Texas Restaurant Awards Nominees and Honorees Unveiled, Honoring Industry's Brightest Stars

Texas Restaurant Awards Nominees and Honorees Unveiled, Honoring Industry's Brightest Stars

Texas Restaurant Awards recognize the achievements of individual restaurants and chefs and highlights the importance of community and collaboration within the Texas foodservice industry.

AUSTIN, TX (May 15, 2025) - Today, the Texas Restaurant Association announced the nominees for its coveted Texas Restaurant Awards, highlighting some of the state's most exciting restaurant owners, operators and champions. The annual celebration will kick off the Texas Restaurant Foundation's Lone Star Bash, held during the Texas Restaurant Show, which takes place July 20-21, 2025, at George R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas. Winners will be revealed during the 2025 Texas Restaurant Awards ceremony, Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 713 Music Hall.

"We are thrilled to unveil the nominees for the 2025 Texas Restaurant Awards-remarkable individuals and businesses whose achievements reflect the very best of our state's vibrant foodservice industry," Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., President & CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association and Texas Restaurant Foundation, said. "From every corner of Texas, these trailblazers exemplify passion, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We look forward to celebrating their impact and honoring their leadership at the Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash in Houston."

In addition to celebrating this year's TRA nominees and inductees, the event will also spotlight the exceptional culinary talent recognized as James Beard Foundation semifinalists, as well as the state's acclaimed Michelin Guide restaurants and chefs. This recognition highlights the continued excellence and innovation within Texas' vibrant restaurant industry and honors those who are setting new standards of culinary distinction.

The TRA is the nation's second-largest restaurant association, representing the state's $138 billion restaurant industry, which encompasses more than 57,000 locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. For more than 30 years, the TRA Awards have been coveted by the state's hospitality leaders.

Award Category Descriptions: (Nominee Listing Follows)

HALL OF HONOR
A long-standing Texas Restaurant Association tradition, outstanding individuals are inducted to the Hall of Honor each year to recognize their significant contribution to the Texas restaurant industry and to the association. This honor is the highest that the Association can bestow. To qualify, nominees must have a minimum of 15 years of TRA membership and exemplify superior business ethics.

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Every year, restaurateurs around the state are honored for their work in their communities, leadership success, and entrepreneurial spirit. The finalists for this award come from the pool of winners of the Outstanding Restaurateur Awards, chosen by the individual 23 chapters that comprise the TRA.

RISING STAR AWARD
This award recognizes the hard work that goes into opening a restaurant. This person or concept is an up-and-comer with ambitious goals and the grit to achieve them.

DEEP IN THE HEART AWARD
Texas is massive and filled with amazing talent. This award is designed to highlight those successful and creative restaurant owners and chefs with concepts not located in one of the big four metro areas (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin).

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
The TRA's Community Impact Award is awarded to a nominee who is an active member of the TRA community that has demonstrated a legacy of uniting and empowering their community. Community may be defined in many different ways to reflect the tremendous diversity within our industry, including race, religion, gender, sexuality, veteran, culture, and more.

CHEF TIM KELLY AWARD FOR EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE
Texas ProStart instructors who demonstrate leadership and excellence in culinary education are eligible to contend for the annual Educator Excellence Award. Teachers must be advocates of the Texas ProStart program and dedicated to helping students achieve success. This is awarded to educators who have made significant contributions in the classroom and beyond.

THE CARMELO MAURO SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY AWARD
The Carmelo Mauro Award is an annual recognition, given by the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF), for outstanding achievement by an individual philanthropist who has demonstrated the highest ethical standards, commitment, dedication, and talent toward the future of the restaurant and food service industry.

EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD
The Excellence in Journalism Award was created in 2023 recognizes work in media and journalism that goes above and beyond to promote the restaurant and foodservice industry as well as provide insight into how our industry functions and the issues facing operators. We proudly recognize the hard work and dedication of journalists and/or organizations who strive to inform and educate the public while upholding the highest journalistic standards.

OUTSTANDING PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Restaurants depend on the service and support of their suppliers to be prepared to serve delicious meals and deliver memorable experiences. The Outstanding Partner of the Year recognizes the supplier or service provider to the foodservice industry that has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional service and support to the restaurants of Texas.

RESTAURANT INDUSTRY CHAMPION AWARD
The Restaurant Industry Champion Award was created in 2023 to celebrate policymakers, organizations and individuals who go above and beyond to protect and strengthen Texas' restaurant industry. Recipients will be selected on the basis of their service and the exceptional impact they've had on the laws, regulations, and business environment that empower restaurants to serve their communities.

SKEETER MILLER EXCELLENCE IN ADVOCACY AWARD
The Skeeter Miller Excellence in Advocacy Award was created in 2023 to celebrate a member who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to our advocacy efforts on behalf of Texas' entire foodservice industry. The annual award is named in honor of its inaugural recipient, Skeeter Miller of The County Line Restaurants. Skeeter exemplifies the qualities that make a trusted advocate and has spent countless hours speaking up for restaurants at the local, state, and federal levels. The TRA is proud to celebrate restaurant leaders who follow Skeeter's example by investing their time and treasure to advocate on behalf of the industry they love.

NOMINEES IN EACH CATEGORY ARE LISTED BELOW:

HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES

RISING STAR AWARD presented by Auto-Chlor
The 2025 nominees are...

DEEP IN THE HEART AWARD presented by Ben E. Keith
The 2025 nominees are...

CHEF TIM KELLY AWARD FOR EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE - Awardee to be unveiled at the June 19, 2025 ProStart Educators Training Conference in San Antonio, TX

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD presented by ECOLAB - Announced at Event CARMELO MAURO SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY AWARD - Announced at Event EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD - Announced at Event OUTSTANDING PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD - Announced at Event RESTAURANT INDUSTRY CHAMPION AWARD - Announced at Event SKEETER MILLER EXCELLENCE IN ADVOCACY AWARD - Announced at Event TO PURCHASE TICKETS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS CLICK HERE https://www.txrestaurant.org/awards ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION Formed in 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association serves as the advocate and indispensable resource for the foodservice industry in Texas. As a leading business association, the TRA represents the state's $138 billion restaurant industry, which encompasses more than 57,000 locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Foundation, the workforce development arm of the TRA, the association proudly continues to protect, advance, and educate a growing industry as the TRA enters its 88th year. For more information, please visit https://www.txrestaurant.org. ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT FOUNDATION Founded in 1995 as the charitable arm of the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) is dedicated to building and strengthening the future of the restaurant industry through education, workforce development, and scholarships. TRF oversees Texas ProStart, a premier culinary and restaurant management training program reaching over 27,000 high school students in 260+ schools statewide. The foundation also leads industry-driven initiatives such as the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, which has provided millions in crisis support, and innovative workforce development programs that connect businesses with trained, job-ready talent. These include Second Chances, which helps justice-involved individuals reenter the workforce, and specialized training initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Since its founding, TRF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals. Join us in shaping the future of hospitality-learn more at https://www.txrestauant.org/foundation