Houston made an excellent exhibiting on this yr’s James Beard Award semifinalists.
The wait is lastly over. The James Beard Awards, also known as the “Oscars of meals,” has introduced its semifinalist checklist this morning. This yr, 13 Houston-area eating places made the checklist, together with six for Greatest Chef: Texas and 7 in nationwide classes.
The award is essentially the most prestigious within the American culinary group—other than Michelin, in fact. The James Beard Basis counts on lots of of judges to go on year-round quests to seek out essentially the most distinctive expertise. And we’d be mendacity if we stated we aren’t jealous of all of the meals they get to strive.
Notable Houston eating places and cooks who made the reduce for the 2025 semifinalist checklist embrace Ema for Greatest New Restaurant, March for Excellent Wine and Different Drinks Program, and Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó for Greatest Chef: Texas. (See the complete checklist under.)
These gifted semifinalists at the moment are a part of a listing of cooks that dates again to 1991, when the inaugural awards had been held. They’re named after America’s first “foodie,” James Beard, who wrote a number of cookbooks, turned the host of the nation’s first meals program, and established the James Beard Cooking college.
Final yr, just one Houston chef superior to the nominee spherical: Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó for Greatest Chef: Texas, however he in the end fell wanting an award. Nevertheless, in 2023, chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter, the proprietor of Thai restaurant Avenue to Kitchen, gained the class. In 2022, Alba Huerta’s cocktail bar, Julep, made headlines for its historic win of Houston’s first award in a nationwide class, with recognition for Excellent Bar Program. And when Texas was lumped into Greatest Chef: Southwest previous to 2020, Hugo Ortega and Chris Shepherd each took dwelling awards.
Right here’s hoping the 2025 awards are type to Houston cooks and love them simply as a lot as we do. The winners might be introduced on the June ceremony in Chicago. Now, the second you’ve all been ready for—drumroll, please—we current to you, Houston’s semifinalists.
Editor’s observe: Some SagaCity Media workers members serve on the James Beard Awards committee.
The 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalists
March will get a nod for its spectacular wine and beverage program.
Houston Semifinalists in Nationwide Classes
Rising Chef: Suu Khin, Burmalicious
Greatest New Restaurant: Ema
Excellent Bakery: Koffeteria
Excellent Skilled in Beverage Service: Andres Blanco, Le Jardinier
Excellent Restaurateur: Martin and Sara Stayer, Nobie’s, Toasted Coconut, and Nonno’s
Excellent Restaurateur: Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Sof Hospitality (Hamsa, Doris Metropolitan, and Badolina Bakery)
Excellent Wine and Different Drinks Program: March
Jun, a semifinalist for Greatest New Restaurant final yr, now shines with Evelyn Garcia within the Greatest Chef: Texas class.
Houston-Space Semifinalists in Greatest Chef: Texas Class
David Skinner, Ishtia (Kemah)
Evelyn Garcia, Jūn
Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
Thomas Bille, Stomach of the Beast (Spring)
Beatriz Martines, Xalisko (The Woodlands)
James Beard Semifinalists Elsewhere in Texas
Rising Chef: RJ Yoakum, Georgie (Dallas)
Greatest New Bar: Bar Colette (Dallas)
Greatest New Restaurant: Mābo (Dallas)
Greatest New Restaurant: Lao’d Bar (Austin)
Excellent Bakery: Starship Bagel (Lewisville)
Excellent Bar: Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar (Austin)
Excellent Bar: Apothecary (Dallas)
Excellent Chef: David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin)
Excellent Chef: Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje (Austin)
Excellent Hospitality: Mixtli (San Antonio)
Excellent Pastry Chef or Baker: Mateo Herrera, La Puerta del Sol (El Paso)
Excellent Skilled in Beverage Service: Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s (Austin)
Excellent Restaurant: Elemi (El Paso)
Excellent Wine and Different Drinks Program: Taconeta (El Paso)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Eugenio Uribe, Le Rêve (Brownsville)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo (Marfa)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Alexandra Gates, Cochineal (Marfa)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Fasicka and Patrick Hicks, Smoke’N Ash BBQ (Arlington)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Iris Rojas and Anais Paniagua, Doña Maria (Irving)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Evan LeRoy, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue (Austin)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Masazumi Saio and Takéhiro Asazu, Uroko (Austin)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Leo Davila, Stixs & Stone (San Antonio)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Brenda and Alex Sarmiento, El Pastor Es Mi Señor (San Antonio)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Regino Rojas, Purépecha (Dallas)
Greatest Chef: Texas: John Ramos and Jonathan Reyes, Chika (San Antonio)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Greatest High quality Daughter (San Antonio)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre (San Antonio)
Greatest Chef: Texas: Gray Hwang, Shiro Japanese Bistro (San Antonio)
