It was a tear-jerking Monday night at the James Beard Awards ceremony in Chicago.
For many professionals in the food and hospitality industry, winning a James Beard Award is the achievement of a lifetime. Many winners took to the stage in tears, speaking from the heart about what the achievement meant to them, their families and their mentors.
James Beard Awards are given to those who demonstrate exceptional talent, innovation and commitment to sustainability, equity and community in the food system. Award categories cover the best new restaurant and bar, the best chefs in each region of the United States, and much more.
Here is the full list of James Beard Award winners from Monday night’s ceremony
Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres of Maximo, West University Place, Texas
This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant offers a $45 tasting menu and an à la carte menu. Torres said his top three dishes are: the smoked sweet potato with whipped requeson, pumpkin seed matcha and black trump mushrooms ($17); bluefin tuna tostada with guacamole, chili crisp and chapulines ($18); and pato con mole with Pekin duck breast, Mexican fried rice, mole nero and corn tortillas ($29).
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
This contemporary Vietnamese restaurant has quite the creative dessert menu. Examples include: green curry sponge cake with avocado sorbet, soursop mousse, fish sauce caramel and finger lime ($18); and durian mousse with passionfruit granita, white chocolate streusel and dill ($19).
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Outstanding Bakery: Wild Crumb, Bozeman, Montana
Owned by Lauren Heemstra and Caroline Schweitzer, Wild Crumb started at a farmers market in 2012 and opened its brick-and-mortar in 2013. It offers a variety of freshly baked breads, pastries, pies, cakes and tarts.
Best New Bar: LOMA, Providence, Rhode Island
LOMA is a 16-seat bar meant to feel like a private home bar in Latin America in the 1960s and ‘70s. Established in 2024, LOMA plays Latin jazz, boleros and vintage salsa.
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Kevin Diedrich of Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, California
Founded in 2016 by Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven’s cocktail program is heavily influenced by Asian-Pacific ingredients. Diedrich’s top three cocktails are the Leeward Negroni (Sipsmith VJOP Gin, coconut-washed campari, pandan cordial, bitters), Thrilla in Manila (Evan Williams Bourbon, shiso, calamansi, pineapple, coconut, absinthe, li-hing mui) and OH Snap! (Sipsmith Gin, manzanilla sherry, sugar snap peas, citrus, absinthe, tonic).
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Kato, Los Angeles, California
This omakase-style restaurant offers cuisine inspired by Taiwanese and Asian American flavors ($325 per person), wine flights ($145-$185) and an alcohol-free flight ($120).
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Lee Campbell, Borgo, New York, New York
Since 2024, this neighborhood trattoria specializes in seasonal, wood-fired cooking, wine and cocktails.
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Outstanding Bar: Scotch Lodge, Portland, Oregon
This whisky-forward cocktail bar has 20 cocktails on the menu and offers a modern Pacific Northwest-inspired menu from chef Tim Artale.
Best Chef – Great Lakes: Jacob Potashnick of Feld, Chicago, Illinois
At Feld, chefs curate the menu each day based on the availability of local produce. Dinner costs $225 per person.
Best Chef – Southwest: Sarah Thompson of Casa Playa, Las Vegas, Nevada
Located in Wynn, Casa Playa offers breakfast, dinner and late-night menus. Executive chef Sarah Thomspon’s top three recommendations are the: kampachi with tomato dashi, charred avocado and finger lime ($31); maitake mushroom with mole blanco, black truffle and pinenut ($37); and American wagyu short rib suadero with avocado, shishito and tomatillo ($59).
Best Chef – Mountain: Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton, Denver, Colorado
What began as a food truck in 2019 has been operating as a brick-and mortar-restaurant since 2023. Chef Penelope Wong recommends the chili oil wontons and the tom kha wontons.
Best Chef – Northeast: Evan Hennessey of Stages, Dover, New Hampshire
Chef Evan Hennessey is no stranger to the James Beard Awards — he’s been a James Beard Semifinalist twice. Sages specializes in progressive New England cuisine, with a tasting menu priced at $175 per person.
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Best Chef – Midwest: Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, Missouri
Balkan Treat Box started as a food truck in 2016, expanding to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2019. It specializes in Balkan food, including cevapi, a small grilled minced-meat sausage.
Best Chef – South: Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, Louisiana
This Senegalese fine-dining restaurant offers a seven-course $175 tasting menu at a table for six.
Best Chef – Texas: Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of JŪN, Houston, Texas
Created by “Top Chef stars” Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN offers New American cuisine with influence from Chinese, Mexican and Salvadorian flavors. Order à la carte or opt for the $85 tasting menu.
Best Chef –Mid-Atlantic: Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
After nine nominations, Jesse Ito finally won a James Beard Award. His Michelin Bib Gourmand izakaya is walk-in only with an exclusive omakase counter in the back.
Best Chef – Southeast: Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, North Carolina
The 50-acre farm was founded in 2018 and features a restaurant serving dishes with many ingredients grown on the farm.
Best Chef – New York State: Hooni Kim of Meju, Queens, New York
Located behind a banchan shop, this Michelin-starred Korean restaurant offers dinner for $235 per person.
Best Chef – California: Dave Beran of Seline, Santa Monica, California
Open since 2024, Seline offers a 14-17-course tasting menu of Californian cuisine priced at $295 per person.
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Best New Restaurant: Lei, New York, NY
Lei is a Michelin-recommended 28-seat Chinese-inspired wine bar in Chinatown. Owner Annie Shi’s top three recommendations are: the hand-rolled cat’s ear noodle with lamb braised in cumin and tomato ($27); sweet and sour beef short rib ($38); and chilled celtuce with kombu jelly, shallots and red vinegar ($16).
Outstanding Hospitality: Providence, Los Angeles, California
This three Michelin-starred sustainable seafood restaurant has been around since 2005. Tasting menus are priced at $375-$495.
Outstanding Restaurateur: Dana Street of Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, Maine
Dana Street owns an impressive portfolio of restaurants in Maine, including New American restaurant Fore Street (since 1996), seafood restaurant Scales (since 2016) and bakery Standard Baking Co (since 1995).
Outstanding Restaurant: Kalaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This Michelin-recommended Thai restaurant is named after owner Chutatip Suntaranon’s mother. Order à la carte or do a tasting for $85 per person. Suntaranon recommends the gaeng pae, a goat and lamb curry with toasted coconut, served with pickled cucumbers and coconut-turmeric rice ($35).
Outstanding Chef: Michael Tusk of Quince, San Francisco, California
Created in 2003, Quince has held three Michelin stars since 2016. The fine-dining restaurant specializes in California cuisine and offers a $220 five-course lunch and an 8-10-course dinner option.
