WINNERS EDITION THE BEST OF GALVESTON COUNTYbuilding a stronger community together THE O'DONOHOE AGENCY 5928 STEWART RD allstate.com/seanodonohoe seanodonohoe@allstate.com 409-356-0065 #1 Best Insurance Agency We would like to thank all our customers and friends for voting us! 2 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice Winners | September 2024Congratulations to the winners of The Daily News’ 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. This special publication identifies and celebrates those businesses we all enjoy and share with our friends. Results are based on online voting. In June and July, we asked readers to nominate their favorite businesses in more than 200 categories. After we tallied the nominations and identified the top five finalists in each category, we asked readers to select winners in another round of voting that took place from July to August. As you read along, you might find a few surprises, as well as businesses you expected to see. Galveston County is lucky to have so many local businesses from which to choose. We hope you hold on to this special publication, so the next time you’re looking for a new restaurant or place to shop, you’ll thumb through its pages and explore what Galveston County has to offer. This publication includes second- and third-place winners in each category to give readers options. In many categories, winners and runners-up were separated by just a handful of votes. We hope this publication not only starts conversations about who won, but sparks fierce debates about who really has the best burgers or pizza. Make sure to visit your favorite businesses and offer your congratulations! Congratulations to our 2024 Readers’ Choice winners YOU VOTE, YOU WIN! The Daily News randomly selected one lucky winner to receive a $100 gift card just for voting for their favorite businesses in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Jay Godfrey Thanks to everyone who participated! September 2024 | Readers’ Choice Winners | The Daily News | 3Affordable tuition On-campus housing Financial aid and scholarships Bachelor’s degree programs 50 degrees and certificates Dual Credit programs Close to home Whitecaps Athletics TOMORROW Your BUILD FOR VOTING GALVESTON COLLEGE YOUR READERS’ CHOICE # 1 BEST COLLEGE 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Thank You Main Campus 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, TX 77550 Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center 7626 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77554 GC.EDU It is the policy of Galveston College to provide equal opportunities without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, genetic information or veteran status. 4 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice Winners | September 2024Voted Best in Galveston County Pictured: Jennie Sealy Hospital on UTMB Health’s Galveston Campus Best Medical Clinic 1st Place - UTMB Health Best Pediatrician 1st Place - Hannah Peterson Best Pediatrician 2nd Place - Cynthia Binder Best Pediatrician 3rd Place - Matthew Hay Best Urgent Care 3rd Place - UTMB Health Best Family Doctor/ General Practitioner 3rd Place - Alberto Gutierrez Best Hearing Specialist 3rd Place - UTMB Health Audiology and Speech Pathology To schedule an appointment, call (800) 917-8906 or visit utmbhealth.com September 2024 | Readers’ Choice Winners | The Daily News | 56 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice Winners | September 2024 FOOD & DINING BEST AMERICAN FOOD 1. Miller’s Seawall Grill 2. ShyKatz 2. Sunflower Bakery & Cafe BEST APPETIZERS/ SIDES 1. Saltwater Grill 2. Willie G’s Seafood & Steaks 3. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant BEST ASIAN FOOD 1. Yamato Japanese Restaurant 2. The Garden Thai Cuisine 3. Sky Bar Steak & Sushi BEST BAKERY 1. Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 2. She Devil Pastry 3. PattyCakes Bakery BEST BARBECUE 1. Koop’s BBQ Kitchen & Catering 2. Doreck’s Meat Market 3. Leon’s World Finest Bar-B-Que BEST BREAKFAST 1. Miller’s Seawall Grill 2. Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 3. The Gumbo Diner BEST BRUNCH 1. Grand Galvez 2. Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 3. BLVD. Seafood BEST CAJUN FOOD 1. Cajun Greek 2. Benno’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant 3. Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar BEST CATERING COMPANY 1. Chef Mary Bass 2. Coastal Catering 3. Galveston Restaurant Group BEST CHEF 1. Megan Walker at Saltwater Grill 2. Mary Bass at Good Dough; La Cocina 3. Marshall Monroe at Coastal Catering BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK 1. Miller’s Seawall Grill 2. Soul 2 Soul Cafe 3. T-Bone Tom’s BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT 1. Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar 2. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant 3. Vargas Cut & Catch BEST DESSERTS 1. Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 2. She Devil Pastry 3. ShyKatZ BEST DOUGHNUTS 1. Home Cut Donuts 2. Donut Palace 3. Shipley’s Do-Nuts BEST FOOD TRUCK 1. Mac-ies Smashburgers and Fries 2. Galveston Island Tacos 3. Tipsy Gyros at Lucky Lounge BEST FRIED CHICKEN 1. Soul 2 Soul Cafe 2. Hartz Chicken Buffet 3. T-Bone Tom’s BEST FROZEN YOGURT 1. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt 2. Beach Bunny Frozen Yogurt 3. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt BEST GERMAN FOOD 1. Stuttgarden Tavern 2. King’s BierHaus 3. The George Manor BEST GREEK FOOD 1. Kritikos Olympia Grill 2. Cajun Greek 3. Coastal Grill BEST GUMBO 1. The Gumbo Diner 2. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant 3. Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar BEST HAMBURGERS 1. Mac-ies Smashburgers and Fries 2. The Spot 3. Doreck’s Meat Market BEST ICE CREAM 1. La King’s Confectionery 2. Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream 3. Cordray Drug Store BEST ITALIAN FOOD 1. Trattoria LaVigna Authentic Italian Cuisine 2. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 3. Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT 1. Rainforest cafe 2. Papa’s Pizza 3. Lil’ Buffalo Grille BEST KOLACHES 1. Good Dough Kolache Bakery 2. Home Cut Donuts 3. Donut Palace BEST LUNCH SPECIAL 1. Soul 2 Soul Cafe 2. Mario’s Ristorante 3. ShyKatZ BEST MEAT MARKET/ BUTCHER SHOP 1. Doreck’s Meat Market 2. H&R Food & Meat Market 3. Stone Cold Meats BEST MEXICAN FOOD 1. The Original Mexican Cafe 2. Café Canela Restaurant 3. Taquilo’s Tex-Mex BEST MOM-AND-POP RESTAURANT 1. Soul 2 Soul Cafe 2. SkyKatZ 3. Mac-ies Smashburgers and Fries BEST NEW RESTAURANT 1. 1817 Steak & Seafare 2. Red Cap Cafe 3. The Fancy at Hotel Lucine BEST PET-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT 1. Yaga’s Cafe 2. Mac-ies Smashburgers and Fries 3. ShyKatZ BEST PIZZA 1. Mama Theresa’s Flying Pizza 2. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 3. Mario’s Ristorante BEST RESTAURANT PATIO 1. The Spot 2. Katie’s Seafood House 3. Nick’s Kitchen and Beach Bar BEST SALAD 1. Mosquito Cafe 2. Nick’s Kitchen and Beach Bar 3. EATcetera BEST SALSA 1. The Original Mexican Cafe 2. Taquilo’s Tex-Mex 3. Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen 3. Salsa’s Mexican Restaurant BEST SANDWICHES 1. Old Moon Deli & Pies 2. Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 3. ShyKatZ BEST SEAFOOD 1. Katie’s Seafood House 2. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant 3. Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House BEST SENIOR SPECIAL 1. Miller’s Seawall Grill 2. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill 3. BLVD. Seafood BEST SHAVED ICE 1. Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard 2. SnoHut SnoBalls 3. Bahama Buck’s BEST SOUL FOOD 1. Soul 2 Soul Cafe 2. Johnae’s Soul Food 3. Allen’s Restaurant BEST STEAKS 1. Saltgrass Steak House 2. Vargas Cut & Catch 3. The Steakhouse BEST SUSHI 1. Yamato Japanese Restaurant 2. Sky Bar Steak & Sushi 3. Kabuki Sushi & Habachi BEST TACOS 1. Vida Agave 2. The Original Mexican Cafe 3. Taquilo’s Tex-Mex BEST VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN 1. EATcetra 2. Mosquito Cafe 3. Gypsy Joynt BEST WAIT STAFF 1. Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar 2. Vargas Cut & Catch 3. BLVD. Seafood BEST WATERFRONT DINING 1. Katie’s Seafood House 2. Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House 3. Lucky Lounge BEST WINGS 1. Soul 2 Soul Cafe 2. Papa’s Pizza 3. Yaga’s Cafe SPECIALTY DRINKS & SPIRITS BEST BAR 1. 23rd Street Station Piano Bar 2. Naked Iguana Brewery 3. Old Galveston ClubWinner Best Child Care ...leading into a bright future. 1914 45th St. • Galveston, TX 77550 • 409-692-2001 September 2024 | Readers’ Choice Winners | The Daily News | 7Galveston County for Voting Us #3 IN SEAFOOD AND #2 IN WATERFRONT DINING Come Out and Try Our New Restaurant on the Island, FISH COMPANY TACO! FishCompanyTaco.Com 8 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice Winners | September 2024WE APPRECIATE SERVING YOU FOR OVER 27 YEARS In Galveston County 2024 #1 THANK YOU FOR VOTING 409-682-(TREE) 8733 Triple Crown Winner Triple Crown Winner September 2024 | Readers’ Choice Winners | The Daily News | 9Next >