Chicago's 2025 James Beard Awards Nominees

Get more recipes, food news, and stories at wttw.com/food or by signing up for our Deep Dish newsletter. 
Have a food story or recommendation? Email us at [email protected].

Nominees have been announced for the prestigious 2025 James Beard Awards that recognize people and businesses in the United States' food and hospitality industry. Chicago has five nominees this year, one more than last year's four. The city had 22 semifinalists announced for the Awards earlier this year. Winners will be revealed in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 16. 

Lula Cafe won Chicago's lone award last year, for Outstanding Hospitality. No Chicago restaurant is nominated in that category this year, but the city did notch nominations in two other national categories, with the other three falling in the regional Best Chef: Great Lakes category, which was dominated by Chicago chefs.

South Side stalwart Lem's Bar-B-Q was named one of "America's Classics" by the Awards earlier this year, a recognition of "locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that serve quality food and are beloved by their communities."

Additionally, Toni Tipton-Martin, the editor in chief of Cook's Country, which airs and is available to stream on PBS and WTTW, and a cookbook author and scholar, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Find Chicago's 2025 James Beard Award nominees below. 

Outstanding Restaurant

Galit - This Middle Eastern restaurant in Lincoln Park has a Michelin star and won Restaurant of the Year at last year's local Chicago Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence. Its chef, Zachary Engel, has a James Beard Award from a previous restaurant.

Outstanding Bar

Kumiko - Kumiko spotlights Japanese spirits in an elegant setting and has been on the list of the World's 50 Best Bars thanks to the direction of Julia Momosé.

Best Chef: Great Lakes

Thai Dang, HaiSous - Dang has been a semifinalist in this category for several years, for his Vietnamese food at HaiSous in Pilsen.

Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading - Wu-Bower was up for this category numerous times when he was at the bygone Nico Osteria. Now he has his own place, which was recently named Chicago magazine's best new restaurant. Jung was named Rising Chef of the Year at this year's local Jean Banchet Awards. 

Noah Sandoval, Oriole - Another perennial contender in this category, Sandoval runs a respected tasting menu restaurant that has kept two Michelin stars for years.