The Resy Guide to the 2023 James Beard Nominees in Texas

The Beard Foundation has affirmed what we already knew: Don Artemio is one of the country’s most exciting new restaurants. It’s a testament to the cooking of chef Juan Ramón Cárdenas, and the way he interprets the cuisine of northeast Mexico into a stellar, one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Named in honor of Houston-based chef and restaurateur Chris Williams’ great-grandmother, the culinary pioneer Lucille B. Smith, Lucille’s Hospitality Group counts Lucille’s, an innovative take on Southern cuisine (do not skip the oyster BLT), and nonprofit Lucille’s 1913, which helps feed underserved communities throughout Houston.

Related: Read Chris Williams’ excellent thought pieces for Resy.

Chef Junior Borges’ upscale entry to The Village dining scene is a terrifically unique take on modern Brazilian food, with swoon-worthy daily bread service (often with whipped ‘nduja!) and tapioca cheese fritters, to showstopper entrées like the whole grilled octopus. It’s innovative fare for the masses — accessible and outrageously good.

“Masterchef” season three winner Christine Ha and chef Tony J. Nguyen are cooking Vietnamese fare like we’ve never seen before. The menu is small enough that you could order one of everything — but if you’re feeling more modest, don’t miss the smoked duck salad, the incredible buttermilk-fried Nguyen-er Nguyen-er chicken dinner, and the frozen soju-based Pandan Colada with popping pandan pearls.

Lucia has long been known as one of the hardest reservations to come by in Dallas (luckily for you, we’ve got some tips on how to get in). This is in no small part due to the husband-and-wife team of David and Jennifer Uygur, whose award-winning Bishop Arts haunt exudes hospitality and the kind of Italian food that keeps you coming back (think delicate handmade pastas, plus a spring chef’s choice salumi plate with capicola, mortadella, and their kin, and some of the best chicken liver mousse around).

Come hungry and come often; Theodore Rex’s flavor-packed menu changes daily “due to availability, quality, or boredom.” There’s a reason why it’s a perennial contender for awards.

Combine a cozy bistro feel, serious natural wines, and chef Jason Vaughan’s wildly inventive cuisine, and you get Nancy’s Hustle, an EaDo fixture and a critically-acclaimed dining destination.

Chef Fermín Nuñez offers a refreshing take on traditional Mexican cuisine. Combined with the force of local hitmaker Sam Hellman-Mass (the owner behind Odd Duck and Barley Swine), Suerte is a surefire sensation.

Because you can dine on chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman’s excellent mix of contemporary and traditional Mexican fare while marveling at a 85-foot-long ceramic mural of Guadalajara scenes (owner José Noé Suro has a thriving ceramics business in Mexico). Pro tip: Don’t miss the tacos de tacha, made with a different flavored masa every day.

To say Regino Rojas has a way with tacos is an understatement: The man has a gift, and with this chef’s tasting menu of tacos, you’ll never be disappointed. The octopus carnitas are a favorite, and so are the Michocan-style birria tacos with consomé.

This family-owned gem by John and Ellie Russ delights with its Southern-inspired menu, best done when you leave it to chef Russ and his seasonally tailored family-style “Feed Me” tasting menu.