Two years after entering the Texas market, DiningOut Events has announced it is bringing its RARE Steak Championship to Dallas this spring. On Thursday, May 15, more than 25 local restaurants will descend upon Levy Plaza in Irving with their best steak dishes to battle it out for the championship title.
Sponsored by Buckhead Meat & Seafood, RARE is a one-of-a-kind food festival that gives attendees a chance to sample unlimited steak dishes from some of the most celebrated chefs in the city, all in one place. Dallas is the second Texas city to host RARE, after Houston, which hosted back to back festivals in 2023 and 2024; and only the third U.S. city after Denver, where the festival originated.
While still in its infancy in Texas, DiningOut Events has long had a presence in Denver, and is lauded for its lively, multi-sensory food festivals. Past festivals include RARE Steak Championship, which celebrated its fifth annual run in Denver in 2024; Top Taco, which recently made its debut in Houston in 2024, and will return in 2025; and Chicken Fight.
Steakhouses are a significant part of Dallas’ culinary landscape, making the city a natural choice for RARE’s Texas expansion. And with a wealth of talent showcasing the finest cuts of meat, gems from the sea, and decadent sides and desserts, the friendly showdown is an opportunity to name a champion among them.
The competition consists of two categories, “Best Traditional” and “Best Creative” in the steak division, with a separate title for “Best Cocktail” among participating beverage professionals. Throughout the evening, guests will cast their vote for People’s Choice, and a panel of judges, made up of local food experts, will cast theirs for Critic’s Choice. With live entertainment, photo ops galore, and ample room to mix and mingle, there is plenty to be entertained by in between bites.
As a bonus, Rare will feature Surf, an exclusive seafood-focused experience for VIP ticket holders. VIP guests will be welcome to enter an hour and a half earlier than general admission and granted full access to Surf. The premium tasting serves as its own dedicated competition, involving Dallas’ top seafood restaurants. With a separate area containing lounges, demo stations, and a DJ, Surf will undoubtedly offer a luxurious element to the steak-filled evening.
Rare’s introduction to the city coincides with the launch of DiningOut Dallas, a new digital food publication and extension of Dever’s DiningOut Magazine. DiningOut Magazine has served as the voice of Colorado’s independent restaurant community since 1998, and DiningOut Dallas will follow a similar formula. The platform joins DiningOut Houston, which launched in the fall of 2024, with both sites paying tribute to their respective city’s dynamic culinary community by way of guides, news, profiles, and long-form features.
With RARE’s highly anticipated Dallas debut just around the corner, interested parties may sign up for pre-sale discount tickets, before tickets officially go on sale Thursday, March 6. The cost for general admission tickets is $125, with access to the grand tasting from 7 to 10 p.m.; First Taste tickets are $175, with guests allowed entry at 6 p.m.; and VIP tickets are $250, with entry beginning at 5:30 p.m.
