We're starstruck. Restaurant industry magazine StarChefs named its 2023 Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars across eight categories.

The 16 winners are chosen by StarChef editorial staff out of 100+ chefs, bartenders, and tastemakers in the area. This is the third class from Austin-San Antonio.

To celebrate, StarChefs will host Rising Stars Restaurant Week Friday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 15, giving locals a chance to taste signature bites from the winners.

Chefs

Kareem El-Ghayesh | KG BBQ
Geoff Ellis | Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen
Rich Reimbolt | Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
Keith Rzepecki | Hestia
Amanda Turner | Olamaie

Game Changers

Arjav Ezekiel and Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel | Birdie’s

Community

Edgar Rico | Nixta Taqueria

Concept

Brian Batch and Ryan McElroy | Bird Bird Biscuit

Pastry Chefs

Derrick Flynn | Este and Suerte
Casandra Perez-Martinez | Comedor

Bartender

Erin Ashford | Holiday

Sommeliers

Alex Wheatley Bell | Aviary Wine & Kitchen
Rania Zayyat | Bufalina

Artisans

Ben and Phoebe Hollander | Casper Fermentables
Will Jaquiss | Meanwhile Brewing Co.

View the full list.this will be removed in the NL