu keeps things fresh with frequent collaborations, including a “Brunch After Dark” party with Houston icon The Breakfast Klub that’s happening this Thursday, February 26.

Joseph Boudreaux, Boo's Burgers
The chef made the big leap from pop-up to brick and mortar with his location on the Navigation Esplanade. That means more Houstonians than ever are savoring Boudreaux’s burgers, which use his custom beef blend and smoky burger sauce. Frequent specials, including a Friday seafood offering that’s included both a fish sandwich and an overstuffed shrimp po’ boy, demonstrate the chef’s skills with a wide variety of cuisines.

Christian Hernandez, Barbacana
At his ambitious restaurant in downtown, Hernandez showcases the skills he acquired at restaurants such as Oxheart, March, and New York’s pioneering Contra, which earned a Michelin star for its constantly-evolving, affordable tasting menu. The chef brings some of Contra’s spirit to Barbacana, where the a la carte menu is supplemented with a nightly tasting that’s inspired by Houston’s diverse cuisine and powered by local ingredients. Don’t miss signature dishes like the buttered onion tart with crab or the dry-aged duck with pistachio dukka.

Frank Hernandez, Credence
As chef de cuisine, Hernandez is responsible for executive chef-owner Levi Goode’s vision of modern Texas cuisine that’s cooked over live fire. Dishes like the deviled crab with smoky tomato butter, roasted seafood tower, and pork rib chop schnitzel have made Credence a smash hit. With Hernandez at the helm, the kitchen demonstrated a consistently high level of execution — making Credence one of nine new Houston restaurants to earn Recommended status in the Michelin Guide.

Suu Khin, Burmalicious
The chef, who earned a James Beard Award nomination and a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best Pop-Up/Startup in 2025, is looking to further extend her reach. She’s a regular for lunches at Third Place, and her occasional dinner services typically sell out quickly. Turns out Houstonians have a voracious appetite for Burmese dishes such a tea leaf salad, lemongrass fish noodles, and duck puffs.

Raffi Nasr, Craft Pita
The chef brings a lot of innovation to his fast casual Lebanese restaurant that won Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Taking some inspiration from social media, Nasr has developed his own take on viral dishes such as the chicken Caesar wrap and the crispy shawarma. He also rolled out Craft Pita’s first ever brunch service, including the knafeh that became one of his collaboration pizzas at Pizaro’s.

Alexandra “Allie” Peña, Bludorn
After successfully serving as the opening executive chef for Bar Bludorn, Peña earned a promotion to executive chef of Aaron Bludorn’s fine dining flagship restaurant. Under her leadership, not only do fan favorites like the short rib ravioli and dry-aged duck remain as vital as ever, but diners will notice a rotating roster of new additions such as a madai crudo or orecchiette with saffron nage.

JC Ricks, Dandelion Cafe
Like the debate over Houston’s best burger, where to find the city’s best pancakes is surely a debate that will never be truly resolved. However, any list of candidates would certainly include Dandelion Cafe, where Ricks, the restaurant’s executive chef and co-owner, serves a version with the right balance of crispy edges and a fluffy interior. Indeed, all of the classics at Dandelion — from its sweet and spicy chicken and waffles to three-egg omelets and a range of sandwiches — demonstrates Ricks’ attention to detail and commitment to making classic fare that’s as good as it can be.

Adrian Torres, Maximo
Last year, Local Foods Group owner Benjy Levit and culinary director Seth Siegel-Gardner challenged the then-26-year-old Torres to lead Maximo’s transformation from neighborhood taqueria to fine-ish dining destination. Not only did Torres meet the challenge, he exceeded it, earning a StarChefs Rising Star award and leading Maximo to a Bib Gourmand. From delicate raw seafood dishes to the over-the-top comfort of his chicken Milanese with green spaghetti, Torres shows a deep understanding of how to create a dish.

Nicolas Vera, Casaema/Papalo Taqueria
Already well-regarded for Casaema, the Mexico City-inspired breakfast and lunch concept that holds a Bib Gourmand designation, Vera earned another major accolades with the Michelin inspectors also recognized Papalo with a Bib. Working alongside his partner, Tastemaker Awards Pastry Chef of the Year winner Stephanie Velasquez, Vera blends classic Mexican techniques with Houston ingredients to create memorable bites. His skills range from Papalo’s signature confit carrot taco to Casaema’s over-the-top pambazo, a giant sandwich of roasted pork and black beans served on a house made bun.

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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Maker's Mark, Culinary Khancepts, NTX LVL Event, Shutto and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

Photo by Michael Anthony

Boo's Burgers chef-owner Joseph Boudreaux

chefs tastemaker awards