Apr 21, 2026 | 11:41 am
There’s no doubt that Dallas’ dining scene is booming, from a host of hot new restaurant openings to sweet dessert programs and neighborhood favorites. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards will celebrate them all, including the coveted award for Restaurant of the Year.
As the big event approaches on May 7, we turn our attention to the top two awards categories of the year, beginning with the nominees for Dallas’ Restaurant of the Year. (Stay tuned next week for Chef of the Year.)
Our 2026 nominees include stalwarts of the dining scene alongside flashier new entrants. They span cuisines and trends — omakase is hot right now, as is Vietnamese food, and barbecue never goes out of style. Meet the 10 restaurants that represent the best of Dallas dining below, and learn about the rest of our nominees in this special editorial series…