On Thursday, May 7, steak lovers, cocktail enthusiasts, and Dallas foodies gathered at Levy Plaza in Las Colinas for the second annual RARE Steak Championship, an evening celebrating some of the region’s top culinary talent, benefitting Irving Cares. Sponsored by Buckhead Meat & Seafood and hosted by DiningOut Events, the high-energy competition brought together acclaimed chefs and restaurants from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area to showcase their creativity, technique, and signature flavors.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Irving’s Levy Plaza, guests sampled steak-centric bites, craft cocktails, and inventive dishes while enjoying live entertainment from Extended Play. As the evening unfolded, an epic golden-hour sunset painted the sky in vivid pink and orange hues, creating a stunning atmosphere that made the night even more memorable.
More than 25 restaurants filled the outdoor venue alongside spirit and wine partners including WhistlePig Whiskey, Hendrick’s Gin, Caymus Vineyards, and more. This year’s lineup featured some of the biggest names in the Dallas dining scene, including Loro, Dee Lincoln Prime, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Al Biernat’s, Uchiko, Komodo, STK Steakhouse, and LRH Restaurant & Bar at Omni Las Colinas.
From upscale steakhouses to innovative Asian-inspired concepts and contemporary Texas favorites, each restaurant brought its own distinct culinary perspective to the competition, offering guests an impressive range of flavors and presentations. Bartenders also competed in a spirited cocktail competition, crafting standout drinks designed to complement the evening’s dishes while showcasing their creativity and bold flavor combinations.
Participating restaurants competed across several categories, including Traditional Steak and Creative Steak. Throughout the evening, a panel of judges alongside event attendees sampled and scored each entry to determine which restaurants would take home top honors. An exclusive VIP section served as its own competition within the larger RARE Championship, with six restaurants going head-to-head in the VIP Surf category for the title of best seafood dish of the evening.
When the smoke cleared and the votes were tallied, these chefs rose to the top. Here are the winners of the 2026 RARE Steak Championship:
COCKTAIL
People’s Choice
1st Place: Mesa Mezcal featuring Frey Ranch
2nd Place: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse featuring Bick Rack Spirits
3rd Place: STK featuring Still GIN
Judge’s Choice
1st Place: Mesa Mezcal featuring Frey Ranch
2nd Place: The Saint featuring Angels Envy
3rd Place: Al Biernat’s featuring Weber Ranch
VIP SURF
People’s Choice
1st Place: Kona Grill
2nd Place: Monarch
3rd Place: Midori
Judge’s Choice
1st Place: Chet’s Dallas
2nd Place: Kona Grill
3rd Place: Monarch
STEAK: CREATIVE
People’s Choice
1st Place: Loro
2nd Place: Uchiko
3rd Place: Nobu
Judge’s Choice
1st Place: 97 West Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Drover
2nd Place: Monaco
3rd Place: Nobu
STEAK: TRADITIONAL
People’s Choice
1st Place: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
2nd Place: STK
3rd Place: Mesa Mezcal
Judge’s Choice
1st Place: Dee Lincoln Prime
2nd Place: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
3rd Place: Mesa Mezcal
