Philadelphia Scores 14 James Beard Award Semifinalist Nominations for 2025

Awards season is here for Philadelphia’s star-studded restaurant scene.

Each year, the James Beard Foundation recognizes the top culinary talent in America, awarding a few select restaurants and hospitality pros — including restauranteurs, chefs and mixologists — one of the most prestigious (and highly coveted) accolades in all of dining: a James Beard Award.

Philadelphia is no stranger to the Beards, racking up a whopping 70 honors and six wins in the last five years alone.

Friday Saturday Sunday   — Photo by D.Knoll for Visit Philadelphia

The journey toward the 35th annual James Beard Awards ceremony — taking place June 16, 2025 in Chicago — is just beginning, but Philly’s dining scene is off to an amazing start with local restaurants and chefs garnering 14 (!) semifinalist nominations this year.

The wide-ranging list of semifinalists includes:

• 2017 James Beard Award-winner for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, Greg Vernick of Vernick Fish for Outstanding Chef
• Kalaya, helmed by 2023’s winner for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, for Outstanding Restaurant
• Little Fish, fronted by Alex Yoon, for Outstanding Hospitality
• Càphê Roasters, Thu Pham’s Vietnamese specialty coffee roastery, for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
• Phila Lorn of Mawn for Emerging Chef
• Abigail Dahan of Provenance for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
• Emily Riddell’s boulangerie Machine Shop for Outstanding Bakery
• the Lovers Bar inside 2023’s Outstanding Restaurant winner, Friday Saturday Sunday, for Outstanding Bar, and
• Kampar Kongsi, Ange Branca’s Malaysian bar, for Outstanding New Bar.

A number of area talents are also up for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, including:

• Carlos Aparicio of El Chingón
• Yun Fuentes of Bolo
• Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya
• Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club, and
• Anthony Andiario of Andiaro in West Chester.

With thousands of restaurants vying for recognition, securing a semifinalist nomination is a big deal — HUGE, actually — for any restaurant or chef.

Next up, the official nominees will be announced in April, and winners will be crowned at the big awards ceremony in June.