Houston's culinary scene is unstoppable, and each year we celebrate the city's top restaurant and bar talent with the annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Recently, we revealed the 2026 event dates and released a limited number of discounted tickets, and now it's time for the anticipated unveiling of our Houston nominees.

These nominees represent the very best in Houston dining right now, from beloved neighborhood establishments to nationally recognized hot spots.

Our panel of judges — including local culinary experts and a who's who of past Tastemaker Awards winners — have selected outstanding nominees across 10 categories. They'll choose the winner for all but one award — the Best New Restaurant will be crowned by CultureMap readers in an interactive tournament this spring.

Meet the nominees below, then join us April 16 at Silver Street Studios to find out who wins. You'll nosh on chef-prepared bites from a host of participating nominees, sip perfectly paired cocktails, and be in the room when the winners are revealed. First Dibs tickets are sold out, but you can still score discounted Early Bird tickets for a limited time ($75 for GA and $110 for VIP).

Now, please join us in toasting the 2026 Houston Tastemaker Awards nominees:

Restaurant of the Year

• Bludorn
• Casaema
• Credence
• Jūn
• Katami
• Little's Oyster Bar
• March
• Maximo
• Milton's
• Nancy's Hustle
• Squable

Chef of the Year

• Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast
• Jassi Bindra, Amrina/Kitchen Rumors
• Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, Jūn
• Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie
• Manabu Horiuchi, Katami/Kata Robata/Sushi Horiuchi
• Mayank Istwal, Musaafer
• Lucas McKinney, Josephine's
• Benchawan Painter, Street to Kitchen
• Felipe Riccio, March
• Nick Wong, Agnes and Sherman
  

Bar of the Year

• Augustine Lounge
• Bandista
• Berwick's Bird of Paradise
• Catbirds
• Donna's
• EZ's Liquor Lounge
• Lee's
• Melrose
• Starduster Lounge
• Winnie's

Best New Restaurant

• Agnes and Sherman
• Barbacana
• Boo's Burgers
• Camaraderie
• Chardon
• Fielding's Steak
• Hypsi
• Jane and the Lion Bakehouse
• Kaisen Sushi
• Kitchen Rumors
• Latuli
• Murray's Pizza & Wine
• Oru
• Perseid
• Yiayia's Greek Kitchen
• Zaranda

Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year

• Aga's
• Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine
• ChòpnBlọk
• Cuchara
• Feges BBQ
• Handies Douzo
• Moon Rabbit
• Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
• North China
• Pinkerton's Barbecue
  

Rising Star Chef of the Year

• Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
• Joseph Boudreaux, Boo's Burgers
• Christian Hernandez, Barbacana
• Frank Hernandez, Credence
• Suu Khin, Burmalicious
• Raffi Nasr, Craft Pita
• Alexandra “Allie” Peña, Bludorn
• JC Ricks, Dandelion Cafe
• Adrian Torres, Maximo
• Nicolas Vera, Casaema/Papalo Taqueria
  

Bartender of the Year

• Josh Alden, Bandista
• Brandon Choate, Nancy's Hustle
• Peter Jahnke, Catbirds
• Cory Martin, Montrose Grocer
• Chad Matson, Lee's
• Alejandro Medina, Bar Bludorn
• Craig Mickle, Baso
• Julia Miles, Refuge
• Javier Ruano, BCN
• Jacki Schromm, Donna's
  

Dessert Program of the Year

• The Bake Happening
• Barbacana
• Blacksmith
• Bludorn Hospitality
• EaDough
• Fluff Bake Bar
• Jane and the Lion Bakehouse
• Koffeteria
• Luciana's Pastry and Coffee
• Mayahuel
• Sweet Bee Bakehouse
  

Coffee Shop of the Year

• Blendin Coffee Club
• Catalina Coffee
• Coral Sword
• Koffeteria
• Little Dreamer Coffee
• Simply Coffie
• Tenfold Coffee
• Third Place
• TwoTone
• Un Caffe
  

Best Sandwich

• Bayou Butchers
• B'Tween Sandwich Co.
• Cali Sandwich
• Craft Pita
• Kenny & Ziggy's
• Local Foods
• Stuffed Belly
• Thien An
• Winnie's
• Yuma
  

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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Culinary Kahncepts, Shutto, NXT LVL Event, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Southern Smoke Foundation.