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DALLAS — The Southern Taste of Dallas is growing beyond its signature awards show this year, expanding into a two-day celebration that combines business development, community engagement and recognition for Black- and Latino-owned restaurants, food trucks and culinary entrepreneurs across North Texas.
The third annual event will take place July 23 and 24, beginning at The Shops at RedBird before concluding with the Southern Taste of Dallas Awards at On the Levee.
Founded by branding strategist Brittany “Luscious Barbie” Criswell and powered by restaurateur Rickey Booker Sr., the event has expanded its mission to include Latino-owned restaurants while adding a Restaurant and Resource Expo and bringing back its Food Truck Park.
Organizers say the additions are intended to provide restaurant owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with tools and connections that can help strengthen their businesses beyond the kitchen.
The weekend opens Thursday, July 23, with a free Restaurant and Resource Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Shops at RedBird.
The event is designed to bring together restaurant owners, food truck operators and entrepreneurs with suppliers, technology companies and industry experts.
Attendees will have access to food vendors, packaging companies and restaurant service providers while participating in educational sessions focused on branding, technology, marketing and innovation.
The panel lineup includes chef Tiffany Derry of TD2 Concepts, Brent Reaves of Smokey John’s BBQ, Fernando Rodriguez d’Agostino, hospitality technology director for SpotOn, and Mahiri Takai, moderator of NBC’s On Brand with Jimmy Fallon.
Another session will feature Kayla McDowell of Dallas Black Bloggers, journalist and food writer Alex Gonzalez, and publicist Leah Frazier of Think Three Media discussing influencer marketing, media relations and public relations for food and beverage businesses. The discussion will be moderated by Criswell.
“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.
In addition to business-focused programming, the expo will feature more than 20 chef and vendor booths, along with community organizations promoting mental health awareness, domestic violence prevention and other local resources.
Beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 23, more than 15 food trucks will line The Shops at RedBird for the Southern Taste of Dallas Food Truck Park.
The outdoor event will feature picnic-style seating, live music from a DJ, giveaways and a variety of food vendors.
Confirmed participants include Sophia’s Haitian Cuisine, Maji Eatz, Taters Elevated, King Pudding and Frios Dallas, with additional vendors expected to participate.
The celebration concludes Friday, July 24, with the Southern Taste of Dallas Awards from 7 to 11 p.m. at On the Levee.
This year’s awards ceremony carries a “Cowboy Culture” theme and will feature a red carpet, a VIP reception and live performances before recognizing restaurants, chefs, food trucks and culinary entrepreneurs in categories including Favorite Soul Food, Favorite Taco Spot, Favorite Chicken Spot, Favorite Upscale Spot, Favorite Brunch Spot, Favorite Mexican Spot, Favorite Fusion Spot and Favorite Influencer.
“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,” Criswell said.
Previous Southern Taste of Dallas honorees have included Breakfast Brothers, Aunt Irene’s Seafood, Williams Chicken, Kitchen + Kocktails, Slutty Vegan, Hip Hop Hibachi, Smokey John’s BBQ and Wings World.
Admission to the Restaurant and Resource Expo and Food Truck Park is free with advance registration.
Tickets for the awards gala range from $59.85 for general admission to $117.51 for a VIP experience. Voting for this year’s awards remains open through July 15.
Organizers say the expanded event reflects a growing commitment to celebrating North Texas’ diverse culinary community while creating opportunities for restaurant owners to network, learn and access resources that can support long-term success.
For a full list of the 2026 Nominees and Categories, click here.
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