The Texas restaurant scene is once again basking in an international spotlight. The Michelin Guide has revealed its statewide selections at an invite-only ceremony held Tuesday, October 28 in Houston.
The 2025 edition features three new One Michelin Star restaurants:
Isidore in San AntonioMamani in DallasNicosi in San Antonio, which was promoted to One Michelin Star
This brings Texas’ total number of Starred restaurants to 18, as follows:
Barley Swine, AustinBCN Taste & Tradition, HoustonCorkScrew BBQ, SpringCraft Omakase, AustinHestia, AustinInterStellar BBQ, AustinIsidore, San AntonioLa Barbecue, AustinLe Jardinier Houston, HoustonLeroy and Lewis Barbecue, AustinMamani, DallasMarch, HoustonMixtli, San AntonioMusaafer, HoustonNicosi, San AntonioOlamale, AustinTatemo, HoustonTatsu Dallas, Dallas
… none of which are from Fort Worth.
Michelin Stars are awarded to “establishments serving exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed, and infused with the personality of a talented chef.”
The second-highest rating is the Bib Gourmand, awarded to “restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value.” A third ranking, Recommended, is for quality restaurants that aren’t good enough for either a Bib Gourmand or a Michelin star.
The 2025 tally includes eight new Bib Gourmand restaurants and 16 Recommended eateries, bringing the selection total to 140 restaurants spanning 33 cuisine types.
Other DFW awards
Two Dallas restaurants earned new nods including a Michelin Special Award presented to Chas Martin, co-owner of Mister Charles, who won a Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award.
One Dallas newcomer was added to the “Recommended” list: Sushi Kozy, at 2000 Ross Ave., from former Uchi chef Paul Ko.
No new Fort Worth restaurants were added.
Second round
This is the second round of Michelin Guide awards in Texas, following their 2024 debut which resulted in 117 restaurants across Texas winning some kind of nod, including more than two dozen restaurants across Dallas-Fort Worth. All of those restaurants that were on the 2024 list remained. Once you’re on, you’re golden, apparently.
Only four Fort Worth restaurants have earned any acknowledgement by Michelin: Goldee’s, which was awarded a Bib Gourmand, and three other restaurants that made the lowest-level Recommended list, as follows:
Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez 2220 E. Rosedale St., Fort WorthPanther City BBQSmoke ‘N Ash
These restaurants are all carry-overs from the 2024 Guide.
Michelin employs a team of anonymous inspectors to visit restaurants and assess their worthiness for the guide. The system has certain advantages — for example, anonymity helps ensure inspectors don’t receive special treatment during their visits. It also has disadvantages — neither readers nor the restaurants know when or how many times the inspectors visited before deciding on a rating.
It also covers whatever bias the inspectors might have or preconception that Fort Worth does not have fine-dining restaurants.
Dallas has six restaurants that earned Bib Gourmand rankings are as follows: Cattleack, Gemma, Lucia, Mot Hai Ba, Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen, and Nonna.
Dallas has 18 restaurants that earned Recommended status are as follows, Barsotti’s, Crown Block, El Carlos Elegante, Fearing’s, Georgie, Harvest / McKinney, Knox Bistro, Mercat Bistro, Monarch, Mr Charles, Quarter Acre, Rye, Sachet, Stillwell’s, Stock & Barrel, Sushi Kozy (new), Tei An, and Written By the Seasons.