Texas Cheers as E Bar Tex Mex’s Quilantan and More Clinch Top TRA Honors

Summary

The Texas Restaurant Awards returned July 20 at Houston’s 713 Music Hall, celebrating culinary excellence from big‑city halls to small‑town kitchens.

Key North Texas Winners:

• Ernie Quilantan, E Bar Tex Mex - Greater Dallas Restaurateur of the Year

• Adrian Burciaga, Don Artemio - Tarrant County Restaurateur of the Year

• Amanda Case, Pelican’s - North Texas Restaurateur of the Year

Emerging Talent Honored:

• Diego Galicia & Rico Torres, Mixtli (San Antonio) - Rising Star Award

• Kyle Citrano, George’s/Jorge’s (Waco) - Deep in the Heart Award

Other Accolades:

• Best Chef Awards - Mastering menus across Texas

• Community Impact & Educator Awards - Shaping the industry’s future

With a $138 billion annual impact, Texas’s restaurant scene thrives on innovation, leadership, and community spirit—qualities that this year’s winners embodied as they raised a glass to the Lone Star State’s next chapter.