Awards News
Fort Worth restaurants somehow got ignored by 2025 James Beard Awards

This Don Artemio plate is surely award-worthy.
The 2025 James Beard Awards have arrived, with a first list of semifinalists — a list that includes eight Dallas-Fort Worth area restaurants, bars, and chefs — but no actual restaurants, bars, or chefs in Fort Worth.
Broadening the list to "Tarrant County" brings in one nominee: Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks, the more-than-deserving owners of Smoke'N Ash BBQ in Arlington, earned a nomination for Best Chef in Texas.
The omission is mystifying, since Fort Worth's restaurant scene is buzzing right now. No nod for Don Artemio, the acclaimed Mexican restaurant that opened in 2024? No nod for the popular dumpling spot Teddy Wongs, or Walloon's, Fort Worth chef Marcus Paslay’s ode to seafood, or Le Margot, the French concept from dynamic duo Felipe Armenta and Graham Elliot?
Dear James, if you're unable to come up with candidates on your own, we invite you to crib some of the many food & beverage stars that have been nominated for CultureMap Fort Worth's annual Tastemaker Awards.
Note: These nominees are just semifinalists. The list will be culled down to nominees in April, and then final winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony in June.
The Dallas-area semifinalists include:
- RJ Yoakum, Georgie, in Dallas' Knox Street district, for Emerging Chef. Georgie also made the list of recommended restaurants in the new Texas Michelin Guide.
- Mabo Dallas, for Best New Restaurant. Preston Center omakase restaurant was the only restaurant in Dallas to make Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurant list for 2024.
- Starship Bagel, Lewisville, for Best New Bakery. Starship has previously won awards for Best Bagel and Best Schmear at the New York Bagel Fest, a national competition.
- Apothecary, Dallas, for Outstanding Bar. Greenville Avenue bar opened in 2021.
- Bar Colette, Dallas, for Best New Bar. Cocktail spot opened in 2023 in Dallas' West Village.
There are three Dallas semifinalists for Best Chef in Texas:
- Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks, Smoke'N Ash BBQ, Arlington. Wonderful owners of this Tex-Ethiopian Smokehouse, which also earned a Recommended from the Michelin Guide.
- Anais Paniagua and Iris Rojas, Doña Maria. Irving restaurant specializes in Dominican cuisine.
- Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas. Repeat nominee earns another nomination.
Elsewhere in Texas, Houston boasts 12 nominees, San Antonio has eight, and Austin received six.
The full list of nominees is on JamesBeard.org.
The awards also include media categories that will be announced on May 7. Recipients of the coveted America’s Classic award will be announced on February 26.
The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists are recognized across 25 categories. In recognition of the ever-evolving independent restaurant landscape, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards expanded with a focus on beverages, introducing three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
The Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990, with the first Awards given in 1991—celebrate excellence across all types of dining experiences, from fine dining to casual establishments, and are one of several recognition programs of the Awards.