These WNY Restaurants Were Rated The Best At The Taste of Buffalo

There are few things the people of Western New York love more than its sports, and if you had to guess, then you'd be right if you said food. With summer back in 2025, one of the most anticipated events of the year is upon us, and thousands of people flocked into downtown Buffalo for the 41st Annual Taste of Buffalo, presented by Tops Friendly Markets, which has not disappointed one bit.

More than 40 restaurants and wineries lined Delaware Ave and Niagara Square in this year's food festival to give the people a chance to taste all that Buffalo has to offer. Buffalo is truly the City of Good Neighbors, and you don't need to walk far to see that.

Over the past few years, the Taste of Buffalo's Board of Directors has hosted a friendly competition among all the restaurants to determine who serves the best food at the top food festival in America.

Dozens of judges from all around Western New York are selected to serve as Food Judges for the festival. Those judges fanned out into downtown Buffalo to sample all the available fare and rate them on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best.

After the votes are cast and tallied, officials declare a winner in several categories.

Who Had My Favorite Food This Year?

I've had the honor of serving as a food judge for the last few years, and it's such a privilege to be able to taste so many great food items. My only struggle this year was trying to make sure I didn't eat too much of the great food at the Taste of Buffalo.

Of all of the different places that are featured this year, my favorite items were:

• The Chicken Makhani from New Jewel Of India,
• The Signature Five Cheese Mac from Mac Lady Catering,
• The Chicken Wonton from Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill,
• The Hoagie Log from Steaksters, and
• The Loganberry BBQ Burger from AJs Kitchen.

What Restaurants Won The Competition?

After all of the votes were tabulated, the winners of the 2025 Taste of Buffalo Restaurant Competition were:

• Chair's Choice - Chosen by Matthew Reis, 2025 Taste of Buffalo Chair:
  • El Coquito - Chicharron de Pollo 
• Children's Choice - Chosen by Cameron Reis and friends:
  • Not Just Cakes - Chocolate Brownie Mousse Cups
• Best Overall Item:
  • Resurgence Brewing Company - Barley Brussels
• Best New Item:
  • Chrusciki Bakery - Cream Puff with Powdered Sugar
• Eric Duvall Memorial "Best of Buffalo" Award:
  • Ave29 Foods - Meatball Bomber
• Best Surf or Turf Item:
  • La Casa de Sabores - Pernil
• "Louis J. Billittier Sr. “Rookie of the Year” Award:
  • Roaming Bison BBQ
• Best Dessert:
  • Sweet Melody's - Red White & Blue Sundae
• Best Handheld:
  • AJ's Kitchen - Smack Burger
• Veteran Restaurant Award:
  • Carrubba's Chicken Pit
• Hot Ones Best Item:
  • D.A. Taste - Birria Waffle Fries with Hot Ones Last Dab Sauce
• Hot Ones Second Place:
  • Babcias Pierogi - Potato & Cheddar Pierogi with Hot Ones Classic Chili Maple Sauce
• Hot Ones Third Place:
  • Carrubba's Chicken Pit - Buffalo Chicken Slider with Hot Ones Buffalo Sauce
• Best Red Wine:
  • Merritt - Bella Rosa
• Best White Wine:
  • Victorianbourg Wine – D'astra
• Favorite Fermentation:
  • Three Brothers Winery & Estate – Concord Grape Hard Cider

What restaurants are you looking forward to visiting at the Taste of Buffalo?