As the Michelin Guide returned for its second year of spotlighting the best of Texas culinary arts, four Tarrant County restaurants kept their recognitions but no new Fort Worth establishments were named by the prestigious publication.
Smoke’N Ash Tex-Ethiopian Smokehouse BBQ in Arlington, Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth’s Near Southside and Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez in the Polytechnic Heights neighborhood remained Michelin-recommended restaurants. Goldee’s BBQ near Kennedale retained its Bib Gourmand award, which Michelin awards to restaurants it believes deliver great value for the money.
The Fort Worth-area spots joined 136 other Texas restaurants recognized for culinary excellence during the Michelin Guide Ceremony 2025 Texas Oct. 28 at Wortham Theater Center in Houston.
Chris Magallanes, who co-founded Panther City BBQ in 2014, said it’s a “good feeling” to see the restaurant’s hard work recognized for a second consecutive year. The restaurant’s team hopes to receive a Bib Gourmand award or Michelin star in the future, he added.
“We’re really good friends with some of the restaurants that achieved that star this past year in the barbecue world and it’s inspiring to us just to be included in that realm,” Magallanes said Tuesday night. “We just consider ourselves barbecue guys.”
Spokespeople for Smoke’N Ash, Goldee’s and Birrieria did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
No Fort Worth restaurants have received a star. Statewide, 18 Michelin stars were spread between Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
Kimber Foster, spokesperson for Visit Fort Worth, said the city’s tourism agency is proud to celebrate the three Cowtown restaurants that retained their Michelin status.
“(Visit Fort Worth) continues to uplift Fort Worth’s culinary scene through a wide range of avenues who value the spirit of our community,” Foster said, citing Texas Monthly, James Beard and visitors from around the world as sources of recognition the city has received.
Tuesday night’s announcement was the second in a three-year agreement between Michelin and the Texas tourism office and visitor’s bureaus in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
The state paid $450,000 annually for marketing and promotion with each of the five cities pitching in $90,000 per year. The agreement doesn’t guarantee a specific number of restaurant inclusions in the guide.
Designations are awarded based on Michelin’s criteria of analyzing the quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, consistency across the menu and over time, and if a chef’s personality shines through their cuisine.
What do Michelin designations mean?
One star: Restaurants used top quality ingredients where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard.
Two stars: The personality and talent of the chef are evident in their dishes. Their food is refined and inspired.
Three stars: The highest honor is given to chefs at the peak of their profession where their cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.
Bib Gourmand: Restaurants are highlighted for their simple yet skillful cooking at an affordable price.
Green Star: Awarded to restaurants that are role models when it comes to sustainable gastronomy.
Source | Michelin Guide
Michelin expanded into North America with its guides in 2005. The prestigious publication has not recognized any two- or three-star restaurants in Texas. Over 20 of restaurants featured in the 2025 guide were barbecue establishments.
Which Texas restaurants were recognized by Michelin in 2025?
One star:
- Barley Swine, Austin
- Craft Omakase, Austin
- InterStellar BBQ, Austin
- Hestia, Austin
- la Barbecue, Austin
- Leroy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin
- Olamaie, Austin
- Mamani, Dallas
- Tatsu, Dallas
- BCN Taste & Tradition, Houston
- CorkScrew BBQ, Houston
- Le Jardinier, Houston
- March, Houston
- Musaafer, Houston
- Tatemó, Houston
- Isidore, San Antonio
- Mixtli, San Antonio
- Nicosi, San Antonio
Green star:
- Dai Due, Austin
- Emmer & Rye, Austin
- Nixta Taqueria, Austin
- Isidore, San Antonio
Bib Gourmand:
- Annam, Houston
- Barbs B Q, Austin
- Belly of the Beast, Houston
- Blood Bros BBQ, Houston
- Briscuits, Austin
- Burnt Bean Co., Seguin
- Casema, Houston
- Cattleack Barbeque, Dallas
- ChòpnBlọk, Houston
- Cuantos Tacos, Austin
- Cullum’s Attaboy, San Antonio
- da Gama Canteen, Houston
- Dai Due, Austin
- Distant Relatives, Austin
- Emmer & Rye, Austin
- Franklin Barbecue, Austin
- Gemma, Dallas
- Goldee’s BBQ, Fort Worth
- Kemuri Tatsu-ya, Austin
- KG BBQ, Austin
- Killen’s Houston
- Killen’s BBQ, Pearland
- La Santa Barbacha, Austin
- Ladino, San Antonio
- Lucia, Dallas
- Mala Sichuan Bistro, Houston
- Maximo, Houston
- Mercado Sin Nombre, Austin
- Mezquite, San Antonio
- Michlethwait Craft Meats, Austin
- Một Hai Ba, Dallas
- Nam Giao, Houston
- Nancy’s Hustle, Houston
- Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen, Dallas
- Nixta Taqueria, Austin
- Nobie’s, Houston
- Nonna, Dallas
- Odd Duck, Austin
- Papalo Taqueria, Houston
- Parish Barbecue, Austin
Recommended:
- 2M Smokehouse, San Antonio
- Agnes and Sherman, Houston
- Apt 115, Austin
- Bar Bludorn, Houston
- Barbecue Station, San Antonio
- Barsotti’s, Dallas
- Baso, Houston
- Birdie’s Austin
- Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez, Fort Worth
- Bludorn, Houston
- Brisket & Rice, Houston
- Candente, Houston
- Comedor, Austin
- Credence, Houston
- Crown Block, Dallas
- Discada, Austin
- El Carlos Elegante, Dallas
- Este, Austin
- Ezoy, Austin
- Fabrik, Austin
- Fearing’s, Dallas
- Garcia’s Mexican Food, San Antonio
- Garrison, Austin
- Georgie, Dallas
- Harvest, McKinney
- Hidden Omakase, Houston
- Hong Kong Food Street, Katy
- J-Bar-M Barbecue, Houston
- Jeffrey’s, Austin
- Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop, Austin
- Josephine’s, Houston
- Knox Bistro, Dallas
- La Condesa, Austin
- Late August, Houston
- Launderette, Austin
- La Calamar, Austin
- Leche de Tigre, San Antonio
- Lenoir, Austin
- Ling Kitchen, Austin
- Little Em’s Oyster Bar, San Antonio
- Lutie’s, Austin
- Maie Day, Austin
- Mercat Bistro, Dallas
- Mexta, Austin
- Mister Charles, Dallas
- Monarch, Dallas
- Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen, Austin
- Neo, Houston
- Panther City BBQ, Fort Worth
- Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Houston
- Pasta Bar, Austin
- Perseid, Houston
- Poeta, Austin
- Quarter Acre, Dallas
- Reese Bros Barbecue, San Antonio
- Rye, Dallas
- Sachet, Dallas
- Signature Restaurant, San Antonio
- Siti, Austin
- Smoke’N Ash BBQ, Arlington
- Stillwell’s Dallas
- Stock & Barrel, Dallas
- Suerte, Austin
- Sushi Kozy, Dallas
- Tare, Austin
- Tei-An, Dallas
- Terry Black’s BBQ, Austin
- The Marigold Club, Houston
- Toshokan, Austin
- Written By the Seasons, Dallas
David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.
Disclosure: Mitch Whitten, chief operating officer of Visit Fort Worth, is on the board of directors at Fort Worth Report. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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