For the third year in a row, Houston’s top chefs brought the fire to Post Houston on Thursday, October 23, showcasing their best takes on steak and seafood for DiningOut’s annual Rare Steak Championship.
Sponsored by Buckhead Meat & Seafood, and benefiting the Blackwood Educational Land Institute, the one-of-a-kind food festival gave way for guests to spend an indulgent evening dining on unlimited steak bites prepared by some of the city’s top chefs. Houston’s exceptionally warm fall temperature dipped just enough to offer a dreamy atmosphere in which to roam the sprawling festival grounds, with Downtown’s glittering skyline as a backdrop.
Other participating sponsors, including Stella Artois, Porsche of River Oaks, Pepsi, William Grant & Sons, and Tito’s joined rows of restaurant tents slinging bites, with chefs giving attendees an up close look at all of the steak-grilling action.
More than 25 restaurants participated in the competition this year, including hot spots like Guard & Grace, Georgia James, Vic & Anthony’s, State of Grace, Killen’s Steakhouse, and the Palm. The competition consisted of two categories, “Best Traditional” and “Best Creative” in the steak division, and a separate title for “Best Cocktail”, among participating beverage professionals that collaborated with a restaurant on a featured cocktail.
Like last year, a section was designated for Surf, an exclusive seafood-focused experience reserved for VIP ticket holders happening simultaneously as RARE. The premium seafood tasting featured eight separate restaurants, including Uchi, Aya Sushi, Flora, Zanti, Hachi, and Willie G’s Seafood.
Guests were given the opportunity to cast their votes for People’s Choice, while a panel of judges made up of local hospitality professionals were responsible for Judge’s Choice. Here are the winners of the 2025 RARE Steak Championship:
VIP: Surf Seafood Challenge
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Uchi – crispy rice nigiri
2nd Place: Willie G’s Seafood – Oyster Bienville
3rd Place: Aya Sushi – king salmon with balsamic vinegar, grapes, kizami pickled wasabi, and lime zest
JUDGE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Aya Sushi – king salmon with balsamic vinegar, grapes, kizami pickled wasabi, and lime zest
2nd Place: Willie G’s Seafood – Oyster Bienville
3rd Place: Zanti Cucina – crispy shrimp wafer with fish tartare and yuzu
Steak: Creative
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Hidden Omakase – wagyu short ribs with nam jim sauce
2nd Place: Taste Kitchen & Bar – jerk marinated ribeye
3rd Place: 93 ‘Til – “Fun-Guy and Funky Beef” aka Koji-aged beef and hen of the woods mushrooms
JUDGE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Eastbound BBQ – 24-hour Korean bbq shortrib with Gochujang bbq glaze and kimchi-horseradish mashed potato
2nd Place: Guard & Grace – slow-roasted Snake River Farms Wagyu ribeye
3rd Place: The Palm – The Palm’s Butcher’s Choice Cabernet-braised Wagyu short rib on grilled jalapeño and goat cheese cornbread, with mustard greens, fried garlic chips and pickled red onion caviar
Steak: Traditional
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Meat Mafia – Meat Mafia signature ribeye on truffle soy crispy potatoes
2nd Place: Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse – short rib with roasted garlic butter
3rd Place: Georgia James Steakhouse – seared striploin rolled with foie gras mousse, wrapped in prosciutto and spinach crêpe, with morel mushroom sauce
JUDGE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse – short rib with roasted garlic butter
2nd Place: Pearl & Vine – achiote striploin with smashed potatoes, Codigo Rosa ranchero hollandaise and Kaluga hybrid caviar
3rd Place: Sal e Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse – “The Cowboy Cut” ribeye with mashed potatoes and chimichurri
Cocktail
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st Place: Guard & Grace Houston x Angels Envy
2nd Place: Georgia James x Tito’s
3rd Place: 93 ‘Til x Tequila Centinela
JUDGE’S CHOICE
1st Place: 93 ‘Til x Tequila Centinela
2nd Place: Rainbow Lodge x Still Austin
3rd Place: Guard & Grace x Angel’s Envy
