Fort Worth restaurants keep Michelin Guide recognitions, no new local spots honored

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.