The James Beard Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of the food world,” celebrated their 35th anniversary in 2025, honoring the finest talents in the culinary and food media industries. Held in Chicago on June 14 and 16, 2025, the awards recognized outstanding chefs, restaurateurs, bakers, bartenders, and media professionals across the United States. This article dives into the winners, new categories, and key highlights from the 2025 James Beard Awards, providing a clear and concise overview of this prestigious event.
Restaurant and Chef Awards: Winners and Categories
The James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards took place on June 16, 2025, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, hosted by chefs Nyesha Arrington and Andrew Zimmern. The ceremony highlighted culinary excellence across 25 categories, including three new beverage-focused awards introduced this year: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. Below is a list of key winners in major categories, sourced from reliable reports:
- 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
- Best New Restaurant: Mita, Washington, D.C.
- Outstanding Bakery: Gusto Bread, Long Beach, CA
- Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
- Outstanding Hospitality: Atomix, New York, NY
- Best New Bar: Strong Water, Anaheim, CA
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: (Not specified in available sources)
- Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Tobin Shea, Redbird, Los Angeles, CA
- Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.
- Best Chef: Great Lakes: Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, IL
- Best Chef: California: Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA
- Emerging Chef: (Not specified in available sources)
- Impact Awards: Angie Craig (U.S. Representative, Minnesota) and Anthony Edwards Jr. (co-founder of EatOkra)
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Toni Tipton-Martin, for her work documenting Black food traditions
- Humanitarian of the Year: Chad Houser, Cafe Momentum, Dallas, TX
For a full list of regional Best Chef winners and other categories, visit the James Beard Foundation website.
Media Awards: Recognizing Food Storytelling
The Media Awards, held on June 14, 2025, at Columbia College Chicago, honored excellence in cookbooks, journalism, and broadcast media. These awards celebrate professionals who bring food stories to life through writing, television, podcasts, and social media. Notable winners include:
- Audio Programming: Loading Dock Talks with Chef Preeti Mistry, “Cream Pie with Telly Justice” (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)
- Audio Reporting: Post Reports, “Bacon: The Best-Kept Secret in Washington” (Post Reports)
- Commercial Media: La Mera Mera Tamalera (YouTube)
- Documentary Visual Media: MARCELLA (PBS American Masters)
- Docuseries Visual Media: World Eats Bread (National Geographic Channel)
- Instructional Visual Media: G.O.A.T. (MasterClass)
- Lifestyle Visual Media: Relish (PBS, Passport, TPT, TPT-2, YouTube)
- Social Media Account: Little Fat Boy (Instagram, TikTok, Substack, YouTube)
- Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award: Ashok Selvam, Eater Chicago
- Cookbook Award: Ashleigh Shanti, Our South: Black Food Through My Lens
- Emerging Voice (Broadcast): Mohammed Shaqura and Hamada Sho, Gaza-based content creators
- Emerging Voice (Journalism): MacKenzie Chung Fegan, San Francisco Chronicle
- Emerging Voice (Cookbooks): Paola Velez, Bodega Bakes
- Investigative Reporting: The Outlaw Ocean Project for “The Whistleblower” (labor abuse and food safety in shrimp processing)
The Media Awards highlighted diverse voices, from Gaza-based creators to local journalists like Ashok Selvam, who covered Chicago’s evolving food scene.
New Categories and Evolving Priorities
The 2025 Awards introduced three beverage-focused categories to reflect the growing influence of bar culture and beverage professionals in hospitality. These additions underscore the Foundation’s commitment to recognizing the full spectrum of culinary arts, from sommeliers to bartenders. Additionally, the new Impact Awards honored individuals and organizations working toward a more equitable and sustainable food system, aligning with the Foundation’s “Good Food for Good” mission.
The James Beard Foundation also retired the Leadership Awards after 2024 and implemented updated policies to ensure transparency and inclusivity in the selection process. These changes address past criticisms, such as the lack of diversity in winners, and aim to celebrate a broader range of culinary talent.
Chicago’s Culinary Spotlight
Chicago, the host city for the 2025 Awards, shone brightly with its vibrant food scene. Local winners included Thai Dang of HaiSous for Best Chef: Great Lakes, and Lem’s Bar-B-Q, which received an America’s Classics Award for its 70-year legacy of serving rib tips and hot links. The events featured panel discussions on June 15 and 16, covering topics like food media, American food culture, and beverage service trends, in collaboration with Kendall College. A walk-around tasting reception at Union Station showcased dishes from Beard-recognized chefs nationwide.
Why the James Beard Awards Matter
The James Beard Awards are more than a celebration of culinary skill—they highlight innovation, community impact, and cultural storytelling through food. From New York’s Jungsik Yim to Los Angeles’ Gusto Bread, the 2025 winners represent the diversity and resilience of the American dining landscape. For diners, the awards serve as a guide to exceptional restaurants and bars, while for professionals, they offer a platform to amplify their voices and inspire change.
How to Stay Updated
To explore the full list of winners, nominees, and upcoming events, visit the James Beard Foundation website. Eater will also livestream the 2026 Awards, so stay tuned for more culinary excellence. For those inspired to dine at award-winning establishments, platforms like Resy offer reservations at many nominated restaurants.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 James Beard Awards celebrated a milestone year with new categories, diverse winners, and a renewed focus on equity and sustainability. From Chicago’s local heroes to national culinary icons, the Awards showcased the power of food to unite and inspire. Whether you’re a foodie or an industry professional, the 2025 winners offer a roadmap to some of the best dining experiences in the U.S.
