The judges hemmed and hawed in nominating this year’s crop of contenders for the Tastemaker Awards Best New Restaurant crown. In a culinary scene as red-hot as San Antonio's, it seems a worthy new spot opens every week.

But we did the hard part so our readers could have a little fun — voting for their favorites in our annual bracket-style competition.

Voting is open now at this link. People may vote once per day, through four rounds of competition. Round one ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 17.

Which restaurant will win? Find out April 4 at the 2024 Tastemaker Awards party at the Briscoe History Museum. We’ll dine on bites from this year’s nominated restaurants and sip cocktails from our sponsors before revealing the winners in our short and sweet ceremony.

You can keep up with all the Tastemaker Award nominees in a special editorial series, then be sure to buy your tickets to see who triumphs.

Here are the 16 nominees for Best New Restaurant:

Beacon Hill Market & Deli
Sandwiches rarely get accolades over more fussed over dishes, but this deli proves the form isn’t just about slapping meat on bread. Beacon Hill’s Philly cheesesteaks may be humble, but they stand up to any plate in town.

Blush
The owners of this Southtown jewel box aced a near-impossible task, transforming a dingy comedy club into one of San Antonio’s most charming places to brunch. The food is no joke, either. Classic fare, luxe ingredients, and a strong pastry program leave guests tickled pink.

Brenner's Steakhouse on the River Walk
While technically part of a chain, this River Walk outlet of a storied Houston steakhouse has its own identity and menu. But it did take some cues from its siblings. With a stately dining room and impeccably sourced steaks, the brand continues to define special occasion dining.

Bombay Bicycle Club at Hemisfair
Although a little less shaggy than the original location, the Hemisfair Bombay still keeps everything that works. The burgers are hefty, the margaritas are punchy, and the staff delivers the right amount of sass.

Box Street Social
Not content to be a one-trick pony, the owners of this Hemisfair hot spot are now doing double duty in La Cantera. It turns out that a poppy environment with approachably innovative fare works in any part of town.

El Buen Paladar
Yes, bean and cheese tacos are sacrosanct around these parts, but we beg you to try their Central American cousin, the pupusa. This food truck turned brick-and-mortar is the place to start.

El Cevichero Restaurant y Cantina
El Cevichero’s fleet of trucks has long prevented hangovers at buzzy bars like Vibras and El Camino. The new storefront’s birria and ceviche is just as mouthwatering, dead sober on a weekday afternoon.

Freight Fried Chicken
Chef Nicola Blaque’s homage to the entrepreneurship of Black women might seem high-concept on paper. In person, it’s all about that indelible crunch.

Greenhouse
Who would have thought that the team behind Mixtli would make a coffee house their next trick? Now that it's open, it's no surprise that it is redefining the genre.

Hook Land & Sea
It’s obvious the owners of this Creamery upstart are detail-oriented. Here, everything from the palate of the serving ware to the batter on the fish and chips is done just so. We’re hooked on the fact that this fast-casual joint makes it look so effortless.

Howdy Child
Fast-casual spots rarely pay mind to responsible sourcing, which makes this Bottling Department food hall stall different from the gate. That those ingredients make the perfect pastrami sandwich is a plump cherry on top.

Leche de Tigre
San Antonio cuisine isn’t exactly known for its lightness, which makes this Southtown Peruvian spot almost ethereal. It’s not just the zippy dishes — everything from the friendly service to the sprightly cocktails give it a lift.

Mr. Ramen
Though rooted in tradition with silky shoyu and tonkotsu broths, this North Side newbie also impresses when it veers off course. The plant-based options are particular revelations, like an Impossible karaage that tastes as meaty as its chicken counterpoint, or the tomato tang of a veggie-heavy ramen.

Nineteen Hyaku
This downtown stunner proves that San Antonians will clean up nicely when given a reason. Achingly fresh sushi presented with elegance instead of flash might be the easiest excuse.

Thai Bird
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was talking about architecture when he famously said, “less is more.” This Make Ready Market tenant’s juicy chicken tenders affirm that the phrase is just as applicable to tonight’s dinner.

Tokyo Cowboy
This downtown haunt makes an argument for the timeless appeal of Asian-fusion cuisine. Focused on comfort, the kitchen mashes up Eastern ingredients with Southern favorites in a way that brings out the pleasures of both.