Chicago has 22 James Beard Award semifinalists for 2025

Marking its 35th anniversary, the James Beard Foundation kicked off the 2025 awards season Wednesday morning with its “long list” of 2025 semifinalists, announcing 22 restaurants, bars, chefs and hospitality professionals from Chicago in the running for one of the prestigious awards. named after the famous pioneer chef. The 2025 gala will take place at the Lyric Opera in June, with the city also celebrating more than a decade of hosting the prestigious awards ceremony.

(* denotes a repeat candidate from previous years)

Exceptional restaurateur

*Brian Jupiter and Aaron Torricelli, Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern (Pioneer Tavern Group)

Exceptional chef

*Lee Wolen, Boka

Exceptional restaurant

Galit

Emerging chef

Jacob Potashnick, Field

Best New Restaurant

Carino

Exceptional pastry chef or baker

Leigh Omilinsky, Daisies

Exceptional wine and other drinks program

*Elske

Exceptional bar

Kumiko

Best new bar

Kisses

Truce

Outstanding Beverage Service Professional

Thomas Kakalios, Asador Bastian

*Marika Josephson and Aaron Kleidon, Scratch Brewing (Ava, IL)

Outstanding cocktail service professional

Christopher Marty, Best Intentions

Best Chef: Great Lakes

Marcos Ascenio, Mariscos San Pedro

*Thai Dang, HaiSous

*Diana Davila, Mi Tocaya Antojeria

Bo Fowler, BiXi beer

*Joe Frillman, Daisies

*Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading

Lamar Moore, etc.

*Noah Sandoval, Oriole

*Sujan Sarkar, Indian

Zeeshan Shah and Yoshi Yamada, Superkhana International

This list of semi-finalists reflects the restaurant and chef categories; finalists in these categories will be announced on April 2. Winners will be recognized at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards on Monday, June 16 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.