HOUSTON — San Antonio expanded its rising culinary profile with Michelin one-star awards for Mixtli, Isidore and Nicosi at the second annual Texas Michelin Guide ceremony Tuesday night in Houston.
Mixtli, the much-acclaimed Mexican restaurant in Southtown, retained the Michelin star it won in 2024 while Pullman Market’s Isidore and Nicosi each celebrated their first star at the Wortham Theater Center.
In a red-carpeted venue illuminated with red lighting and filled with red velvet seats, three San Antonio restaurants etched their one stars in the famous “little red book,” as the guide is known.
A Michelin star is awarded to restaurants that use “top quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavours are prepared to a consistently high standard.”
Isidore chefs Danny Parada and Ian Lanphear reached the stage twice — once for a Michelin star and once for a Green Star, an award for sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
“This feels incredible,” Lanphear said. “It could absolutely not be any better. Green has always been the goal. The star on top of it. Both are just a blessing.”
It was also a big night for Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Nicosi. A little more than a year after opening a 20-seat dessert bar in Pearl, he basked in the glow of a long-awaited triumph.
“It’s a dream I’ve had since I was 17 years old living in New York City,” Bristol-Joseph said. “And now it’s come into reality — just after my 45th birthday. It’s an amazing accomplishment and I’m so proud of myself and my team.”
Five San Antonio restaurants garnered Bib Gourmand recognition, four of whom were repeat winners: Cullum’s Attaboy, Ladino, The Jerk Shack and Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery. Pullman Market’s Mezquite won its first Bib Gourmand to round out the five.
Just outside of the city in Seguin, Burnt Bean Co. won its second Bib Gourmand.
The Bib Gourmand, named after the Michelin Man mascot, Bibendum, is given for great food at “reasonable” prices.
San Antonio’s Michelin star, Green Star and Bib Gourmand winners gathered on the theater stage after the gala, hugging, high-fiving and posing for photos — a portrait of celebration.
“This is tangible, living proof that San Antonio is growing on a global stage,” Mixtli chef and co-founder Diego Galicia said after his restaurant won a star for the second year. “It’s awesome.”
Michelin also included seven “recommended” restaurants in its guide: 2M Smokehouse, Leche de Tigre, Signature Restaurant, Barbecue Station, Garcia’s Mexican Food, Nicosi and Little Em’s Oyster Bar, all from last year, and newcomer, Reese Bros Barbecue.
Founded by a French tire company in 1900 to encourage travel, the Michelin Guide expanded to include hotels and restaurants. The guide included Texas for the first time in 2024.
No Texas restaurant earned two or three Michelin stars.
Correction: This story has been updated to correctly identify seven San Antonio restaurants that earned “recommended” status.
