With 2025 fresh underway, several Chicago chefs and restaurants have received a prestigious honor, being named among the semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation Award, lauding the finest restaurants, chefs, bars, bakeries and more in America’s culinary scene.
The expansive awards feature numerous different categories, with some honoring chefs and restaurants by region.
Award categories range from Outstanding Restaurateur and Outstanding Chef to Emerging Chef, Best New Restaurant and Outstanding Hospitality.
Overall, Chicago was represented a remarkable 22 times among 2025’s semifinalists, including comprising half of the foundation’s 20 semifinalists for Best Chef in the Great Lakes region, which also includes Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Nominees for the award will then be announced on April 2, with winners later revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 16.
Below is a look at the Chicago establishments and chefs who were named as James Beard semifinalists:
Outstanding Restaurateur
Brian Jupiter and Aaron Torricelli, Pioneer Tavern Group (Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern)Outstanding Chef
Lee Wolen, BokaOutstanding Restaurant
GalitEmerging Chef
Jacob Potashnick, FeldBest New Restaurant
CariñoOutstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Leigh Omilinsky, DaisiesOutstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
ElskeOutstanding Bar
KumikoBest New Bar
Bisous TruceOutstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Thomas Kakalios, Asador BastianOutstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Christopher Marty, Best IntentionsBest Chef: Great Lakes
Marcos Ascencio, Mariscos San Pedro Thai Dang, HaiSous Diana Davila, Mi Tocaya Antojería Bo Fowler, BiXi Beer Joe Frillman, Daisies Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading Lamar Moore, ETC Noah Sandoval, Oriole Sujan Sarkar, Indienne Zeeshan Shah and Yoshi Yamada, Superkhana InternationalMore information on this year’s semifinalists and the full list can be found here.
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