With the 2025 James Beard Awards fast approaching, anticipation of which chefs and restaurants will take home a win has been mounting. Today, the James Beard Foundation announced this year’s finalists, whittling down the list of semi-finalists announced back in January.
The James Beard Foundation recognizes leaders in the culinary and food media industries from around the country across 25 categories, and is commonly referred to as the “Oscars of the food world”. This year, in honor of the Awards’ milestone 35th anniversary, three new categories, including Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service, were incorporated.
These are the 2025 nominees for Dallas:
Emerging Chef
RJ Yoakum, Georgie
Best New Restaurant
Mabo
Best New Bar
Bar Colette
Outstanding Bakery
Starship Bagel
Humanitarian of the Year
Chad Houser of Cafe Momentum
Best Chef: Texas
Regino Rojas, Purépecha
Here is the complete list of Texas nominees in national categories:
Emerging Chef
RJ Yoakum, Georgie (Dallas)
Best New Restaurant
Ema (Houston)
Mabo (Dallas)
Best New Bar
Bar Colette (Dallas)
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s (Austin)
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
March (Houston)
Outstanding Bakery
Starship Bagel (Dallas)
Outstanding Hospitality
Mixtli (San Antonio)
Here is the complete list of nominees for Best Chef: Texas:
Thomas Billie — Belly of the Beast, Spring.
Emmanuel Chavez — Tatemó, Houston.
Emil Oliva – Leche de Tigre, San Antonio.
Regino Rojas — Purépecha, Dallas.
Michael Anthony Serva – Bordo, Marfa
The full list of finalists can be found at jamesbeard.org. The official restaurant and chef awards ceremony will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 16, with separate awards for media categories announced on Wednesday, May 7.
