Chef Jesse Ito prepares sushi while wearing a white chef shirt at his restaurant Royal Sushi and Izakaya in Philadelphia.

Uwishunu Published on April 3, 2024

2024 James Beard Awards: Philly Lands One Finalist, Two Leadership Honorees

More love for Philly's unstoppable food scene...

Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi and Izakaya Photo courtesy Royal Sushi & Izakaya

’Tis the season: The finalist selections are in for the James Beard Awards, considered one of the premier awards in the food world. And after an incredible showing in 2023, one Philadelphia chef looks to keep a top prize in the city.

Jesse Ito of Queen Village’s Royal Sushi & Izakaya and its signature sushi omakase experience proudly represents Philadelphia as a finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic — the crown currently held by Philly’s own Chutatip ‘Nok’ Suntaranon of Kalaya.

No stranger to the Beards with two previous nominations, Ito was selected from a strong pool of semifinalists, which included nine talented local chefs and restaurants.

A spread of menu items including kinpira gobo, salmon, peppers and sake are displayed on a wood tabletop at Royal Sushi and Izakaya in Philadelphia.

Two members of Philly’s culinary community, Muhammad Abdul-Hadi and Christa Barfield, will join Ito as Leadership Honorees at the awards ceremony on June 10, 2024.

The foundation’s Leadership Awards are reserved for individuals and organizations committed to creating “a safer, more healthful, equitable and sustainable food world.”

Abdul-Hadi leads Down North, a North Philly restaurant serving up Detroit-style “pizza with a purpose” and exclusively employing formerly incarcerated individuals, whereas Barfield founded FarmerJawn, a 128-acre working farm committed to making fresh, organic food and information about urban farming accessible to underserved Philadelphia communities via a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, storefronts and educational programs.

Muhammad Abdul-Hadi of Down North Pizza and Down North Foundation — Photo courtesy Down North Foundation

Ito, Abdul-Hadi and Barfield are a part of a long line of local talent that have made their mark at the Beards.

Last year, Philly nabbed six nominations with Chad and Hanna Williams of Friday Saturday Sunday; Toby Maloney of Hop Sing Laundromat; and Ellen Yin of Fork, a.kitchen + bar and High Street joining Nok as winners.

Find the complete list of 2024 finalists here, and stay tuned for more to come on the winning restaurants and chefs.

In the meantime, check out our guide to Philadelphia’s James Beard Foundation-honored restaurants for even more critically acclaimed restaurants in Philadelphia and the Countryside.

Come for Philadelphia. Stay (Over) for Philly.

It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!

Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.

book now