Asian Heritage, Global Impact: 2025 James Beard Award Finalists to Watch

Asian chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary teams are making an incredible mark on this year’s James Beard Awards. From modern Korean fine dining to vibrant Cambodian flavors and inventive Chinese fusion, Asian talent is shining across multiple categories.

This year’s finalists showcase the rich diversity and innovation within Asian culinary traditions, celebrating their heritage while pushing boundaries. Here’s a closer look at Asian excellence among the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award finalists.

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR

• Sue Chin and Jason Chin, Good Salt Restaurant Group (Seito Sushi, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Osprey, and others), Orlando, FL

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• Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective (Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You), Washington, D.C.

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OUTSTANDING CHEF Presented By Hilton

• Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY

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OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT Presented By Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water

•  Galit, Chicago, IL

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EMERGING CHEF Presented By S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

• Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, PA

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• Nikhil Naiker, NIMKI, Providence, RI

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• Jane Sacro Chatham, Vicia, St. Louis, MO

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

• Mābo, Dallas, TX

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• Ômo by Jônt, Winter Park, FL

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OUTSTANDING BAKERY

• JinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR

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OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF OR BAKER

• Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.

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OUTSTANDING HOSPITALITY

• Archipelago, Seattle, WA

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•  Atomix, New York, NY

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OUTSTANDING BAR   

• Kumiko, Chicago, IL

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BEST NEW BAR

• Bar Colette, Dallas, TX

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• Merai, Brookline, MA

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 OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL IN BEVERAGE SERVICE

• Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie's, Austin, TX

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BEST CHEFS PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE (BY REGION)

California

• Richard Lee, Saison, San Francisco, CA

• Tara Monsod, ANIMAE, San Diego, CA

• Kosuke Tada, Mijoté, San Francisco, CA

• Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA

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Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

• Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, IL

• Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading, Chicago, IL

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Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

• Henji Cheung, Queen's English, Washington, D.C.

• Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PA

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 Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

• Shigeyuki Furukawa, Kado no Mise, Minneapolis, MN

• Diane Moua, Diane's Place, Minneapolis, MN

• David Utterback, Ota and Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE

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Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

• Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO

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New York State

• Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY

• Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction Barbecue, Buffalo, NY

• Eiji Ichimura, Sushi Ichimura, New York, NY

• Atsushi Kono, Kono, New York, NY

• Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY

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Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

• Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI

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South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

• Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL

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Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

• Noam Bilitzer, MeeshMeesh Mediterranean, Louisville, KY
• Silver Iocovozzi, Neng Jr.'s, Asheville, NC

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Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

• Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ

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As the culinary world continues to evolve, these nominees remind us that food is not only a reflection of culture but also a powerful way to connect communities and tell stories. We celebrate the brilliance and creativity of these AAPI institutions who are continuously shaping the future of American dining.