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    Buckle up

    Chicken fried lobster takes top prize at RodeoHouston carnival food awards

    Brianna McClane
    Mar 6, 2026 | 9:15 am

    Strolling the midway’s food stands at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is an annual treat for those who crave unique flavors and deep-fried indulgences. But even the most dedicated food-obsessed carnival go-er can feel overwhelmed while searching for the next bite among crowds dripping in western wear and the spinning, tinkling carnival rides.

    If the choices feel overwhelming, look for the bright yellow logo marking a Gold Buckle Foodie Award winner. Now in its 18th year, the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards brings together chefs, influencers, and members of the media to vote on which of the 18 submitted dishes top the charts. The categories hit all the Rodeo food necessities: Best Fried Food, Best Food-on-a-Stick, Best Classic Fair Food, Best Most Creative, Best New Flavor, and Best Dessert.

    Rousso’s Fat Bacon clinched awards in both Classic Fair Food and Best New Flavor. The Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries were a clear favorite amongst the judges, with the fair favorite drizzled in rich chocolate and pistachio cream, while the Bacon Jam Brisket Biscuit was greeted with cries of delight when the fluffy golden biscuits hit the table.

    The Finer Diner’s tangy Pork-King Luau Sliders and Waffle Chix’s hearty Strawberries & Cream Waffle Stick didn’t win gold but deserve a visit, according to this writer.

    Here are the 2026 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards winners.

    Best Fried Food

    • 1st Place: Chicken Fried Lobster – Darlin's Fried Chicken (RP130)
    • 2nd Place: Minneblueberry Pie – The Original Minneapple Pie (CD202)
    • 3rd Place: Deep Fried Edamame with Spicy Garlic Sauce – Asian Streetness (AR603)

    Best Food-on-a-Stick

    • 1st Place: K'boom K-Dog – Asian Streetness
    • 2nd Place: Bacon Cheeseburger Corn Dog – Pioneer Wagon
    • 3rd Place: Chicken Bacon Ranch Waffle Stick – Waffle Chix

    Classic Fair Food

    • 1st Place: Rousso's Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries – Rousso's Fat Bacon
    • 2nd Place: Pork-King Luau Sliders – The Finer Diner
    • 3rd Place: Loaded Cowboy Fries – Pioneer Wagon

    Most Creative Food

    • 1st Place: Brisket Cheese Curd Tacos – Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos
    • 2nd Place: Skillet Potato Melt... Plus! – Texas Sized Pizza / Burger and Chili Shack
    • 3rd Place: Loaded Cowboy Corn – Fields of Corn

    Best New Flavor

    • 1st Place: Bacon Jam Brisket Biscuit – Rousso's Fat Bacon
    • 2nd Place: Crunchy Sushi Balls – Asian Streetness
    • 3rd Place: Torta – Go Tejano Diner

    Best Dessert

    • 1st Place: Bacon Jam Beignets – Cajun Cowboy
    • 2nd Place: Chill & Thrill Delight – Mamacita’s
    • 3rd Place: Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick – Waffle Chix

    Gold Buckle Foodie Awards

    Photo by Brianna McClane

    The Gold Buckle Foodie Awards highlights the food vendors found throughout the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

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    popular

    All-day cafe with boutique hotel vibes coming to downtown Houston

    Brianna McClane
    Sep 2, 2026 | 1:00 pm
    Lila's GreenStreet Downtown Houston
    Rendering courtesy of Rebees
    Lila's is the newest restaurant to arrive at GreenStreet, the three-block downtown complex.

    Downtown Houston is adding a new restaurant to its roster with Lila’s at GreenStreet. Slated to open this fall, Lila’s is envisioned as an all-day New American restaurant that starts the day with coffee and breakfast and ends with dinner and cocktails.

    Located at 1201 Fannin Street, Lila's occupies a 5,100-square-foot space in the former lobby of the office tower, with its entrance tucked into an alleyway between McCormick & Schmick’s and The Palm. The restaurant aims to capture the experience of a boutique hotel, without the hassle of overnight guests.

    “We’ve spent years thinking about how hospitality can fundamentally change the experience of a place,” Matt Ragan, chief hospitality officer for Rebees, said in a statement. “With Lila’s, we’re taking the level of service, attention to detail, and sense of welcome you expect from a great boutique hotel and applying it to an everyday restaurant. We want someone grabbing coffee before work, meeting a client for lunch or settling in for dinner and drinks to feel equally at home.”

    Executive chef Garee Battad will lead the kitchen, drawing on his two decades of experience largely at hotel restaurants such as Nobu at Hotel Crescent Court and Charlie Palmer at The Joule Dallas. His most recent position was as executive chef at Azumi, the elevated Japanese restaurant in River Oaks District.

    “Some of the most memorable restaurants where I’ve worked have been gathering places inside great hotels, and that’s the spirit and sense of place we’re bringing to Lila’s,” Battad said. “We want every dish to feel familiar yet unexpected.”

    Behind the bar, mixologist Zach Smigiel is crafting an ingredient-forward cocktail program with a focus on seasonal flavors, complemented by a wine list, local beers, and nonalcoholic beverages.

    The eatery is the latest endeavor by Rebees, the Houston-based hospitality management firm behind GreenStreet, and its second venture into the culinary world. Its first was Dallas restaurant Billy Can Can, led by executive chef and partner Matt Ford, who will also develop Lila’s menu alongside Battad. Lila’s is named after a French Bulldog owned by Rebees founder Tristan Simon.

    This is the hospitality firm’s second endeavor into the culinary world, joining its Dallas restaurant Billy Can Can, led by executive chef and partner Matt Ford. Ford will also be developing Lila’s menu alongside Battad.

    Tenants of GreenStreet, the three-block, mixed-use development, will be able to order meals and drinks from Lila’s directly to their offices through a proprietary app.

    Lila's GreenStreet Downtown Houston

    Rendering courtesy of Rebees

    Lila's is the newest restaurant to arrive at GreenStreet, the three-block downtown complex.

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