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    culinary all stars

    Texas' best restaurants and bars celebrated at 2024 Tastemaker Awards

    Amber Heckler
    May 17, 2024 | 2:30 pm

    We've only barely recovered: CultureMap's statewide journey to honor the best chefs, restaurants, and more with 2024 Tastemaker Awards has finally come to an end.

    The series kicked off March 27 with our sold-out Houston Tastemakers at Silver Street Studios, then we moved south to San Antonio for our third-ever fiesta at the Briscoe Museum on April 4.

    We stuck around in Central Texas for the festivities at Distribution Hall in Austin on April 11, then headed north to Fort Worth for our biggest celebration there yet on May 2. The Texas culinary tour concluded with our North Texas neighbors in Dallas at the Fashion Industry Gallery on May 16.

    The 2024 Tastemaker Awards celebrated Texas' most innovative culinary pioneers, as nominated chefs and restaurants showcased their talents for guests with delicious bites and treats before our emcees announced the winners during the live ceremony.

    Guests dined on our venerated chefs’ specialty hors d'oeuvres, sipped on a variety of creative batched cocktails, and stayed hydrated with a chilled Topo Chico in hand. But nothing could take away the focus from our acclaimed nominees and winners, who are the main reason we bring these celebrations to life year after year.

    Nominees are, as always, produced by a panel of previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap staff. While our judges vote on most of the winners, the champion in the Best New Restaurant category is determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament. New to the 2024 categories in each city was a competition for the best patio.

    Without further ado, let’s meet our 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners all across Texas, listed by city:

    Houston:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Tatemó
    • Chef of the Year: Luis Mercardo and Paolo Justo, Neo
    • Bar of the Year: Refuge
    • Best New Restaurant: Andiron
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Lucas McKinney, Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Vanarin Kuch, Koffeteria
    • Bartender of the Year: Fabio Pontes, Bludorn
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Burger Bodega
    • Wine Program of the Year: March
    • Best Pop-Up/Startup: Jane Wild
    • Best Patio: Better Luck Tomorrow

    San Antonio:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Leche de Tigre
    • Chef of the Year: Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack
    • Best New Restaurant: Thai Bird
    • Bar of the Year: Bar Loretta
    • Brewery of the Year: Weathered Souls Brewing Co.
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Clementine
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Jenn Riesman, Rooster Crow Bakery
    • Best Patio: The Good Kind Southtown

    Austin:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Canje
    • Chef of the Year: Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie's
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eli Rodriguez, Bufalina Due
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie
    • Bar of the Year: Holiday
    • Bartender of the Year: Amanda Carto, Daydreamer
    • Best New Restaurant: Poeta
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Birdie's
    • Brewery of the Year: Jester King Brewery
    • Best Patio: Jester King Brewery

    Fort Worth:

    • Restaurant of the Year: 61 Osteria
    • Chef of the Year: Preston Paine, Emilia's, The Blue Room
    • Bar of the Year: Thompson's Bookstore
    • Best New Restaurant: Plank Seafood Provisions
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Michael Rios, Pantry on Magnolia
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Tareka Lofton, Loft22 Cakes
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Los Asaderos
    • Best Patio: Joe T. Garcia's

    Dallas:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Petra & The Beast
    • Chef of the Year: Noah Hester, Hamm's Meat & Market
    • Bar of the Year: Whiskeys Dallas
    • Best New Restaurant: McRae's American Bistro
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Will Salisbury, Carbone
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Tida Pichakron, Haute Sweets Patisserie
    • Bartender of the Year: Fernanda Rossano, Kaiyo
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Terilli's
    • Wine Program of the Year: Sister
    • Best Patio: Taco Y Vino

    Andiron Houston steak
    Courtesy of Andiron

    Andiron is Houston's best new restaurant.

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    Where to Drink Now

    16 Houston restaurants and bars with affordable happy hour deals

    Brianna McClane
    Jul 30, 2026 | 1:00 pm
    93 Til happy hour
    Photo by Rebekah Flores
    '93 Til, the vinyl-centered restaurant and bar, recently extended its happy hours to include weekends.

    Groceries aren’t getting any cheaper, so skip H-E-B and head to one of Houston’s newest happy hours instead. This roundup contains some of Houston's newest happy hour deals, ranging from a new East End bar with tacos and tequila, to a Brazilian-Cuban sandwich shop on Washington Avenue with croquettes and cocktails. Read on to find a new spot to unwind after a long day.

    Atlantic Ocean
    Atlantic Ocean's extended happy hour runs from 5-9 pm at the bar (or until 7 pm in the dining room), with specials like $5 seafood gumbo, $16 garlic butter crab claws, $8 cocktails, $7 glasses of wine, and $5 bottled beers.

    By the Wayside
    This artsy East End bar has its newly-launched happy hour weekdays from 4-6 pm. Stop in at the Navigation Boulevard spot for deals like $8 Ranch Waters, two chicken tacos for $7, two brisket tacos for $9, and select signature cocktails priced at $10 or $11. Draft beers are $6, with both wells and seltzers for $7.

    Camaraderie
    The Heights restaurant's happy hour caters to both the after-work and late-night crowd, running Wednesday through Friday from 5-6 pm and again from 9-10 pm, plus Sunday from 5-9 pm. Diners can score 25 percent off all cocktails, like the Late Checkout, made with tequila and citrus.

    Concrete Rose
    Newly opened in downtown, Concrete Rose has patrons covered with its new “Golden Hour.” Deals include half-off food and bottles of wine along with classic cocktails like palomas and negronis for $9. Golden Hour is Monday through Friday from 5-7 pm.

    Eastbound BBQ
    Barbecue might not be the first thing that comes to mind for happy hour, but Eastbound makes a convincing case. Find deals like $2 off draft beers, $10 draft cocktails, and $8 for a shot and a beer. Food offerings include $12 for carnitas pork ribs or pork belly bites. Eastbound’s happy hour is Wednesday through Friday, from 3-6 pm.

    Fielding’s Steak
    Sample what’s on Fielding’s menu without breaking the bank during its Social Hour, served in the bar and lounge on Tuesday-Sunday from 3-7 pm. Classics such as steak frites get the petite treatment, with a 4-ounce sirloin au poivre and fries for $12. Other highlights include Moroccan spiced lamb chop ($12) and two crispy oysters and caviar with beurre blanc for $12. Select cocktails, including a frozen strawberry margarita, Spanish gin and tonic, and pecan Old Fashioned, are available for $8-10.

    Kira
    The Upper Kirby hand roll bar’s happy hour deals start with $7 crudos, $5 select hand rolls (avocado, tamago, spicy bluefin tuna, Peking duck, coconut curry shrimp, cucumber, or tofu), $12 luxe temaki (steak and eggs or lobster) and $12 kakigori. Plus, all drinks are 25 percent off. Kira serves happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 5-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 4-5 pm, and all day on Monday.

    Kirkwood
    The Energy Corridor’s clubhouse-inspired spot from Mac Haik Restaurant Group has $6 draft beers, $7 wells, and glasses of wine for $8 to $11 on happy hour. Grab a snack like fried oysters for $14 and tenderloin sliders for $12. Kirkwood’s happy hour is weekdays from 3-6 pm.

    '93 Til
    This vinyl-centered restaurant and bar recently extended its happy hours to include weekends. Now, from Tuesday through Sunday from 4-6 pm, patrons can take advantage of discounts like 30 percent off bottles of wine and 25 percent off wines by-the-glass. Rounding out the special menu are deals like an Old Fashioned for $8, a poblano margarita for $10, and $2 Lone Star beers.

    Oheya
    Uchi’s 12-seat omakase counter serves a $50, 10-course tasting menu Wednesday-Sunday at 5 and 6:15 pm. Pair those bites with select $6 cocktails, $5 wines, $4 beers, and $3 sake.

    Ramen Tatsu-ya
    Available at both the Montrose and Memorial locations for dine-in customers, the Japanese restaurant’s happy hour includes $10 Kirin pitchers, $2.50 frozens (NA and sake-based), $2.50 non-alcoholic drinks, and $5 munchies. It is served daily from 3-5 pm and 9 pm until close.

    Remi
    The restaurant at the Hotel Granduca’s happy hour offerings start with a daily pizza special and beer for $20. Selected bites are priced between $8 and $14, including the Remi burger, potato chips and caviar, meatballs, hot dog poppers, and more. Pair them with select wines by-the-glass priced from $8-11. Happy hour is available Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm.

    Street to Kitchen
    The Michelin-recognized Thai restaurant’s happy hour menu includes fried chicken wings ($8) and Thai fried mushrooms ($9) paired with $5 select white wine, red wine, and beer; $10 margaritas and Thai tea; and $12 Old Fashioneds. Happy hour is served Monday-Friday from 5-6:30 pm

    Toga
    The newest concept from Comma Hospitality has all-day happy hour on Wednesdays, and Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 pm. The Japanese pub’s specials are food-forward, with deals on dishes like onigiri ($7) and a wagyu burger ($15) with comté cheese. Beverages include $4 Sapporos and cocktails from $8-$10.

    Uptown Sporting Club
    The city’s most elevated sports bar has happy hour from 4-7 pm on weekdays, offering discounts on beer, wine, cocktails, and bites. Make it a girl dinner with a $10 martini and $7 truffle fries, or choose between three flatbreads for $8 with a $5 draft beer.

    Yuma
    The Brazilian-Cuban sandwich pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant has a new happy hour to brighten the afternoons. All cocktails — like the Toasted Caju with aged rum, madeira, and cashew — are $10, with nonalcoholic options for $5. Choose three sides for $10 to satiate any hunger pangs, with options like fried ham and cheese croquetas. Yuma’s happy hour is weekdays (except for Tuesdays when it’s closed) from 4-6 pm.

    93 Til happy hour
    Photo by Rebekah Flores

    '93 Til, the vinyl-centered restaurant and bar, recently extended its happy hours to include weekends.

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