It’s a milestone moment in the restaurant awards season: The James Beard finalists have just been announced for 2025. The Oscars of the food world recognize the best chefs, restaurateurs, beverage professionals, and more working around the country right now. This is the whittled-down list of semifinalists that were announced in January.
Come back to this space when the winners are announced at a star-studded ceremony in Chicago on June 16. Until then, let’s celebrate the 2025 James Beard finalists.
Read on for the full list of James Beard finalists
Outstanding Restaurateur
A restaurateur who uses their establishment(s) as a vehicle for building community, demonstrates creativity in entrepreneurship, and integrity in restaurant operations.
- Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, The Anchovy Bar, State Bird Provisions, and The Progress, San Francisco, CA
- Sue Chin and Jason Chin, Good Salt Restaurant Group (Seito Sushi, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Osprey, and others), Orlando, FL
- Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective (Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You), Washington, D.C.
- Allison Gibson and Cara Tobin, Honey Road and Gray Jay, Burlington, VT
- Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d’Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY
Outstanding Chef
A chef who sets high culinary standards and has served as a positive example for other food professionals.
- Lisa Becklund, FarmBar, Tulsa, OK
- Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY
- Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO
- Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA
- Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY
Outstanding Restaurant
A restaurant that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.
- Coquine, Portland, OR
- Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO
- Galit, Chicago, IL
- nonesuch, Oklahoma City, OK
- Oberlin, Providence, RI
Emerging Chef
A chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.
- Kaitlin Guerin, Lagniappe Bakehouse, New Orleans, LA
- Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, PA
- Nikhil Naiker, NIMKI, Providence, RI
- Jane Sacro Chatham, Vicia, St. Louis, MO
- RJ Yoakum, Georgie, Dallas, TX
Best New Restaurant
A restaurant opened between October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations. Those establishments that have opened after September 30, 2024, can be considered for the 2026 Awards.
- Alma Fonda Fina, Denver, CO
- Atoma, Seattle, WA
- Bûcheron, Minneapolis, MN
- Ema, Houston, TX
- Fet-Fisk, Pittsburgh, PA
- Mābo, Dallas, TX
- Mita, Washington, D.C.
- Ômo by Jônt, Winter Park, FL
- Penny, New York, NY
- The Union, Helena, MT
Outstanding Bakery
A baker of breads, pastries, or desserts that demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.
- Atelier Ortega, Jackson Hole, WY
- Gusto Bread, Long Beach, CA
- JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR
- Starship Bagel, Lewisville, TX
- Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
A pastry chef or baker who makes desserts, pastries, or breads. Candidate demonstrates exceptional skills and can be affiliated with any food business and does not need a brick-and mortar presence.
- Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
- Cat Cox, Country Bird Bakery, Tulsa, OK
- April Franqueza, The Dining Room at High Hampton, Cashiers, NC
- Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, AZ
- Carolyn Nugent and Alen Ramos, Poulette Bakeshop, Parker, CO
Outstanding Hospitality
A restaurant, bar, or other food and drinking establishment that fosters a sense of hospitality among its customers and staff that serves as a beacon for the community and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.
- Archipelago, Seattle, WA
- Aria, Atlanta, GA
- Atomix, New York, NY
- Harbor House Inn, Elk, CA
- Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
A restaurant that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food. This includes the selection, preparation,and serving of wine, cocktails, spirits, coffee, tea, beer, or any other beverage with outstanding hospitality and service that helps inform and enhance a customer’s appreciation of the beverage(s). Ethical sourcing will also be considered.
- Bar Brava, Minneapolis, MN
- Campo at Los Poblanos, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
- Charleston, Baltimore, MD
- March, Houston, TX
- Strong Water, Anaheim, CA
Outstanding Bar
A wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary offering is beverage and that demonstrates consistent excellence in curating a selection or in the preparation of drinks, along with outstanding atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.
- Kumiko, Chicago, IL
- Scotch Lodge, Portland, OR
- The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
- Water Witch, Salt Lake City, UT
- Wolf Tree, White River Junction, VT
Best New Bar
A wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, coffee bar, or any other business whose primary
offering is beverage, opened between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, that already demonstrates excellence in beverages, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in the preparation of drinks, sourcing, service, hospitality, atmosphere, and operations. Those establishments that have opened after September 30, 2024, can be considered for the 2026 Awards.
- Agency, Milwaukee, WI
- Bar Colette, Dallas, TX
- Identidad Cocktail Bar, San Juan, PR
- Merai, Brookline, MA
- Vice Versa, Miami, FL
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
A service professional who curates and serves wine, beer, or other offerings such as sake, low- and non-alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or bar setting; or winery, distillery or brewery that also serves food. Candidate has set high standards; demonstrates creativity and consistency in excellence, innovation, hospitality; is making efforts to create a sustainable work culture; and has served as an exceptional example or mentor for other beverage professionals.
- Jacob Brown, Lazy Bear, San Francisco, CA
- Jose Medina Camacho, Adios, Birmingham, AL
- Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, TX
- Cassandra Felix, Daniel, New York, NY
- Cristie Norman, Delilah, Las Vegas, NV
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
A service professional who creates and serves cocktails or other offerings such as low- and non-alcoholic beverages. Candidate has set high standards; demonstrates creativity and consistency in excellence, innovation, hospitality; is making efforts to create a sustainable work culture; and has served as an exceptional example or mentor for other beverage professionals.
- McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, CO
- Ignacio Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, NY
- Dave Newman, Pint + Jigger, Honolulu, HI
- Tobin Shea, Redbird, Los Angeles, CA
- Mike Stankovich, Longfellow, Cincinnati, OH
Best Chefs (by region)
Chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions.
Best Chef: California
- Daniel Castillo, Heritage Barbeque, San Juan Capistrano, CA
- Richard Lee, Saison, San Francisco, CA
- Tara Monsod, ANIMAE, San Diego, CA
- Kosuke Tada, Mijote, San Francisco, CA
- Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson, The Cooks’ House, Traverse City, MI
- Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson, The Cooks’ House, Traverse City, MI
- Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, IL
- David Jackman, Wildweed, Cincinnati, OH
- Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading, Chicago, IL
- Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, IL
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
- Henji Cheung, Queen’s English, Washington, D.C.
- Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.
- Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PA
- Dan Richer, Razza, Jersey City, NJ
- Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, PA
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
- Shigeyuki Furukawa, Kado no Mise, Minneapolis, MN
- Diane Moua, Diane’s Place, Minneapolis, MN
- Loryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, MO
- Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN
- David Utterback, Ota and Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE
Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
- Joshua Adams, Campione, Livingston, MT
- Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, IDd
- Brandon Cunningham, The Social Haus, Greenough, MT
- David Wells, The Tasting Room at Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, Pray, MT
- Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO
Best Chef: New York State
- Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY
- Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction, Buffalo, NY
- Eiji Ichimura, Ichimura, New York, NY
- Atsushi Kono, Kono, New York, NY
- Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
- Avery Buck, May Day, Burlington, VT
- Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI
- Brian Lewis, The Cottage, Westport, CT
- Erin Miller, Urban Hearth, Cambridge, MA
- Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, Providence, RI
Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
- Jay Blackinton, Houlme, Orcas Island, WA
- Joshua Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland, OR
- Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OR
- Beau Schooler, In Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, AK
- Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity, OR
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
- Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL
- Matthew Cooper, Conifer, Bentonville, AR
- Kevin Garcia, La Faena AgroCocina, Guaynabo, PR
- Angel David Moreno Zayas, El Gallo Pinto, Guayama, PR
- Rafael Rios, Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, Bentonville, AR
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
- Noam Bilitzer, MeeshMeesh Mediterranean, Louisville, KY
- Sara Bradley, Freight House, Paducah, KY
- Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville, TN
- Silver Iocovozzi, Neng Jr.’s, Asheville, NC
- Robbie Robinson, City Limits Barbeque, West Columbia, SC
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
- Olivier Bouzerand, Fait Maison, Edmond, OK
- Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ
- Sarah Thompson, Casa Playa, Las Vegas, NV
- Eleazar Villanueva, Restaurant de Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas, NV
- Zack Walters, Sedalia’s, Oklahoma City, OK
Best Chef: Texas
- Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, TX
- Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston, TX
- Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio, TX
- Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas, TX
- Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo, Marfa, TX
Humanitarian of the Year
- The 2024 Humanitarian of the Year Award honoree is Chad Houser, founder and CEO of Café Momentum, a Dallas-based nonprofit restaurant with multiple locations nationwide dedicated to equipping justice-involved teens aged 15-19 with skills, education, and employment opportunities in the culinary industry.
Lifetime Achievement
- The 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree is esteemed author, culinary journalist, and activist Toni Tipton-Martin.
Impact Award Honorees
- Angie Craig, U.S. Representative (MN-2); Minority Leader, House Committee on Agriculture
- Brandon Edwin Chrostowski, CEO, EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute
- Anthony Edwards Jr., CEO and Co-Founder, EatOkra
- Seanicaa Edwards Herron, Founder and Executive Director, Freedmen Heirs Foundation
- Dune Lankard, President and Founder, Native Conservancy
Tanay Warerkar is a content marketing manager at OpenTable, where he oversees features content and stays on top of the hottest trends and developments in the restaurant industry. He brings years of experience as a food editor and reporter having worked at the San Francisco Chronicle, Eater, and the New York Daily News, to name a few.
