We hope you’re hungry. The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the James Beard Awards are here — and several Austin chefs + restaurants made the cut.
From a celebrity pastry chef to a new Laotian American restaurant, let’s dig into the local people and places that are up for one of the culinary world’s highest honors.
Local semifinalists
Birdie’s has also earned nods from the Global Tastemakers Awards.
Photo by @mksrn
- Outstanding Chef | Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Canje
- Best New Restaurant | Lao’d Bar
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service | Arjav Ezekiel of Birdie’s
- Outstanding Bar | Techo Mexcaleria & Agave Bar
- Best Chef: Texas | Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio of Uroko + Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
What’s next?
Nominees will be named on Wednesday, April 2. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 16 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.
Can’t get enough? Check out our historical list of James Beard nominees and winners in ATX.
