Jun 2nd 2026
Voting Opens June 1 and Closes June 30
There are awards given by panels of experts. There are awards decided by industry insiders with clipboards and tasting menus. And then there are the awards that truly mean something — the ones decided entirely by the people who actually sit down at your tables, order your food, and keep coming back.
The Dallas Morning News Best in DFW awards are exactly that kind of recognition. Every year, the Dallas Morning News invites the DFW community to weigh in on the very best the region has to offer across dining, entertainment, shopping, services, and more. In the Eat and Drink category, three nominations stand out as especially meaningful to us:
- Best Comfort Food
- Best Chain Restaurant
- Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Voting is open now through June 30 at dallasnews.com/best-in-dfw — and we are honored to be in the conversation.
What the Best in DFW Awards Actually Mean
The Dallas Morning News is one of the most respected news organizations in the region, and its annual Best in DFW program reflects that credibility. Unlike rankings compiled behind closed doors, these awards are powered entirely by community votes. That means the winners aren’t chosen based on advertising budgets, industry relationships, or who has the most press coverage — they’re chosen by real people making real choices about where they spend their time and their dollars.
For a restaurant, that kind of recognition carries genuine weight. It’s a direct reflection of the trust and loyalty of the guests who walk through your doors.
Three Categories, Three Distinct Honors
Best Comfort Food is perhaps the most personal of the three nominations. Comfort food isn’t just a style of cooking — it’s a feeling. It’s the meal that reminds you of home, the dish that makes a hard day feel a little more manageable, the flavors that have stayed consistent even as everything else has changed. Being recognized in this category is a nod to something deeper than technique or trend. It’s an acknowledgment that food can genuinely comfort people, and that’s a responsibility we take seriously.
Best Chain Restaurant speaks to consistency at scale. It’s one thing to deliver an excellent experience once, in one location. It’s another thing entirely to do it reliably, across multiple locations, for every guest who walks in — whether they’re a first-timer or someone who’s been coming in for years. This nomination recognizes that a dining experience can be both replicable and exceptional, that chain doesn’t have to mean compromise.
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant is the one that brings a particular kind of joy. Dining out with children is no small feat, and parents know the difference between a restaurant that merely tolerates kids and one that actually welcomes them. A truly kid-friendly restaurant isn’t just about having a children’s menu — it’s about an environment where families feel at ease, where little ones are genuinely considered, and where parents can actually enjoy their meal too. This nomination is a recognition of that intention.
Why Your Vote Matters
The DFW metroplex is one of the most competitive restaurant markets in the country. Diners here have extraordinary options — from James Beard Award nominees to beloved neighborhood staples — and they know the difference between good and great. Earning a nomination in the Dallas Morning News Best in DFW awards, in any category, reflects genuine standing in that competitive landscape.
But nominations are only the beginning. The final award goes to the restaurant with the most votes from the community. That’s where you come in.
If you’ve ever had a meal with us that felt like home — if you’ve brought your kids in and felt genuinely welcomed — if you’ve recommended us to a friend or made us part of a family tradition — this is your opportunity to make that sentiment official.
Voting is open June 1 through June 30.
Head to dallasnews.com/best-in-dfw to cast your vote in the Eat and Drink category. You’ll find us listed under Best Comfort Food, Best Chain Restaurant, and Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant.
It takes just a few minutes, and it means more than you might think.
Share the Word
One of the most impactful things you can do — beyond voting yourself — is to let others know. Share this post. Tell a friend. Mention it the next time someone asks where to grab a good meal with the family. Word of mouth has always been the foundation of what we do, and these awards are, at their core, an organized expression of exactly that.
The DFW community has been extraordinarily generous in its support, and these nominations are a reflection of that generosity. We don’t take it for granted.
Thank you for being part of our story. Now let’s go bring home some gold.
Vote now! Voting closes June 30.