Philadelphia Scores 14 James Beard Award Semifinalist Nominations for 2025

Philly's restaurant scene sizzles with more than a dozen semifinalist noms for the coveted culinary awards ...

Kalaya Photo by D.Knoll for Visit Philadelphia

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.

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.

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