Five Local Restaurants and Chefs Nominated for Prestigious James Beard Awards
Five Chicago-based restaurants and chefs have officially been nominated for the prestigious James Beard Awards, one of the highest honors in the culinary world.
The nominations follow the James Beard Foundation’s announcement of its 22 semi-finalists in January.
The awards recognize outstanding achievements in restaurants, bars, and hospitality, with top categories including Outstanding Restaurant, Best Chef, Best New Chef, and Best New Restaurant.
For 2025, the foundation has introduced new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
“Today, we are thrilled to announce the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees and Achievement Award honorees—including our first Impact Award recipients,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation.
“These remarkable leaders exemplify our ‘Good Food for Good’ mission through their commitment to excellence, to the evolution of the independent restaurant industry, and our broader food culture. We look forward to celebrating everyone at the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards in June.”
Chicago’s 2025 James Beard Award Nominees:
Outstanding Restaurant – Galit
Outstanding Bar – Kumiko
Best Chef: Great Lakes
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Thai Dang – HaiSous
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Chris Jung & Erling Wu-Bower – Maxwells Trading
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Noah Sandoval – Oriole
The 2025 James Beard Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, June 16, at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House. The city has proudly hosted the event for over a decade, according to Eater.
Learn more information here.