The World’s 50 Best Restaurantsis one of the most coveted lists around when it comes to ranking eateries on a global scale. The organization behind the list recently announced the results of its first North America’s 50 Best Restaurants at a live ceremony in Las Vegas on Thursday, September 25, and the results may surprise anyone who has dined at some of the best eateries in the state of Texas.
With exactly zero mentions, Texas was fully snubbed by the inaugural list, meaning out of 50 spots, none went to restaurants in the Lone Star State. The 50 Best Restaurants academy is made up of 300 voters assigned to various regions in North America, and yet, Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio were nowhere to be found.
This comes as a surprise after the Michelin Guide finally arrived in Texas in 2024, giving out Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmands to worthy restaurants across the state. In San Antonio, Mixtli earned the city’s first Michelin Star at the organization’s inaugural Texas ceremony held in Houston, and several others, including Cullum’s Attaboy and The Jerk Shack, were recognized at the same time for their accomplishments in hospitality and food service. Restaurants in cities across the state, including BCN Taste & Tradition in Houston, Tatsu in Dallas and La Barbecue in Austin, were all awarded a Michelin Star in 2024, as well.
In recent years, the James Beard Foundation developed an entire Texas category for its annual restaurant awards, with chefs from Ana Liz Taqueria from Mission and Belly of the Beast from Spring taking top prizes the past two years. If the Oscars of the food world can do it, it begs the question: Why did 50 Best Restaurantsleave off Texas entirely? It’s hard to say for certain…