Introduction to the James Beard Awards
The James Beard Awards were held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago Monday, with restauranters, chefs and featured guests coming together from around the world to celebrate.
Known as the "Oscars of the food world," the awards highlight a variety of exceptional owners, bakers, bartenders and more.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson were in attendance and presented together speaking about Chicago’s rich and diverse food scene.
Winners of the 2025 James Beard Awards
Here’s a full list of the night’s winners.
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d’Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY
- Outstanding Chef: Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY
- Outstanding Restaurant: Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO
- Emerging Chef: Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, PA
- Best New Restaurant: Bûcheron, Minneapolis, MN
- Outstanding Bakery: JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Cat Cox, Country Bird Bakery, Tulsa, OK
- Outstanding Hospitality: Atomix, New York, NY
- Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Charleston, Baltimore, MD
- Outstanding Bar: Kumiko, Chicago, IL
- Best New Bar: Identidad Cocktail Bar, San Juan, PR
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, Texas
- Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Ignacio Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, NY
- Best Chef: California: Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA
- Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, IL
- Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.
- Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN
- Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, Idaho
- Best Chef: New York State: Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY
- Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI
- Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA): Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity, OR
- Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL
- Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville, TN
- Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ
- Best Chef: Texas: Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, Texas
- Humanitarian of the Year: Chad Houser
Impact Award Nominees
There were also several impact award nominees, including:
- 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
Conclusion
The James Beard Awards celebrate the best of the culinary world, and this year’s winners and nominees are no exception. From outstanding restaurants and chefs to emerging talent and humanitarian work, the awards recognize the diverse and vibrant food scene across the country.
FAQs
Q: What are the James Beard Awards?
A: The James Beard Awards are annual awards that recognize excellence in the culinary world, often referred to as the "Oscars of the food world."
Q: Who were some of the winners of the 2025 James Beard Awards?
A: Some of the winners included Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr for Outstanding Restaurateur, Jungsik Yim for Outstanding Chef, and Frasca Food and Wine for Outstanding Restaurant.
Q: Were there any Chicagoans nominated for awards?
A: Yes, Noah Sandoval of Oriole in Chicago was nominated for and won Best Chef: Great Lakes, and Kumiko in Chicago won Outstanding Bar.
Q: What is the Humanitarian of the Year award?
A: The Humanitarian of the Year award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the culinary world through their humanitarian work. This year’s winner was Chad Houser.
