An octopus tostada in Austin. A fried-to-order churro in LA. A plate of Bengali wedding chicken in Raleigh, North Carolina. These are just a few of the flavors that struck a chord with Eater editors in cities across the United States in 2025. The breadth and depth of this year’s Eater Award winners speaks not only to the individual talent found in these regions, but also to the trends and cuisines driving the hospitality industry forward. But what really makes these awards special is how they speak to the community; they’re designed for locals and written by the locals who spend all year reporting and keeping track of the food and drink stories that matter most to their cities.
Special thanks to Nat Belkov, Terri Ciccone, Jess Mayhugh, Patty Diez, and the rest of the Eater team.
