When it comes to neighborhood eateries, everyone has their favorite. Be it the scratch-made dish that consistently comes out perfect, or the server that knows their customers by name, the warm feeling of familiarity keeps regulars coming back. But only one neighborhood restaurant can be named Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards.

The annual tasting event and awards ceremony will take place Wednesday, April 23 at the 4 Eleven (411 S. Main St.), and will be hosted by Fort Worth chef Jon Bonnell.

Snag Early Bird tickets now for a discounted rate of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP – the latter includes early entry, valet parking, and a dedicated bar. Prices will go up soon, and tickets will sell out.

But before the big day, take note of our special editorial series that will highlight all of the nominees. Up first, the 10 finalists for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, in alphabetical order:

Bodega South Main
Part grocer, part grab-and-go eatery, Bodega South Main (203 S. Main St.) opened in 2021 in a historic building that once housed Sawyer Grocery Store a century ago. The neighborhood destination has become a Near Southside go-to for sandwiches, salads, sourdough, and sweets, along with more elaborate items like smoked salmon, crème brulee, and seasonal soups. Owner Tasha Monticure caters to her South Main Street clientele, following her in her mother and grandfather’s footsteps of owning and operating boutique grocery stores.

Four Sisters - A Taste of Vietnam
After closing its highly acclaimed Fort Worth location in 2022, this family-owned Vietnamese eatery reopened in Mansfield (3806 E. Broad St.) in 2023. Owner, chef, and Fort Worth native Tuan Pham has since built a new following of loyal customers who visit for his upscale take on traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Unique menu items include crab fried rice, PB & J wings, and beef pho made from a family recipe featuring bone broth that’s simmered for 18 hours.

Gusto's Burger Bar + More
It was a year ago that Jonathan Arguello moved from a mobile burger griddle to a brick-and-mortar bungalow just off West Magnolia Avenue (1229 7th Ave.). He’d already acquired a legion of loyal customers for his irresistible smashburgers, and the permanent location added more room for customers and expanded burger offerings. Open from 11 am–midnight daily, Gusto’s is always busy with Near Southside locals for not only burgers, but bacon-wrapped jalapenos, bar cocktails (such as old fashioned on tap), karaoke, and bumping DJ music.

Lola's Cuban Food
Located in the Cityview Centre (4608 Bryant Irvin Rd.), this food truck-turned-restaurant comes from a Cuban couple who serves re-creations of their Grandma Lola’s favorite dishes. Since opening in 2023, Lola’s has drawn many locals and Cuban Americans alike looking for authentic Cuban flavors, including stuffed plantains, yellow rice, Cuban sandwiches, and even classic mojitos and Cuba Libre cocktails from the full bar. Adding to the authenticity is live salsa, merengue, bachata, and cumbia music every Friday night starting at 8 pm.

Los Vaqueros Restaurant
While Los Vaqueros’ splashy new location now sits in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards entertainment district (2513 Rodeo Plaza), the time-honored Tex-Mex restaurant has a strong history as a north Fort Worth neighborhood gem. Originally opened in 1982 on N. Main St. by Cisneros patriarch Johnny Cisneros, Los Vaqueros has drawn locals and celebs for decades for tried-and-true Tex-Mex dishes like sour cream chicken enchiladas, tacos al carbon, and chiles rellenos. Many longtime regulars have followed the restaurant to its new digs, both for the food and for the hospitality provided by the Cisneros family.

Mancuso's Italian Ristorante
Cathy Mancuso opened her namesake Italian eatery in northwest Fort Worth (9500 White Settlement Rd.) in 1987 after moving to Texas from Upstate New York. Today her son Michael still runs the neighborhood destination for pasta, pizza, and veal Parmesan paired with wine. The intimate eatery is one of few locally-owned, upscale options for a night out on that side of the 820 loop. Locals also return for Michael’s friendly hospitality.

Taste of Europe
If you reopen it, they will come. That’s what happened to this long-running, European-inspired Arlington restaurant that announced it would close last summer, only to reopen by fall thanks to an outpouring of local support. Taste of Europe (1901 W. Pioneer Pkwy.), once featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, cited inflation as its reason for closing after more than 20 years in business. Opened by Belarus native Mikhail Frumkin, the restaurant is run today by chef and co-owner Daniel Tsalko, Frumkin’s grandson. Specialties include Ukrainian borscht (red beet soup), various pierogies, blintzes, potato pancakes, stroganoff, cabbage rolls, and chicken Kiev.

Tesoro Mexican
Race Street has experienced multiple closures in recent years (Tropic Lady, The Post, and Tributary Café to name a few) but the street is home to one restaurant that’s been drawing customers in droves since it debuted in 2023. Tesoro Mexican (2919 Race St.) is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 am-3 pm serving all-day breakfast, and for much of those hours, there’s typically a lengthy wait for a table (especially on the weekend). While other restaurants in the area have struggled, Tesoro expanded its dining room after a few months in business due to demand. Management credits social media for the restaurant’s popularity, which showcases viral videos of fan-favorite dishes like chilaquiles, chorizo and eggs, and spiced Mexican coffee.

Towne Grill
Amid a sea of chain restaurants in the Alliance corridor is this neighborhood bar and grill from Felipe Armenta, the acclaimed chef-restaurateur behind Fort Worth favorites Pacific Table, Press Café, Tavern, Le Margot, Maria’s Mexican Kitchen, and F1 Smokehouse. Since opening in 2021 in the heart of Alliance Town Center, Towne Grill (9365 Rain Lily Tr.) has amassed hundreds of positive reviews from north Fort Worth residents thankful for a chef-driven, upscale option for date night, girls’ lunch, or family-friendly dinner. Devoted diners love the grilled meatloaf, fish and chips, wedge salad, decadent desserts, and espresso martinis.

Vickery Café
The Fort Worth diner left its longtime address at 4120 W. Vickery Blvd. late last year for a new location at 2421 W. 7th St. in the So7 district. Chef and owner Curtis James cited lease issues as the reason for the move. The café’s new digs have drawn a new audience for its stick-to-your-ribs breakfast and lunch dishes. Now located in hot area for condos, apartments, and nightlife, Vickery Café is busy from 7 am-2 pm daily for business breakfasts, casual lunches, and hangover brunches. Also new is Vickery Café’s beer and wine license, which means mimosas and micheladas can be served with huevos rancheros and those famed Texas-shaped waffles.
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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored by The Yuengling Company, Still Austin Whiskey, PicMe Events, Audio Visual Consultations, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Fort Worth Food and Wine Foundation.