The buzz of a new restaurant is part of what makes it so beautiful, so we like to let Austin diners tell us which ones they've been enjoying. Readers will now pick the new Austin restaurant they're most excited about for the Best New Restaurant category of the2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.
Our judges, including last year's winners, looked at every new Austin-area restaurant since we last voted in March of 2024, and chose the 16 strongest contenders. Those new restaurants will now go head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament voted on by readers.
Voting is open now at this link. People may vote once per round, through four rounds of competition. Round one ends at 11:59 pm on April 21.
Which restaurant will win? Find out Thursday, May 8 at the 2025 Tastemaker Awards party at Fair Market. We’ll dine on bites from this year’s nominated restaurants and sip cocktails from our sponsors before revealing the winners in our short and sweet ceremony. Get your tickets now, and use the code TOURNAMENT15 for a $15 discount.
You can keep up with all the Tastemaker Award nominees in a special editorial series, then join us to celebrate them all in person.
Here are the 16 nominees (in their first eight brackets) for Best New Restaurant. Let the voting begin!
Casa Bianca vs. Tancho Suchi
Austin’s fascination with omakase has evolved in countless directions. One restaurant pares down the price while another applies it to a whole new cuisine.
- Casa Bianca: Like much of Austin, this Italian-American restaurant has a connection to the Uchi empire. A blend of pastas and Japanese techniques prevent pigeonholing for this unique effort.
- Tancho Sushi: This sushi spot achieves what Austinites didn’t believe was possible: affordable, high-quality omakase. Tancho keeps things simple and reliable for sushi lovers and newcomers alike.
Fig Italian Kitchen & Bar vs. Teddy’s
Comfort food doesn’t have to look exactly like Nonna or Abuela used to make. These two restaurants elevate the experience while keeping the soul intact.
- Fig Italian Kitchen & Bar: Some ambitious Italian restaurants trade comfort for modernity; not Chef Cole Fitzgerald’s. Past the modern aesthetic are thick sauces, hearty pastas, and plump arancini.
- Teddy's: From the folks behind Bill's Oyster, there’s Teddy’s. Even in Austin, elevated Southwestern food can be contrived; let Parker House rolls with cinnamon ancho butter set the tone.
Bambino vs. Loudmouth
It’s pizza versus pizza! Without much to hide behind, these two casual eateries let the dough and fried sides speak for themselves.
- Bambino: Despite Italian favorite L’Oca d’Oro’s local veneration, fans couldn’t know how its first spin-off would fare. A thin crust made with Barton Springs Mill answers the question: buonissimo.
- Loudmouth: Austinites shan’t be blamed for yapping about this thin-crust pizza. However, other favorites like saucy meatballs and meaty Italian subs seem poised to steal the show.
Micklethwait Barbecue vs. Oko
Even longtime Austin favorites need a refresh sometimes. Two of the most notable examples in 2024 were a barbecue upgrade and an East Sixth rebrand.
- Micklethwait Barbecue: After a decade-plus as a trailer, this barbecue joint has renovated a church. That means more space for new bites like chicken al carbon and braised greens.
- Oko: Locals didn’t have long to fret after the closure of Ah Sing Den. This new Filipino restaurant maintained some loungy vibes while adding flavorful kinilaw and halo-halo.
Lao’d Bar vs. Mian & Bao
Asian food isn’t a monolith, and these two restaurants are bringing their regional cuisines to Austin’s full attention.
- Lao’d Bar: From the ashes of the food truck Sek-Sē•Füd•Kō rose this brick-and-mortar. Thankfully, Lao food survives in Austin’s mainstream, including crispy fried rice and coconut tuna ceviche.
- Mian & Bao: Austinites might learn something at this restaurant that carefully represents dishes from both Shanghai and Sichuan. Or they might fall in love with spicy dumplings. Probably both.
Redbud Ice House vs. The Dead Rabbit
Everyone deserves a chance to feel like a regular somewhere, and these two spots have it covered. No matter how good the vibes, don’t overlook the food.
- Redbud Ice House: This laid-back shack revived much of what made Contigo so beloved in the same space. Every sandwich has been perfected, and the frozen painkiller can improve any mood.
- The Dead Rabbit: Austin is swimming in concepts from New York, but this Irish bar is actually a teleportation machine. A complete Irish breakfast makes Sixth Street disappear entirely.
Knuckle Sandwich vs. Toasty Badger
A diner and a deli walk into a bar…wait, let’s start over. These two casual spots add a bit of sparkle to everyday meals in Austin.
- Knuckle Sandwich: Chef Ryan Fox says opening this deli truck was about reclaiming his love of food after exiting fine dining. The immaculate ingredient-obsessed sandwiches really do pack a punch.
- Toasty Badger: Nostalgia is king at this 70s-inspired diner, from the dishware to the fluffy pancakes. However, the smothered French toast is definitely a 21st century level of extra.
Mexta vs. Endo
Our two fanciest restaurants on this list may have skipped the scrappy early stages, but they’re still new. Here’s where novelty meets sophistication.
- Mexta: A group effort by some of Mexico’s top chefs, this ultra-upscale downtown restaurant is presenting a modern idea of culinary authenticity to Austinites and travelers.
- Endo: This 10-seat omakase bar uses techniques from Japan’s Edo period — like dry aging, salt curing, and smoking — to create depth and variety in high-quality raw ingredients.
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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored by The Yuengling Company, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Hornitos, Texas Beef Council, PicMe Events, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds benefitsCentral Texas Food Bank.
