Today, we are announcing our 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, March 29, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991—are one of five separate recognition programs of the Awards. The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including the new Award for Outstanding Bakery. James Beard Awards policies and procedures can be viewed here.
Check out the 2023 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists below:
Mohamed Ali Alkassar and Niven Patel, Alpareno Restaurant Group (Ghee Indian Kitchen, Orno, and Mamey), Miami, FL
Brandon Chrostowski, EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute (EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, edwins too, EDWINS Bakery, and others), Cleveland, OH
Krista Cole, Sur Lie and Gather Restaurant, Portland, ME
Greg Dulan, Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, Hotville Chicken, and Dulanville Food Truck, Los Angeles, CA
Laile Fairbairn, Locally Grown Restaurants (Snow City Cafe, South Restaurant + Coffeehouse, and Spenard Roadhouse), Anchorage, AK
Sims and Kirsten Harlow Foster, Foster Supply Hospitality (The DeBruce, Arnold House Tavern, and Kenoza Hall), NY
Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons, and Elie Yigo, City Grit Hospitality Group (SmallSUGAR, CITY GRIT, and Il Focolare Pizzeria), Columbia, SC
Yuka Ioroi and Kris Toliao, Cassava, San Francisco, CA
Michael and Tara Gallina and Aaron Martinez, Take Root Hospitality (Vicia, Winslow's Table, Bistro La Floraison, and others), St. Louis, MO
Clinton Gray, Derrick Moore, and Emanuel Reed, Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria, Nashville, TN
Johnna Hayes and Debra Zinke, 3 Sirens Restaurant Group (Bird & Bottle, Holé Molé, Shakey Jakes, and others), Tulsa, OK
Amy and Jason Kerstein, Joe Muench, and Dan Sidner, Black Shoe Hospitality (Story Hill BKC and Buttermint Finer Dining & Cocktails), Milwaukee, WI
Sandy Levine, Freya, Chartreuse, and The Oakland, Detroit, MI
Albert McDonald, The Mint, Pizza Campania, and Backcountry Burger Bar, Bozeman, MT
Yenvy and Quynh Pham, Phở Bắc Sup Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat, Seattle, WA
Michael Reginbogin and Jason Berry, KNEAD Hospitality + Design (MI VIDA, Lil’ SUCCOTASH, and GATSBY), Washington, D.C.
Jimmy and Johnny Tung, Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, Doshi, and Camille, Orlando, FL
Matt Husted, Erika Whitaker, and Kelly Whitaker, ID EST Hospitality Group (Basta, The Wolf's Tailor, BRUTØ, and others), Boulder, CO
Chris Williams, Lucille's Hospitality Group, Houston, TX
Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, a.kitchen + bar, High Street Philly, and others), Philadelphia, PA
Junior Borges, Meridian, Dallas, TX
Nina Compton, Compère Lapin, New Orleans, LA
Greg Collier, Leah & Louise, Charlotte, NC
Renee Erickson, The Walrus and the Carpenter, Seattle, WA
Shigeru Fukuyoshi, Sagami, Collingswood, NJ
Christine Ha and Tony J. Nguyen, Xin Chào, Houston, TX
Andrew Le, The Pig and the Lady, Honolulu, HI
Johnny Leach, The Town Company, Kansas City, MO
Rachel Miller, Nightshade Noodle Bar, Lynn, MA
Eder Montero and Alex Raij, La Vara, Brooklyn, NY
David Nayfeld, Che Fico, San Francisco, CA
Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, CA
Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO
Erik Ramirez, Llama Inn, Brooklyn, NY
Dana Rodriguez, Super Mega Bien, Denver, CO
Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.
Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café, Phoenix, AZ
Michael Schwartz, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Miami, FL
David Vargas, Vida Cantina, Portsmouth, NH
Outstanding Restaurant Presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water
Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, Boulder, UT
Proper Meats + Provisions, Flagstaff, AZ
Emerging Chef Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Bernard Bennett, Ọkàn, Bluffton, SC
Victoria Elizondo, Cochinita & Co., Houston, TX
Julio Hernandez, Maiz de la Vida, Nashville, TN
Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti, Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter, San Antonio, TX
Vinh Le, Cicada Coffee Bar, Cambridge, MA
Amado Lopez, Casa Amado Taqueria, Berkley, MI
Christian Lowe, Shift Kitchen & Bar, Flagstaff, AZ
Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA
Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, Cafe Ohlone, Berkeley, CA
Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, New York, NY
Bo Porytko, Misfit SnackBar, Denver, CO
Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, PA
Kevin Smith, Beast & Cleaver, Seattle, WA
Elias Taddesse, Mélange, Washington, D.C.
Best New Restaurant Presented by BentoBox
Don Artemio Mexican Heritage, Fort Worth, TX
Heavy Metal Sausage Co., Philadelphia, PA
Heff's Burger Club, Winston-Salem, NC
Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining, Chicago, IL
Sambou's African Kitchen, Jackson, MS
Outstanding Bakery Presented by Guinness
Angelo Brocato Ice Cream & Confectionery, New Orleans, LA
Buena Gente Cuban Bakery, Decatur, GA
Denise's Delicacies, Philadelphia, PA
Grist Milling & Bakery, Missoula, MT
Haymaker Bun Company, Middlebury, VT
JL Patisserie, Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ
La Patisserie Chouquette, St. Louis, MO
normal® ice cream, Salt Lake City, UT
Unforgettable Bakery & Cafe, Savannah, GA
Yasukochi’s Sweet Stop, San Francisco, CA
Veronika Gerasimova, Veronika's Pastry Shop, Billings, MT
Manuel and Jesús Brazón, Caracas Bakery, Doral, FL
Vince Bugtong, ABACÁ, San Francisco, CA
Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería, Austin, TX
Ismael de Sousa, Reunion Bread Co, Denver, CO
Nora Faye Allen, Mel the Bakery, New York, NY
Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME
Andrew Hutchison, Madison Sourdough, Madison, WI
Michelle Karr-Ueoka, MW Restaurant, Honolulu, HI
Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, AZ
Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles, CA
Noelle Marchetti, Yolan, Nashville, TN
Shawn McKenzie, Café Cerés, Minneapolis, MN
Camari Mick, The Musket Room, New York, NY
Jeremy Mandrell and Anne Ng, Bakery Lorraine, San Antonio, TX
Kareem Queeman, Mr. Bake, Riverdale, MD
Emily Riddell, Machine Shop, Philadelphia, PA
Phillip Ashley Rix, Phillip Ashley Chocolates, Memphis, TN
Elaine Uykimpang Bentz, Café Mochiko, Cincinnati, OH
Amanda Wildermuth, Honey Road, Burlington, VT
Outstanding Hospitality Presented by American Airlines
Here's Looking at You, Los Angeles, CA
House of Prime Rib, San Francisco, CA
The Restaurant at 1900, Mission Woods, KS
Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia, PA
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Commander's Palace, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Bar Presented by Hilton
Esters Wine Shop & Bar, Santa Monica, CA
Garagiste Wine Room | Merchant, Las Vegas, NV
Post Office Place, Salt Lake City, UT
Weathered Souls Brewing Company, San Antonio, TX
Best Chefs Presented by Capital One (by region)
Jonathan Bautista, Kingfisher, San Diego, CA
Rocio Camacho, Rocio's Mexican Kitchen, Bell Gardens, CA
Val M. Cantú, Californios, San Francisco, CA
Gilberto Cetina Jr., Holbox, Los Angeles, CA
Kyle and Katina Connaughton, SingleThread, Healdsburg, CA
Brandon Hayato Go, Hayato, Los Angeles, CA
Srijith Gopinathan, Ettan, Palo Alto, CA
Matthew Kammerer, The Harbor House Inn, Elk, CA
Intu-on Kornnawong, Jo's Modern Thai, Oakland, CA
Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, Moo's Craft Barbecue, Los Angeles, CA
Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks, CA
Michael Reed, Poppy & Seed, Anaheim, CA
Carlos Salgado, Taco María, Costa Mesa, CA
Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada, Los Angeles, CA
James Syhabout, Commis, Oakland, CA
Craig Takehara, Binchoyaki, Sacramento, CA
Pim Techamuanvivit, Kin Khao, San Francisco, CA
Robbie Wilson, Le Fantastique, San Francisco, CA
Akira Yoshizumi, Sushi Yoshizumi, San Mateo, CA
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Francisco Alfaro, Mid-City Restaurant, Cincinnati, OH
Omar Anani, Saffron De Twah, Detroit, MI
Abra Berens, Granor Farm, Three Oaks, MI
Becky Clark, Little Fish Brewing Co., Athens, OH
Diana Dávila, Mi Tocaya Antojería, Chicago, IL
Paul Fehribach, Big Jones, Chicago, IL
Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago, IL
Norberto Garita, El Barzon, Detroit, MI
Hideki and Yuko Harada, Kiki, Cincinnati, OH
Andy Hollyday, Selden Standard, Detroit, MI
Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor, MI
Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland, OH
BJ Lieberman, Chapman's Eat Market, Columbus, OH
Mamba Hamissi and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit, MI
Abbi Merriss, Bluebeard, Indianapolis, IN
Zubair Mohajir, Wazwan, Chicago, IL
Samir Mohammad, 9th Street Bistro, Noblesville, IN
Michael Ransom, Ima Izakaya, Detroit, MI
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Chris Amendola, foraged. a hyper-seasonal eatery, Baltimore, MD
Joy Crump, FOODE, Fredericksburg, VA
David Deshaies, L'Ardente, Washington, D.C.
Nik Forsberg, Fet-Fisk, Pittsburgh, PA
Rahman "Rock" Harper, Queen Mother's, Arlington, VA
Andrew Henshaw, Laser Wolf, Philadelphia, PA
Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi, Philadelphia, PA
Dionicio Jiménez, Cantina La Martina, Philadelphia, PA
Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, Apteka, Pittsburgh, PA
Enrique Limardo, Seven Reasons, Washington, D.C.
Philip Manganaro, Park Place Café & Restaurant, Merchantville, NJ
Melissa McGrath, Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen, Newfield, NJ
Thanh Nguyen, Gabriella's Vietnam, Philadelphia, PA
Peter Prime, Bammy's, Washington, D.C.
Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.
Ryan Ratino, Bresca, Washington, D.C.
Omar Rodriguez, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, Washington, D.C.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia, PA
Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)
Sanaa Abourezk, Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean, Sioux Falls, SD
Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis, MN
Samuel Charles, Rodina, Cedar Rapids, IA
Rob Connoley, Bulrush, St. Louis, MO
Michael Corvino, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Kansas City, MO
Nick Goellner, The Antler Room, Kansas City, MO
Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, EsterEv, Milwaukee, WI
Gregory León, Amilinda, Milwaukee, WI
Pam Liberda, Waldo Thai, Kansas City, MO
Francesco Mangano, Osteria Papavero, Madison, WI
Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, Fairchild, Madison, WI
Loryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, MO
Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN
Joseph Raney, Skogen Kitchen, Custer, SD
Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, Saint Paul, MN
Paul and Jessica Urban, Block 16, Omaha, NE
David Utterback, Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE
Adam VanDonge, The White Linen, Topeka, KS
Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen, Minneapolis, MN
Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)
Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID
Michael Annandono, Michaelangelo's Big Sky, Big Sky, MT
Jose Avila, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Denver, CO
Andy Blanton, Cafe Kandahar, Whitefish, MT
Paul Chamberlain and Logen Crew, SLC Eatery, Salt Lake City, UT
Michael Diaz de Leon, BRUTØ, Denver, CO
Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Salt Lake City, UT
Briar Handly, HANDLE, Park City, UT
Suchada Johnson, Teton Thai, Teton Village, WY
Young-Ho Kang and Peter Kim, The Angry Korean, South Jordan, UT
Chris Lockhart and Danny Mowatt, PREROGATIvE Kitchen, Red Lodge, MT
Kibrom Milash, Kibrom's Ethiopian & Eritrean Food, Boise, ID
Paul Naugle, Izakaya Three Fish, Bozeman, MT
Cindhura Reddy, Spuntino, Denver, CO
Earl James Reynolds, Stone Hill Kitchen + Bar, Bigfork, MT
Ali Sabbah, Mazza, Salt Lake City, UT
Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO
Gerardo Alcaraz, Aldama, Brooklyn, NY
Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn, NY
Mary Attea, The Musket Room, New York, NY
Giovanni Cervantes, Taqueria Ramírez, Brooklyn, NY
Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy, New York, NY
Shenarri Freeman, Cadence, New York, NY
Charles Gabriel, Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, New York, NY
Anthony Gonçalves, The Restaurant at Kanopi, White Plains, NY
JJ Johnson, FIELDTRIP, New York, NY
Sohui Kim, Gage & Tollner, Brooklyn, NY
Shaina Loew-Banayan, Cafe Mutton, Hudson, NY
Paolo Garcia Mendoza, Karenderya, Nyack, NY
Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, New York, NY
Junghyun Park, Atomix, New York, NY
Franco Sampogna, Frevo, New York, NY
Hillary Sterling, Ci Siamo, New York, NY
Sohail Zandi, Brushland Eating House, Bovina, NY
Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Robert Andreozzi, Pizza Marvin, Providence, RI
Paul Callahan, Vino e Vivo, Exeter, NH
Jeffrey Fournier, Thompson House Eatery, Jackson, NH
Mojo Hancy-Davis, May Day, Burlington, VT
Valentine Howell, Krasi, Boston, MA
Christian Hunter, Community Table, New Preston, CT
Sara Jenkins, Nina June, Rockport, ME
Jason LaVerdiere, Flux, Lisbon Falls, ME
Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food & Beverage, Portland, ME
Alganesh Michael, A Taste of Abyssinia, South Burlington, VT
Yahya Noor, Tawakal Halal Cafe, Boston, MA
Tony Pastor, Fore Street, Portland, ME
Isaul Perez, Isa Bistro, Portland, ME
Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, RI
Yisha Siu, Yunnan Kitchen, Boston, MA
Ellie Tiglao, Tanám, Somerville, MA
Renee Touponce, The Port of Call, Mystic, CT
Milena Pagán, Little Sister, Providence, RI
Douglass Williams, MIDA, Boston, MA
Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)
Nathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, AK
Brian Hirata, Na‘au, Hawai‘i Island, HI
Jonathan Jones, Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails, Salem, OR
Melissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle, WA
David Nichols, Eight Row, Seattle, WA
Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland, OR
Crystal Platt, Lion & Owl, Eugene, OR
Beau Schooler, In Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, AK
Sheldon Simeon, Tiffany's, Wailuku, HI
Mutsuko Soma, Kamonegi, Seattle, WA
Renee Trafton, Beak Restaurant, Sitka, AK
Robert Urquidi, Ethel's Grill, Honolulu, HI
Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle, WA
Lee Anne Wong, Papa‘aina, Lahaina, HI
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
Sam Fore, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, Lexington, KY
Josh Habiger, Bastion, Nashville, TN
Ronald Hsu and Aaron Phillips, Lazy Betty, Atlanta, GA
Daniel "Dano" Heinze, Vern's, Charleston, SC
Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, GA
Dayna Lee-Márquez, Comal 864, Greenville, SC
Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor, Heirloom Market BBQ, Atlanta, GA
Josiah McGaughey, Vivian, Asheville, NC
Ramin Mirzakhani, Laury's Restaurant, Charleston, WV
Trevor Moran, Locust, Nashville, TN
Keith Rhodes, Catch, Wilmington, NC
Isaiah Screetch, Spark Community Café, Versailles, KY
Jessica Shillato, Spotted Salamander, Columbia, SC
Sahar Siddiqi, Chai Pani, Decatur, GA
Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV
Stephanie Tyson, Sweet Potatoes, Winston-Salem, NC
Deborah VanTrece, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Atlanta, GA
Preeti Waas, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, Raleigh, NC
Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)
Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith, Saint-Germain, New Orleans, LA
Timon Balloo, The Katherine, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jeremy and Cindy Bearman, Oceano Kitchen, Lantana, FL
Ana Castro, Lengua Madre, New Orleans, LA
Fernando, Nando, and Valerie Chang, Itamae, Miami, FL
Francis Guzmán, Vianda, San Juan, PR
Amarys Koenig Herndon and Jordan Herndon, Palm & Pine, New Orleans, LA
Timothy Hontzas, Johnny's Restaurant, Homewood, AL
Alex Perry and Kumi Omori, Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS
Rick Mace, Tropical Smokehouse, West Palm Beach, FL
Melissa M. Martin, Mosquito Supper Club, New Orleans, LA
Pushkar Marathe, Stage, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, Orlando, FL
Charly Pierre, Fritai, New Orleans, LA
Colleen Quarls and Liz Hollinger, Molly's Rise and Shine, New Orleans, LA
Rafael Rios, Yeyo's El Alma de Mexico, Bentonville, AR
Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette, New Orleans, LA
Natalia Vallejo, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, PR
Lojo Washington, Queen of Sheeba, West Palm Beach, FL
Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)
Oscar Amador, Anima by EDO, Las Vegas, NV
Rene Andrade, Roberto Centeno, and Derek Christensen, Bacanora, Phoenix, AZ
Kaoru Azeuchi, KAISEKI YUZU, Las Vegas, NV
Jaren Bates and Brett Vibber, The Table at Junipine, Sedona, AZ
Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City, OK
Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Oklahoma City, OK
Yip Cheung, Red Plate, Las Vegas, NV
Nephi Craig, Café Gozhóó, Whiteriver, AZ
Basit Gauba, Tikka Spice, Albuquerque, NM
Fernando Hernández, Testal, Phoenix, AZ
Jimmy Li, ShangHai Taste, Las Vegas, NV
Luis and Berenice Medina, El Chile Toreado, Santa Fe, NM
Yotaka and Alex Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ
Jenni Ford, The Love Apple, Taos, NM
Justin Pioche, Pioche Food Group, Upper Fruitland (Doolkai), Navajo Nation, NM
David Sellers, Horno Restaurant, Santa Fe, NM
Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack, San Antonio, TX
Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin, TX
Damien Brockway, Distant Relatives, Austin, TX
Reyna Duong, Sandwich Hag, Dallas, TX
Kareem El-Ghayesh, KG BBQ, Austin, TX
Jalen Heard, Lane Milne, and Jonny White, Goldee's Barbecue, Fort Worth, TX
Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia, and Sean Wen, Curry Boys BBQ, San Antonio, TX
Greg Gatlin, Gatlin’s BBQ, Houston, TX
Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen, Houston, TX
Olivia López and Jonathan Percival, Molino Olōyō, Dallas, TX
Enrique Lozano, El Charlatan, Socorro, TX
Emiliano Marentes, ELEMI, El Paso, TX
Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission, TX
Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, José, Dallas, TX
Regino Rojas, Revolver Taco Lounge, Dallas, TX
John Russ, Clementine, San Antonio, TX
Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin, TX
Jon Walter, Chez Sami, Wolfforth, TX
The James Beard Awards are Presented by Capital One
Premier Sponsors: American Airlines, Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water, HMSHost, and S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Mineral Water
Supporting Sponsors: Moët & Chandon
Reception Sponsors: Ecolab, Kendall College, and Windstar Cruises
Proud Hosts: Choose Chicago and Illinois Restaurant Association
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