The third annual Southern Taste of Dallas Awards will return for a 2-day extravaganza July 23 – 24, 2026 at The Shops at Redbird (July 23) and On the Levee (July 24), in a community celebration that will spotlight the culinary contributions, accomplishments and excellence of Dallas Black and Latino-owned restaurants, food trucks, ghost kitchens, and health-conscious eateries. Founded by Brittany “Luscious Barbie” Criswell and powered by restaurateur Rickey Booker, Sr. (Breakfast Brothers), the Southern Taste of Dallas Awards has now expanded beyond honorary recognition for Black-owned restaurants to now include Latino-owned restaurants, as well as bringing back the popular Shops at Redbird Food Truck Park, restaurant and resource expo, and more!
Day 1
Thursday, July 23rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Restaurant and Resource Expo | Shops at Redbird
This day is thoughtfully curated to empower DFW restaurateurs, food entrepreneurs and restaurant-hopefuls, providing hands-on access to essential industry tools and resources. What guests can expect:
- Exclusive Access to U.S. Food Vendors: Guests can discover a variety of suppliers—including poultry and dairy vendors, packaging solutions, and everything one would need from front to back-of-house for a successful restaurant or food truck business. U.S. Foods is a proud sponsor, and will also be on-site to showcase its offerings;
- Inspiring Panels & Discussions: Guests can gain insights from top industry leaders such as Master Chef Tiffany Derry (TD2 Concepts); Brent Reaves, Co-Owner of Smokey John’s BBQ; Fernando Rodriguez d’Agostino, Hospitality Technology Director for SpotOn; Mahiri Takai (NBC’s On Brand with Jimmy Fallon) and additional panelists—who will cover topics spanning technology, branding, marketing, and innovation in the restaurant industry. Plus, media leaders Kayla McDowell of the Dallas Black Bloggers, journalist and food writer Alex Gonzalez, and publicist Leah Frazier of Think Three Media will lead a special session on influencer marketing, media and press relations for food and beverage businesses, moderated by Brittany “Luscious Barbie” Criswell;
- Health & Community Resources: Guests are also invited to explore community resources including support for domestic violence awareness, mental health awareness, and other local initiatives;
- Chef & Vendor Showcase that will feature 20+ interactive booths with food brands, kitchen essentials, and more to elevate one’s culinary business.
“Through my work in branding and marketing, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside restaurant owners across Dallas and have seen firsthand that this industry is truly all or nothing. Behind every successful restaurant are owners, chefs, servers, dishwashers, managers, and staff members who give everything they have every single day. Those experiences showed me that recognition alone isn’t enough. Restaurants also need resources, relationships, and access to opportunities that can help them grow,” Criswell said. “That’s why Rickey Booker and I expanded the Southern Taste of Dallas experience to include the Restaurant & Resource Expo—creating a place where restaurant owners can connect with organizations like SpotOn, U.S. Foods, the Texas Restaurant Association, Uber Eats, and other industry leaders. These are relationships and resources that can help restaurants become more profitable, more efficient, and better positioned for long-term success.”
This is a free community event. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to register at www.southerntasteofdallasawards.com.
Day 1 (cont’d)
Thursday, July 23rd at 2 p.m.
Food Truck Park | Shops at Redbird
Over 15 food trucks will participate in the Southern Taste of Dallas Food Truck Park, kicking off at 2 p.m. at The Shops at Redbird. Gathered in a picnic-style setup, guests are invited to try a variety of culinary offerings, while taking advantage of the tented area for dining. A live DJ will keep the energy flowing, while additional activities and giveaways will keep guests entertained all afternoon long.
Some of the confirmed food trucks include: Sophia’s Haitian Cuisine, Maji Eatz, Taters Elevated, King Pudding, Frios Dallas, and more.
Day 2
Friday, July 24th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Southern Taste of Dallas Awards Show | On The Levee
Dallas’ culinary community will gather on Friday, July 24, as the Southern Taste of Dallas Awards returns for its third annual awards celebration at On the Levee, honoring the restaurants, chefs, food trucks and culinary entrepreneurs shaping North Texas’ vibrant food scene. This year’s celebration embraces the theme “Cowboy Culture”—inviting guests to don their best Western-inspired couture-meets-luxe attire for an unforgettable evening. The evening will feature a red-carpet experience, VIP reception, live entertainment by Kkeeyz, Ashley Kaee and others, along with the presentation of community-nominated awards recognizing outstanding achievement across numerous categories. Honorees will be recognized across a spectrum of culinary categories including:
- Favorite Soul Food
- Favorite Taco Spot
- Favorite Chicken Spot
- Favorite Upscale Spot
- Favorite Brunch Spot
- Favorite Mexican Spot
- Favorite Fusion Spot
- Favorite Influencer; and many more categories!
For a full list of the 2026 Nominees and Categories, click here.
Prior awardees have included Breakfast Brothers; Aunt Irene’s Seafood; Williams Chicken; Kitchen and Kocktails; Slutty Vegan; Hip Hop Hibachi; Smokey John’s BBQ; Wings World; and many others.
Stay tuned for more announcements, reveals and details for this much-awaited weekend extravaganza. Voting for the Southern Taste of Dallas Awards will conclude on July 15, 2026. Interested parties may cast their votes by visiting www.southerntasteofdallasawards.com. The Expo and Food Truck Park events are free. Tickets for the awards gala range from $59.85 for General Admission to $117.51 for a VIP Experience. For additional information, sponsorship or to purchase tickets, please visit www.southerntasteofdallasawards.com.