and the winners are...

Houston's best restaurant, chef, and more winners crowned at 2024 Tastemaker Awards

Here are the winners of the 2024 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 Wednesday, March 27 at Silver Street Studios.

While some of them have earned recognition before, this year’s awards also recognized a few nominees who had received multiple nominations without taking home a prize. Extra congratulations to Pastry Chef of the Year winner Vanarin Kuch and Best Pop-Up/Startup winner Jane Wild on continuing to set a high standard for such a long time.

Finding a theme to unite the other winners is elusive. An upscale steakhouse edged out a to-go pizzeria for Best New Restaurant, and the city’s most ambitious fine dining restaurant took home the prize for Wine Program of the Year. Chefs and restaurants that had received recognition in one category took home a prize in another, a testament to both their evolution and continued excellence.

Regardless, Houstonians are fortunate to be living in a city with so many talented people who work so hard to make our restaurant scene as diverse and exciting as it is. All of this year’s nominees are worth visiting. We suggest patronizing any of them, especially for the first time.

Find the full list of winners below:

Rising Star Chef of the Year - Lucas McKinney, Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
The Mississippi-born chef earned a top 5 ranking on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s best new restaurants for this Midtown seafood restaurant. By blending childhood memories with his professional experiences working for Chris Shepherd and others, McKinney has created a compelling menu that honors classics like the shrimp po’ boy while also offering more modern fare like an Italian-inspired dish of steamed clams. More recently, McKinney has been earning raves for his crawfish, which are best enjoyed on Josephine’s patio.

Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year - Burger Bodega
Attention to detail helps sets this restaurant apart from other burger joints. That starts with the interior, which puts a cheeky, Houston-inspired spin on a New York City bodega — complete with shelves stocked with items from local vendors. Chef-owner Abbas Dhanani brings similar precision to his smash burgers, which are based on his extensive tastings in Los Angeles and New York. Thin, crispy patties, get topped with gooey cheese, grilled onions, housemade pickles, and a tangy sauce to create a mashup of textures and flavors that’s easy to devour. Guest chef collabs allow the restaurant to pay homage to its pop-up roots.

Bar of the Year - Refuge
With its dimly-lit room and lively atmosphere, Refuge is equally adapt at serving as a date-night stop or a destination for celebrations. Not only do the bar’s cocktails use premium spirits, they’re presented on linen bar napkins and served in elegant glassware. Then again, considering that three of its current or former bartenders are nominated for Bartender of the Year, perhaps it’s the staff that deserves most of the credit for Refuge’s success.

Bartender of the Year - Fabio Pontes, Bludorn
A veteran of restaurants such as Hay Merchant and Rosie Cannonball, Pontes has found a home behind the bar at Bludorn, where his friendly demeanor has made him a favorite of regulars. That commitment to service is what has kept him at the fine dining restaurant. Diners will get another opportunity to experience Pontes’ drinks at Bar Bludorn when it opens this week — Negroni with Jägermeister, anyone?

Wine Program of the Year - March
Not only does March have the largest cellar of any of this year’s nominees — a list that’s deep in select producers, large format bottles, and plenty of ways to splurge — it’s also the only one that offers wine pairings. The restaurant’s sommelier team brings in new bottles to match the menu biannual rotations, ensuring each pour enhances every dish.

Pastry Chef of the Year - Vanarin Kuch, Koffeteria
The talented chef first made a splash with an eye-catching Hot Cheetos croissant, but he’s gone far beyond that initial output. Now, he’s earning his just desserts as a Tastemaker Award winner at the same time that national recognition in the form of a semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Bakery in the James Beard Awards has shined a spotlight on the EaDo bakery. Like that organization, our judges acknowledge the work Kuch has done to honor his Cambodian heritage both through his pastries and by cooking alongside members of his family for sit-down dinners.

Best Pop-up/Startup - Jane Wild
After working at restaurants such as The Dunlavy, Wild began selling sweet and savory pastries at markets around town. She quickly developed a following for everything from savory breakfast sandwiches and kolaches to her signature salted honey pie. Always devoted to showcasing ingredients from local farms, Wild has expanded her efforts with Jane’s Dine Inn, an intimate dinner series in Montrose that helps expand the community she’s slowly building.

Best Patio - Better Luck Tomorrow
After a number of recent upgrades, the patio at Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu’s bar in the Heights is more comfortable than ever. Yu has been tinkering with the food menu, too, swapping out the patty melt for the “Everyday Cheeseburger” and introducing chilled seafood. Go during happy hour (2-5 pm, Monday-Friday) to enjoy half-off drinks — indoors or outside.

Best New Restaurant - Andiron
After four rounds of voting by CultureMap readers, it seems entirely fitting that a steakhouse won Best New Restaurant. Andiron sets itself apart by incorporating live fire elements into many of its dishes, adding a compelling smoky flavor to everything from steaks to sides. The elegant dining room adds a sense of occasion to any meal.

Chef of the Year - Luis Mercardo and Paolo Justo, Neo
After winning Best Pop-Up/Startup in 2022, the two chefs take one of the night’s most coveted awards. Omakase counters have become more popular in Houston, but these two Uchi vets set themselves apart by offering an intimate experience that only serves 10 people per seating. Mercardo and Justo have refined their use of dry-aged fish and incorporate elements from their global travels into Neo’s nigiri and other dishes, making their progressions compelling from start to finish.

Restaurant of the Year - Tatemó
Last year’s Rising Star Chef of the Year winner follows up that success by taking home the night’s top prize. As both a James Beard Award finalist and a Food & Wine Best New Chef honoree, Emmanuel Chavez has emerged as one of the rising stars of Houston’s food scene. At Tatemó, Chavez and his team celebrate heirloom corn with an eight-course tasting menu that blends Mexican traditions with locally sourced ingredients. As Chavez has dialed in his techniques, so too has the restaurant sharpened its service. Add in the convenience of BYOB, and it’s easy to understand why our judges’ panel selected this restaurant as Houston’s best.

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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by Stella Artois, Rías Baixas Albariño, Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water, 8th Wonder Cannabis, Tito's Vodka, and CASE Chocolates. A portion of proceeds benefited our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

Courtesy of Andiron

The bar is a very stylish place to dine.

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Soup spoon season

10 Houston chefs share 15 top soups that offer comfort and sustenance

Photo by Louis Lamson Quy

Louis Lamson Quy, co-owner of Alora, is a loyal diner at Phanh Ky thanks to its Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang, which reminds him of his hometown, Saigon.

Happy soup season to all who celebrate. The weather has finally dipped low enough in Houston that diners can enjoy a hearty bowl of soup without breaking a sweat. With so many delicious selections at Houston restaurants, we turned to Houston's chef and other restaurant industry experts to find out which brothy creations are worth seeking out.

The only rule? No one could nominate a soup from their own restaurant. Here’s what they had to say.

Dana East, line cook, Uchi Houston

To Dana East of Uchi Houston, the caldo de res at Ruchi Mexican Grille’s Reliant Stadium location “feels like home to me… Even though I’m not Mexican.”

“The caldo de res at that specific Ruchi's tastes like it was made in a Mexican grandmother's kitchen, or like soups that I would eat for family meal that kitchens I work in would make when everybody is sick during the winter,” she says.

East also recommends the Bogotano at Mi Pueblito, a soup made with three kinds of potatoes that she says “imbue a smoky flavor in it that is borderline addictive.”

“I could eat an entire pot of that stuff,” she says. “They serve it with fresh cream and capers that take it to the next level.”

Garrett Rice, owner, Bayou Butchers

The cream of crab soup at Loch Bar is a highlight that Garrett Rice of Bayou Butchers looks forward to after work.

“It’s a simple dish that lets a really good ingredient shine, and they certainly don’t shy away from the crab in true Baltimore fashion,” Rice says. “With Loch Bar’s kitchen open late, I can always count on a cup of crab soup waiting for me after a long shift.”

German Mosquera, executive chef, Long Weekend

When German Mosquera of Long Weekend wants ramen, he heads to Mensho, the Japan-based chain that just opened its second Houston-area location on the border of River Oaks and Montrose.

“For me, it’s all about the broth,” he says. “Mensho’s tori paitan has a rich, velvety texture and incredible umami flavor from start to finish. The perfectly jammy egg adds another layer of richness that keeps me coming back. I also love the intimate Tokyo-style counter seating. It makes for an authentic ramen experience.”

Kerry Pauly, owner, KP’s Kitchen

The matzo ball soup at Kenny and Ziggy’s is “in a league of its own,” according to Kerry Pauly of KP’s Kitchen. He describes it as “rich, flavorful, and pure comfort whether you’re sick or feeling great.”

Louis Lamson Quy, co-owner, Alora

“My favorite go-to spot for soup has always been Phanh Ky,” says Louis Lamson Quy of Alora, a Peruvian-Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Montrose. “They specialize in hủ tiếu nam vang, a noodle dish with roots tracing back to Teochew Chinese immigrants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It’s also one of the most popular noodle dishes in my hometown, Saigon, so it always feels a little like home to me.

“To me, Phanh Ky is one of the OGs in the game,” he adds. “I first tried it when I moved to Houston nine years ago, and I’ve been coming back ever since. There’s just something comforting about a place that stays consistent after all these years.”

Maria Christie, operator and general manager, Christie’s Seafood and Steaks

“I love, love the lemon chicken soup at Harry’s,” says Maria Christie of Christie’s Seafood and Steaks. "For me the soup at Harry’s reminds me of the way my mom would make the lemon soup.”

“And the lentil soup (at Anonymous Cafe) is really hearty and it just reminds me of cold winter days (whenever we get those in Houston!),” she adds. “It’s absolutely perfect because it has a hint of tomato in it. Deeeelicious!”

Her sister, Kathy Christie, who serves as Christie's director of catering, is a fan of Little Pappasito's chicken tortilla soup. “Whenever you are under the weather, it totally hits the spot,” Kathy says. She adds extra lime to hers.

Nicole Routhier, partner and culinary ambassador, Le Colonial

The bun bo hue at Pho Quynh, a small Vietnamese restaurant located inside 99 Ranch Market, is a year round must for Nicole Routhier of Le Colonial.

“Their spicy, deeply flavorful broth is super comforting and among the best in town. The chef is generous with the noodles and toppings of tender beef brisket, pork shank, gio Hue (steamed pork sausage with black peppercorns), and blood pudding. The soup comes with a side of shaved cabbage, crunchy bean sprouts, Vietnamese mint (rau ram), and a wedge of lime to be added to the soup as you eat. Two tiny containers of fermented shrimp sauce (mam tom) and spicy chili oil are also provided so you can add even more umami to the soup,” Routhier says. “Bun bo hue is a full meal on its own, and my idea of heaven in a bowl.”

Oscar Juarez, founder and owner, Make It Nice Hospitality

The pozole verde at Cuchara is a simple and flavorful dish that private chef Oscar Juarez of Make It Nice Hospitality says he would recommend to anyone.

“The broth has a nice balance of richness and acidity, and it’s just one of those dishes that’s comforting without being too heavy,” Juarez says. “Growing up with Mexican food, I have a real appreciation for dishes like this.”

Rafael Nasr, founder, Craft Pita

Rafael Nasr of Craft Pita says he has “a burning passion for North China’s sizzling rice soup.”

He describes it as an intensely flavored, crystal-clear broth with bits of pork and tiny shrimp to fill you up.

“The carrot, napa cabbage, and wood ear mushrooms add umami and I am convinced have healing powers,” he says. “The flash fried rice adds texture and flavor at the same time and whether served table side or at home provide dinner and a show. I eat this soup and talk about it more than any soup in Houston.”

Nasr’s pro tip: Add a bit of soy sauce and lots of North China’s housemade green chili oil to the soup.

Ziggy Gruber, chef and owner, Kenny & Ziggy’s

Ziggy Gruber of Kenny & Ziggy’s has a couple of favorite soups in town, which isn’t surprising since his own deli is known for its bowl selection. Among his favorites is the clam chowder at Capital Grille, which he says captures the true flavor of the East Coast with plenty of clams and just the right amount of thyme.

He also loves the French onion soup at Etoile Cuisine et Bar.

“The stock is very rich and the onions are extracted so the flavor is permeated throughout the soup. I like that it has multiple croutons rather than one crouton in the soup,” he says. “And then the cheese on top!”

Another top pick for Ziggy is the tortilla soup at Grace’s.“It is complicated in such a good way, with the crunchy bits of tortillas and chicken skin, with the coolness of the avocado, and it has just the right amount of spice,” he says.

$Phanh Ky H\u1ee7 Ti\u1ebfu Nam Vang,$

Photo by Louis Lamson Quy

Louis Lamson Quy, co-owner of Alora, is a loyal diner at Phanh Ky thanks to its Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang, which reminds him of his hometown, Saigon.

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