Get ready, McAllen! McAllen Food Madness is back for its fourth year, and as always we’re letting YOU decide which local restaurant reigns supreme!
Last year, Howling Rabbits Beerworks took home the title. Now, 32 of McAllen’s most beloved eateries will go head-to-head in a bracket-style showdown until one is crowned the 2025 McAllen Food Madness Champion!
How It Works
This is an open-class competition, meaning any food establishment with a McAllen address is eligible—coffee shops, steakhouses, food trucks, drive-thrus, and even national chains. The matchups might seem wild, but that’s all part of the madness! At the end of the day, it’s about which place you can’t live without.
The Nomination Process
📅 Nominations open Wednesday, February 19th, and close Tuesday, February 25th.
- Comment with ONE restaurant per comment (no lists allowed, and only the first comment from each user will be counted).
- Like other comments to support more of your favorites.
- You can nominate once per platform (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok).
- The top 32 most-nominated restaurants will make it into the bracket, and their seeding will be determined by the number of nominations received.
The official bracket and seedings will be released on Wednesday, February 26th.
The Tournament Schedule
🗳️ All head-to-head matchups will be decided via polls on Instagram Stories. Here’s how the rounds will play out:
Round 1: The Top 32
✅ March 1st – March 8th – 16 matches, two per day
Round 2: The Top 16
✅ March 11th – March 18th – 8 matches, one per day
Quarterfinals: The Top 8
✅ March 21st – March 22nd – 4 matches, two per day
Semifinals: The Final 4
✅ March 25th – 2 matches, both posted that day
Finals: The Best of 3 Championship
🏆🏆 March 28th – March 30th – Best of 3 format 🏆🏆f
- Game 1: Friday, March 28th
- Game 2: Saturday, March 29th
- Tiebreaker (if needed): Sunday, March 30th
🛑 A single-elimination match will take place on Friday, March 28th, alongside Game 1 of the championship round to determine 3rd and 4th place.
How the Bracket Works
The top 32 most-nominated restaurants will be ranked based on the number of nominations received. The highest-ranked restaurant will take the #1 seed, the second-highest will be #2, and so on, down to #32. The bracket is then set up accordingly, with matchups determined by seeding (e.g., #1 vs. #32, #2 vs. #31, etc.).
This ensures that everything is determined by YOUR votes—from nominations to seeding, matchups, and ultimately, the champion. No interference, just pure fan-driven competition!
Who Will Take Home the Title?
The madness begins Saturday, March 1st. Nominate your favorite eatery starting Wednesday, February 19th, and stay tuned for the bracket reveal on February 26th. Then, get ready to vote all month long until we crown the 2025 McAllen Food Madness Champion!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for all the action. Let the madness begin! 🍽️🔥
