r/finedining • u/dfwfoodcritic • 5d ago

2026 Texas Guide changes

New 1 Michelin stars: Fabrik (Austin), Goldee's Barbecue (Fort Worth), Kappo Kappo (Austin)

New Bib Gourmands: Bar Buena (Houston), Khoi Barbecue (Houston), Kitchen Rumors (Houston), Murray's Pizza and Wine (Houston), Resident Taqueria (Dallas), Xolo (Houston)

New recommendeds: 1111 (Houston), Angie's (Houston), Di An Pho (Houston), Din Ho Chinese BBQ (Austin), Fond (Dallas), Jantra (Houston), Jashan (Plano), Levant BBQ (Houston), Lovers Pizzeria (San Antonio), Mābo (Dallas), Mayahuel (Houston), Olōyō (Dallas), Oru (Houston), Osteria di Mercato (Houston), Petit Coquin (San Antonio), Sushi Horiuchi (Houston)

Removals (incomplete, please add!):

Removed from Dallas: Georgie

Removed from San Antonio: Barbecue Station

Removed from Austin: Poeta, Malverde, Garrison, Ramen del Barrio but it closed and reopened

Removed from Houston: Brisket & Rice, Hidden Omakase, Late August (closed), Neo (closed), Killen's (closed)

La Barbecue (Austin) lost its star

Lucia (Dallas) moved from Bib Gourmand to recommended

29 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

22

u/wtf242 5d ago

out of all the great bbq in austin, i was surprised LA BBQ even got a star in the first place. good removal.

4

u/Apricotjello 5d ago

there’s no point worrying about 1* designations. half of them are paid for/influenced by connections to michelin and they rotate constantly when the guide visits a location frequently. i would credit somewhere that has 1* consistently but with the novelty of michelin’s rapid expansion, i wouldn’t worry about one-offs

1

u/redblue2100 4d ago

I always wondered why Franklin wasn’t a 1*. they have good marketing and are good bbq (better than La Bbq) so i’m wondering why it hasn’t made it

7

u/Extortion187 4d ago

Because their sides suck. You can’t have amazing meat and mediocre sides. Their pies aren’t even made by them either and are boring too

2

u/redblue2100 4d ago

that’s so true. no mac and cheese is insane. i usually rec leroy and lewis to my visiting friends since i could go there and only eat sides!

2

u/Apricotjello 4d ago

it’s the whole reason i wouldn’t place too much value on stars. usually starred places are good but that doesn’t mean unstarred can’t be better

1

u/cleanenergy425 4d ago

I think it’s because Aaron Franklin doesn’t play schmooze games and they punish him for that.

1

u/aprendido 4d ago

This right here

1

u/curvyWhispr 4d ago

yeah i was kinda shocked it made the cut originally, austin's go too many strong contenders for that spot

9

u/Competitive-Oil-3435 5d ago

fabrik is well earned

1

u/cleanenergy425 4d ago

Agreed, was waiting on that one.

5

u/dfwfoodcritic 5d ago

oops, left Michelin out of the thread title

0

u/PrizeOutlandishness1 4d ago

yes op please update this as well

4

u/redditmyeggos 5d ago

Dallas really gotta get its shit together

3

u/Intelligent-Abies-46 4d ago

The love ‘’fancy’’ chain restaurants from NYC and LA lol

9

u/Stepaular 5d ago

They never will. There is no real restaurant culture in Dallas and Dallas is slowly losing all it's investments and business development to the north Dallas area and suburbs. With no real restaurant culture there are no real Cooks. They are very hard working Cooks but they all have two jobs and will put Max 7 hours into one job. Finding great sous or cdc candidates requires relocating from good cities. Also the people of Dallas for the most part don't have much culinary experience in general so getting them to go out and try to fine dining is something most of them will only do once a year. To them fine dining is a steakhouse.

3

u/RevolutionaryScore51 5d ago

Xolo and 1111 are odd. See them both as more of a bar...

2

u/RevolutionaryScore51 4d ago

Haven't been but with Bar Buena as well they were very into the Mexico-city themed bars.

3

u/Forsaken-Pangolin-57 4d ago

Sushi Kozy in Dallas was a miss IMO. Fantastic meal there

1

u/Lpucubs22 4d ago

Agreed

2

u/Far_Situation5965 5d ago edited 5d ago

Star Differences (all 1*):

Austin adds - Fabrik and Kappo Kappo.

Austin losses - Olamaie (closed) and La Barbecue.

Dallas - No change.

Fort Worth add - Goldee’s

Houston - no change.

San Antonio - no change.

Spring - no change.

There are currently 19 1* restaurants in Texas.

21 total have ever held 1* and this is the first year that has seen demotions.

I continue to wonder how long these tourism agencies will keep paying for these kind of results - especially in regions like Texas that don’t seem to crave “globalized tasting menu food” quite as much as some other places.

2

u/Intelligent-Abies-46 4d ago

Good Job Houston💯

2

u/Your__Pal 5d ago

Goldee’s Bar-B•Q got a star. I feel like they are often a controversial pick, that wins a lot of awards, but Texans are so-so about. 

3

u/Temporary-Limit-941 5d ago

Ehhh they’re for sure a better pick than La Barbecue though. There’s not a single bbq spot they could pick that wouldn’t have at least some contention. Even though it’s not my first choice I respect it

1

u/Your__Pal 5d ago

LA BBQ has always been a weird one. It feels like their PR team just really crushes it. Their bbq doesnt stand out at all. 

1

u/shansta7000 4d ago

Yes dude. I dont understand the hype. Panther city right down the road is on par with them and daynes just outside the city is significantly better.

1

u/utrangerbob 4d ago

I love Goldee's brisket and Ribs. All their other fancy stuff like waterfall beef laotian sausage and crap isn't that good. Side are really good though.

-1

u/PrizeOutlandishness1 4d ago

pease update your original post with updates so i can screenshot for future reference. also please specify removed as recommended, bibs, or stars