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The James Beard Foundation® announced today its 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. The full list of 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists can be found below and on the James Beard Foundation website.
We are excited to see eight DFW names in various categories, including some new ones!
The James Beard Awards®, considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to creating a culture where all can thrive. 2025 marks an incredible milestone: the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards. This year’s ceremony will commemorate the transformative role the Awards have played in recognizing culinary excellence and shaping the evolution of American food culture, while reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to leading and supporting the industry for years to come.
Congrats to these eight well-deserved DFW chefs and eateries that are honored as semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards!
The DFW semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards are….
Emerging Chef: RJ Yoakum of Georgie
Best New Restaurant: Mābo
Outstanding Bakery: Starship Bagel (Lewisville)
Outstanding Bar: Apothecary
Best New Bar: Bar Colette
Best Chef: Texas: Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks of Smoke’N Ash BBQ (Arlington), Anais Paniagua and Iris Rojas of Doña Maria (Irving), as well as Regino Rojas of Purépecha.
About the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards
The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990, with the first Awards given in 1991—celebrate excellence across all types of dining experiences, from fine dining to casual establishments, and are one of several recognition programs of the Awards. In celebration of the Awards’ pivotal anniversary, as well as in recognition of the ever-evolving independent restaurant landscape, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards have expanded with a focus on beverages, introducing three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
The Restaurant and Chef Award nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Visit the James Beard Foundation website for more information on the James Beard Awards, the Restaurant and Chef Awards process and eligibility guidelines, and Awards policies and procedures.
Photo credit: Eliesa Johnson
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