Austin didn't win anything while Houston had a historic night at the James Beard Awards held Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Two of Houston’s six finalists took home prizes for a national award and Best Chef: Texas.
They are:
- Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres, Maximo
- Best Chef Texas: Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, Jūn
Austinites can take solace knowing their money, at least, can support a winning organization at the very popular local food and music festival Hot Luck, returning this fall: it benefits the the Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit that provides emergency assistance and mental health services to hospitality workers, which received an Impact Award at a separate ceremony on Sunday, June 14.
Lindsey Brown, center, and Chris Shepherd, right, at the Impact Awards. Photo by Max Flatow
Local readers shouldn't be too surprised that none of their local restaurants are bringing home an award, since no chefs were representing Austin among the finalists. However, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, who is best-known as an Austin chef, has been spending a lot of time in San Antonio at his fine dining dessert restaurant Nicosi, where he was a finalist and a very strong contender for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
Houston had the greatest chance of winning with a large group of nominees that also included June Rodil (of March) for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service; Ope Amosu (ChòpnBlọk) for Best Chef: Texas; Agnes and Sherman for Best New Restaurant, and Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught (H-Town Restaurant Group) for Outstanding Restaurateur.
Other Texas nominees included and Maggie Huff (Lucia, Dallas) for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and Mixtli in San Antonio for Outstanding Restaurant.
The other nominees for Best Chef: Texas were: Scott Girling (Osteria il Muro in Denton), Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, (Cafe Piro in Socorro), and Finn Walter (The Nicolett in Lubbock).
A great night for Houston
Tonight’s two Texas wins firmly establish Houston as Texas’ premier culinary destination. They follow Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast in Spring winning Best Chef: Texas in 2025 and Benchawan Jabthong Painter (Street to Kitchen) winning the same category in 2023, meaning the city’s chefs have now won three of the last four awards in that category. Torres is only the second Houstonian to win a national award, following Southern-inspired cocktail bar Julep’s win for Outstanding Bar Program in 2022.
Although he’s only 27 years old, Torres has frequently found himself in the national spotlight since took over as Maximo’s executive chef in 2025. Since then, he’s been named a Rising Star by StarChefs magazine, earned a Bib Gourmand designation for Maximo from the Michelin Guide, and won the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year.
“I am proud to be the son of immigrants. I am proud to be an immigrant. And I am proud to be a DACA recipient,” Torres said to applause from the crowd of culinary professionals.
“Tonight, the headline is that a brown kid from the Northside, raised by parents who sacrificed everything for the chance at a better life, is standing on this stage accepting one of the highest honors in this industry,” he added.
Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu won Best Chef: Texas.Photo by Casey Giltner
After establishing themselves by serving casual fare at pop-ups and farmers markets, Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu opened Jūn in 2023. Billed as a New Asian American restaurant, it features a wide-ranging menu that includes charred cabbage with tofu Caesar dressing, carrots with everything salsa macha, and the signature fried chicken that’s seasoned with shrimp paste, ginger, and Thai chili. In 2025, they opened Third Place, a daytime concept in the Jūn space that showcases pop-ups from both established and up-and-coming chefs.
Like Torres, Lu also celebrated his immigrant parents. “I want to thank our immigrant parents who lived the American dream and put us where we are today. They invested so much in us. Everything we are today is because of them,” he said.
“Houston, I love you so so much,” Garcia said as she and Lu accepted their award. “Our amazing city is made from creatives from first generations like we are. It is a city of dreams and hopes. What has taught me anything with Jun is there’s room for everyone, there’s a space to tell our story, that it’s meant to be heard, and that there’s a reason why we’re here.”
Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards recognize excellence by chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. In 2025, the James Beard Foundation added three new categories to recognize the beverage side of hospitality: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
Winners must also have “demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” according to the organization’s website.
