You probably think the James Beard Awards are just about fancy white tablecloths and tiny portions. Honestly? That’s not the vibe anymore. The James Beard winners 2025 list just dropped, and it’s a wild mix of high-end Korean tasting menus, a Minneapolis bistro that's basically impossible to get into, and a Dallas restaurant changing lives through the juvenile justice system.
The gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago wasn't just a party; it was a shift. New York City absolutely cleaned up this year, snagging three of the six biggest national titles. But if you think the "flyover states" got ignored, you're dead wrong. From a bakery in Tulsa to a noodle house in Philly, the 2025 roster proves that the best food in America isn't just happening in the usual zip codes.
The Big Three: New York’s Massive Night
It’s been a minute since one city dominated like this. New York took home Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Hospitality, and Outstanding Restaurateur.
Jungsik Yim of Jungsik grabbed the Outstanding Chef medal. If you haven't been, Jungsik is basically the pioneer of "New Korean" fine dining. It’s pricey, sure, but after earning three Michelin stars earlier in the year, this Beard win feels like the final seal of approval. Then you've got Atomix winning for Outstanding Hospitality. At Atomix, it’s not just about the food; it’s about how they make you feel. Every course comes with a little card explaining the ingredients and the cultural context. It’s educational but somehow not annoying.
Then there’s the duo of Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr. These guys are the brains behind Frenchette, Le Rock, and the newly revived Le Veau d’Or. They won Outstanding Restaurateur, and honestly, it’s well-deserved. They’ve managed to make French food feel cool again without the stuffiness that usually comes with it.
Why Best New Restaurant Went to Minneapolis
Everyone was betting on a Vegas or LA spot for Best New Restaurant. Instead, the medal went to Bûcheron in Minneapolis.
Bûcheron is run by Adam and Jeanie Ritter. It’s a neighborhood bistro that treats French technique like a playground. Think of it as "refined comfort." The fact that a Minneapolis spot beat out the coastal heavyweights tells you everything you need to know about where the food scene is heading. People want soul, not just a "concept."
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The Rise of the "New Categories"
The Foundation added some specific beverage awards this year to stop ignoring the people who actually make your night fun.
- Identidad Cocktail Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico, won the first-ever Best New Bar award.
- Arjav Ezekiel from Birdie’s in Austin took home Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. If you’ve ever tried to get a table at Birdie’s, you know the wine program is half the draw.
- Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez from Superbueno in NYC won for Cocktail Service. Superbueno is basically a high-energy Mexican-American party in bar form.
Best Chef Regional Winners You Need to Know
The regional categories are usually where the real "foodie" travel lists get made. This year’s winners are a total vibe check of the country.
Phila Lorn of Mawn in Philadelphia won Emerging Chef. Phila’s story is incredible. He’s the son of Cambodian refugees, and he’s cooking noodles in a space that used to belong to another Beard winner, Kalaya. It’s full circle.
In the South, Nando Chang won Best Chef: South for Itamae AO in Miami. If you like Nikkei cuisine (Japanese-Peruvian fusion), this is your Mecca. Meanwhile, Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast in Spring, Texas, proved you don’t have to be in downtown Houston to be a world-class chef.
Over in the Southwest, Yotaka Martin of Lom Wong in Phoenix took the win. Lom Wong isn't your standard Thai takeout; it’s deep-dive regional Thai cooking that’ll blow your mind.
The Soul of the Awards: America’s Classics
The "America's Classics" category is where the Beard Foundation honors the legends. These aren't the newest or the trendiest. They’re the places that have been the heartbeat of their communities for decades.
- Dooky Chase (New Orleans, LA): This place is legendary. It was a meeting spot for Civil Rights leaders like MLK Jr. The Chase family still runs it, and the fried chicken is still some of the best on the planet.
- Lem’s Bar-B-Q (Chicago, IL): A South Side institution since 1954. Carmen Lemons is keeping the rib tip legacy alive.
- Gaido’s (Galveston, TX): It’s been around for 114 years. You go for the Gulf seafood and the history.
- Lucky Wishbone (Anchorage, AK): A pilot’s town favorite since the 50s. It’s all about the fried chicken and the nostalgia.
- The Pioneer Saloon (Ketchum, ID): If you want to feel like Hemingway in the mountains, this is where you eat steak.
Toni Tipton-Martin and the Lifetime Achievement
You can't talk about the James Beard winners 2025 without mentioning Toni Tipton-Martin. She won the Lifetime Achievement Award, and it’s about time. She’s a culinary historian who has spent her life documenting Black food traditions in America. Her books, like Jubilee and The Jemima Code, changed how we talk about American food history. She’s currently the editor-in-chief of Cook's Country, and her influence is everywhere.
The Humanitarian of the Year went to Chad Houser of Cafe Momentum. His Dallas restaurant isn't just a place to eat; it’s a non-profit that employs and trains young people coming out of the juvenile justice system. Chad’s work is a reminder that restaurants can be more than just businesses. They can be safety nets.
What This Means for Your Next Dinner Out
So, what’s the takeaway here? Basically, the "Beard effect" is real. If you want to eat at any of these places, you better set your Resy alerts now.
Reservations for places like Frasca Food and Wine (the Boulder restaurant that won Outstanding Restaurant) or Oriole (where Noah Sandoval won Best Chef: Great Lakes) are going to be like gold dust.
But also, don’t ignore the smaller categories. Jinju Patisserie in Portland won Outstanding Bakery. Cat Cox of Country Bird Bakery in Tulsa won for Pastry Chef. These are the spots where you can still get a taste of greatness without a $300 tasting menu.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the 2025 Winners
If you're planning a food tour based on the 2025 results, keep these things in mind:
- Book Mid-Week: Don't even try for a Saturday night at a winner like Bûcheron or Mawn. Aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Lunch is the Secret: Many of these chefs have "easier" lunch services or casual sister restaurants.
- Check the Media Winners: If you can't travel, buy the books. Nicola Twilley’s Frostbite (Literary Writing winner) is a fascinating look at how refrigeration changed our world. Or grab Ashleigh Shanti’s Our South for some incredible recipes.
- Look Beyond the Cities: Winners like Salvador Alamilla in Caldwell, Idaho, or Timothy Wastell in Amity, Oregon, show that destination dining is often worth the drive.
The 2025 awards felt less like a coronation of the elite and more like a celebration of people who actually care about their craft and their community. Whether it's a 114-year-old seafood joint in Texas or a high-concept Korean spot in Manhattan, the thread connecting them all is a refusal to settle for "good enough."