There Are Zero James Beard Award Winners from Austin for 2024

Ana Liz Pulido of Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission, Texas took home the Best Chef: Texas win at the 2024 James Beard Awards. She bested the only one finalist from Austin this year — Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel of Birdie’s in the Best Chef: Texas category. Christopher Cullum of Cullum’s Attaboy in San Antonio was also a finalist for Best Chef: Texas.

Pulido thanked her father from the stage, and expressed her gratitude at the chance to represent the Rio Grand Valley and a border town community. In an interview after her win, Pulido told Eater Austin that she was so excited that she was speechless. “Being the first South Texas restaurant [to win], I’m just so honored,” she said. Coming up for Ana Liz Taqueria is an expansion. Pulido says that two weeks ago she signed a lease for the establishment next door to allow the restaurant, which currently only holds five tables, to take it over.

Pulido’s restaurant is a scratch kitchen for Mexican food that nixtamalizes it’s corn daily to make tortillas, using a Mexican corn. The meat is smoked and prepared in-house. She keeps the menu small, and offers special menus inspired by her travels to Mexico three times a year. Pulido says she appreciates the Beard Awards for recognizing the skill that goes into that preparation. “I have a trip to Oxaca in August, and hopefully I’ll bring back ideas for that.”

For those planning a trip down south to try out Ana Liz Taqueria now that it’s chef is an award-winner, Pulido says you must try the espada — there is always a different version on the menu.

Other Central Texas nominees included Barbs B Q in Lockhart which lost Best New Restaurant, and Mixtli in San Antoni lost Outstanding Restaurant. Convenience West in Marfa was also nominated in the category, and lost.

Update: June 10, 2024: 8:53 p.m.: This post was updated to include an interview with Ana Liz Pulido.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2024. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation.