ACROSS AMERICA — Semifinalists were announced Wednesday for the prestigious 2023 James Beard Awards, sometimes referred to as the Oscars of the culinary arts industry.
Named for the late chef, cookbook author and food presenter James Beard, the awards “recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” the James Beard Foundation said Wednesday in a news release.
The semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including a new award for outstanding bakery.
Here is the complete list 2023 James Beard Award semifinalists:
Outstanding Restaurateur
- Al Coro, New York, New York
- The Backporch, Roundup, Montana
- Bar Spero, Washington, D.C.
- Birch & Rye, San Francisco, California
- Causa, Washington, D.C.
- Dept of Culture, New York, New York
- Don Artemio, Fort Worth, Texas
- Et Al., Tulsa, Oklahoma
- The Friar’s Fork, Alamosa, Colorado
- Heavy Metal Sausage Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Heff’s Burger Club, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Kann, Portland, Oregon
- Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining, Chicago, Illinois
- KRU, Brooklyn, New York
- La Royal, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Lupi & Iris, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Nami Kaze, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Neng Jr.’s, Asheville, North Carolina
- Nolia, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Obélix, Chicago, Illinois
- ōkta, McMinnville, Oregon
- Pijja Palace, Los Angeles, California
- Pizza Grace, Birmingham, Alabama
- Restaurant Beatrice, Dallas, Texas
- Sambou’s African Kitchen, Jackson, Mississippi
- Stissing House, Pine Plains, New York
- Tatemó, Houston, Texas
- Tatsu, Dallas, Texas
- Yangban Society, Los Angeles, California
- wolfpeach, Camden, Maine
Outstanding Bakery
- Angelo Brocato, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Breadshop, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Buena Gente Cuban Bakery, Decatur, Georgia
- La Casita Bakeshop, Richardson, Texas
- Denise’s Delicacies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Friends & Family, Los Angeles, California
- Fujiya Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Good Cakes and Bakes, Detroit, Michigan
- Grist Milling & Bakery, Missoula, Montana
- Haymaker Bun Company, Middlebury, Vermont
- JL Patisserie, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona
- Kuluntu Bakery, Dallas, Texas
- La Patisserie Chouquette, St. Louis, Missouri
- Mighty Bread Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Normal Ice Cream, Salt Lake City, Utah
- She Wolf Bakery, New York, New York
- Unforgettable Bakery & Cafe, Savannah, Georgia
- Yasukochi’s Sweet Stop, San Francisco, California
- Yoli Tortilleria, Kansas City, Missouri
- Zak the Baker, Miami, Florida
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
- Veronika Baukema, Veronika’s Pastry Shop, Billings, Montana
- Manuel and Jesús Brazón, Caracas Bakery, Doral, Florida
- Vince Bugtong, Viridian, Oakland, California
- Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería, Austin, Texas
- Ismael de Sousa, Reunion Bread Co, Denver, Colorado
- Nora Faye Allen, Mel the Bakery, New York, New York
- Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, Maine
- Andrew Hutchison, Madison Sourdough, Madison, Wisconsin
- Michelle Karr-Ueoka, MW Restaurant, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Crystal Kass, Valentine, Phoenix, Arizona
- Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles, California
- Noelle Marchetti, Yolan, Nashville, Tennessee
- Shawn McKenzie, Café Cerés, Minneapolis, Minnesot
- Camari Mick, The Musket Room, New York, New York
- Anne Ng, Bakery Lorraine, San Antonio, Texas
- Kareem Queeman, Mr. Bake, Riverdale, Maryland
- Emily Riddell, Machine Shop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Phillip Ashley Rix, Phillip Ashley Chocolates, Memphis, Tennessee
- Elaine Uykimpang Bentz, Café Mochiko, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Amanda Wildermuth, Honey Road, Burlington, Vermont
Outstanding Hospitality
- The Black Cypress, Pullman, Washington
- Bottega, Birmingham, Alabama
- Charleston, Baltimore, Maryland
- Here’s Looking at You, Los Angeles, California
- House of Prime Rib, San Francisco, California
- Lark, Seattle, Washington
- Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, Hudson, New York
- The Local, Abilene, Texas
- Lula Drake, Columbia, South Carolina
- Manoli’s, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Melba’s, New York, New York
- Pêche., Palisade, Colorado
- The Quarry, Monson, Maine
- The Restaurant at 1900, Mission Woods, Kansas
- Sepia, Chicago, Illinois
- SMOKE. Woodfire Grill, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Sur Lie, Portland, Maine
- Theodore Rex, Houston, Texas
- Ticonderoga Club, Atlanta, Georgia
- Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Outstanding Wine or Other Beverages Program
- All Together Now, Chicago, Illinois
- Commander’s Palace, New Orleans, Louisiana
- COTE, New York, New York
- Flight Wine Bar, Washington, D.C.
- Foam Brewers, Burlington, Vermont
- FRIDA Southwest, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Glai Baan, Phoenix, Arizona
- Hiyu Wine Farm, Hood River, Oregon
- Lazy Bear, San Francisco, California
- Lyla Lila, Atlanta, Georgia
- Macchialina, Miami Beach, Florida
- Monk’s Cafe, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Nancy’s Hustle, Houston, Texas
- OK Omens, Portland, Oregon
- OTOTO, Los Angeles, California
- Rebel Rebel, Somerville, Massachusetts
- Spencer, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Suerte, Austin, Texas
- Sunday Vinyl, Denver, Colorado
- Waxlight Bar à Vin, Buffalo, New York
Outstanding Bar
- Allegory, Washington, D.C.
- American Solera, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Cafe La Trova, Miami, Florida
- Dante, New York, New York
- Drastic Measures, Shawnee, Kansas
- Esters Wine Shop & Bar, Santa Monica, California
- Garagiste, Las Vegas, Nevada
- The Gin Room, St. Louis, Missouri
- Harlem Hops, New York, New York
- The Jewel Box, Portland, Maine
- Kingfisher, Durham, North Carolina
- Las Ramblas, Brownsville, Texas
- Le Caveau, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Post Office Place, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Rob Roy, Seattle, Washington
- Salud Cerveceria, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Scratch Brewing Company, Ava, Illinois
- Trick Dog, San Francisco, California
- Weathered Souls Brewing Company, San Antonio, Texas
Best Chefs — California
- Jonathan Bautista, Kingfisher, San Diego
- Rocio Camacho, Rocio’s Mexican Kitchen, Bell Gardens
- Val M. Cantu, Californios, San Francisco
- Gilberto Cetina Jr., Holbox, Los Angeles
- Kyle and Katina Connaughton, SingleThread, Healdsburg
- Brandon Hayato Go, Hayato, Los Angeles
- Srijith Gopinathan, Ettan, Palo Alto
- Matthew Kammerer, The Harbor House Inn, Elk
- Intu-on Kornnawong, Jo’s Modern Thai, Oakland
- Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, Moo’s Craft Barbecue, Los Angeles
- Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks
- Michael Reed, Poppy & Seed, Anaheim
- Daisy Ryan, Bell’s, Los Alamos
- Carlos Salgado, Taco María, Costa Mesa
- Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada, Los Angeles,
- James Syhabout, Commis, Oakland
- Craig Takehara, Binchoyaki, Sacramento
- Pim Techamuanvivit, Kin Khao, San Francisco
- Robbie Wilson, Le Fantastique, San Francisco
- Akira Yoshizumi, Sushi Yoshizumi, San Mateo
Best Chefs — Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio)
- Francisco Alfaro, Mid-City Restaurant, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Omar Anani, Saffron De Twah, Detroit, Michigan
- Abra Berens, Granor Farm, Three Oaks, Michigan
- Becky Clark, Little Fish Brewing Co., Athens, Ohio
- Diana Dávila Boldin, Mi Tocaya Antojería, Chicago, Illinois
- Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, Illinois
- Paul Fehribach, Big Jones, Chicago, Illinois
- Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago, Illinois
- Norberto Garita, El Barzon, Detroit, Michigan
- Hideki and Yuko Harada, Kiki, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Andy Hollyday, Selden Standard, Detroit, Michigan
- Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky, and Kenny Scott, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland, Ohio
- BJ Lieberman, Chapman’s Eat Market, Columbus, Ohio
- Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare, Detroit, Michigan
- Abbi Merriss, Bluebeard, Indianapolis, Indianapolis
- Zubair Mohajir, Wazwan, Chicago, Illinois
- Samir Mohammad, 9th Street Bistro, Noblesville, Indiana
- Michael Ransom, Ima Izakaya, Detroit, Michigan
- Sarah Welch, Marrow, Detroit, Michigan
Best Chefs — Mid-Atlantic (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia)
- Chris Amendola, foraged., Baltimore, Maryland
- Steve Chu, Ekiben, Baltimore, Maryland
- Joy Crump, FOODE, Fredericksburg, Virginia
- David Deshaies, L’Ardente, Washington, D.C.
- Nik Forsberg, Fet-Fisk, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Rahman “Rock” Harper, Queen Mother’s Fried Chicken, Arlington, Virginia
- Andrew Henshaw, Laser Wolf, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jesse Ito, Royal ushi, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Dionicio Jiménez, Cantina La Martina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, Apteka, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Enrique Limardo, Seven Reasons, Washington, D.C.
- Philip Manganaro, Park Place Café & Restaurant, Merchantville, New Jersey
- Melissa McGrath, Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen, Newfield, New Jersey
- Thanh Nguyen, Gabriella’s Vietnam, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Peter Prime, Bammy’s, Washington, D.C.
- Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.
- Ryan Ratino, Bresca, Washington, D.C.
- Omar Rodriguez, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, Washington, D.C.
- Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
Best Chefs — Midwest (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Sanaa Abourezk, Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Ann Ahmed, Khâluna, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Nick Bognar, iNDO, St. Louis, Missouri
- Samuel Charles, Rodina, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Rob Connoley, Bulrush, St. Louis, Missouri
- Michael Corvino, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Kansas City, Missouri
- Nick Goellner, The Antler Room, Kansas City, Missouri
- Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, EsterEv, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Gregory León, Amilinda, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Pam Liberda, Waldo Thai, Kansas City, Missouri
- Francesco Mangano, Osteria Papavero, Madison, Wisconsin
- Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, Fairchild, Madison, Wisconsin
- Loryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, Missouri
- Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Joseph Raney, Skogen Kitchen, Custer, South Dakota
- Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Paul and Jessica Urban, Block 16, Omaha, Nebraska
- David Utterback, Yoshitomo, Omaha, Nebraska
- Adam VanDonge, The White Linen, Topeka, Kansas
- Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Best Chefs — Mountain (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming) Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, Idaho
- Michael Annandono, Michaelangelo’s Big Sky, Big Sky, Montana
- Dan Ansotegui, Ansots, Boise, Idaho
- Jose Avila, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Denver, Colorado
- Andy Blanton, Cafe Kandahar, Whitefish, Montana
- Paul Chamberlain and Logen Crew, SLC Eatery, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Michael Diaz de Leon, BRUTØ, Denver, Colorado
- Barclay Dodge, Bosq, Aspen, Colorado
- Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Briar Handly, Handle, Park City, Utah
- Suchada Johnson, Teton Thai, Teton Village, Wyoming
- Young-Ho Kang and Peter Kim, The Angry Korean, South Jordan, Utah
- Kris Komori, KIN, Boise, Idaho
- Chris Lockhart and Danny Mowatt, PREROGATIvE Kitchen, Red Lodge, Montana
- Kibrom Milash, Kibrom’s Ethiopian & Eritrean Food, Boise, Idaho
- Paul Naugle, Izakaya Three Fish, Bozeman, Montana
- Cindhura Reddy, Spuntino, Denver, Colorado
- Earl James Reynolds, Stone Hill Kitchen + Bar, Bigfork, Montana
- Ali Sabbah, Mazza, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, Colorado
Best Chefs — New York State
- Gerardo Alcaraz, Aldama, Brooklyn
- Nasim Alikhani, Sofreh, Brooklyn
- Mary Attea, The Musket Room, New York City
- Giovanni Cervantes, Taqueria Ramírez, Brooklyn
- Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy, New York City
- Calvin Eng, Bonnie’s, Brooklyn
- Shenarri Freeman, Cadence, New York City
- Charles Gabriel, Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, New York City
- Anthony Gonçalves, Kanopi, White Plains
- Sol Han, LittleMad, New York City
- JJ Johnson, FIELDTRIP, New York City
- Sohui Kim, Gage & Tollner, Brooklyn
- Shaina Loew-Banayan, Cafe Mutton, Hudson
- Paolo Garcia Mendoza, Karenderya, Nyack
- Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, New York City
- Junghyun Park, Atomix, New York City
- Franco Sampogna, Frevo, New York City
- Eric See, Ursula, Brooklyn
- Hillary Sterling, Ci Siamo, New York City
- Sohail Zandi, Brushland Eating House, Bovina
Best Chefs — Northeast (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
- Robert Andreozzi, Pizza Marvin, Providence, Rhode Island
- Paul Callahan, Vino e Vivo, Exeter, New Hampshire
- Jeff Fournier, Thompson House Eatery, Jackson, New Hampshire
- Mojo Hancy-Davis, May Day, Burlington, Vermont
- Valentine Howell, Krasi, Boston, Massachusetts
- Christian Hunter, Community Table, Washington, Connecticut
- Sara Jenkins, Nina June, Rockport, Maine
- Jason LaVerdiere, Flux, Lisbon Falls, Maine
- Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food & Beverage, Portland, Maine
- Alganesh Michael, A Taste of Abyssinia, South Burlington, Vermont
- Yahya Noor, Tawakal Halal Cafe, Boston, Massachusetts
- Tony Pastor, Fore Street, Portland, Maine
- Isaul Perez, Isa, Portland, Maine
- Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, Rhode Island
- Yisha Siu, Yunnan Kitchen, Boston, Massachusetts
- Derrick Teh, SEKALI, Boston, Massachusetts
- Ellie Tiglao, Tanám, Somerville, Massachusetts
- Renee Touponce, The Port of Call, Mystic, Connecticut
- Milena Pagán, Little Sister, Providence, Rhode Island
- Douglass Williams, MIDA, Boston, Massachusetts
Best Chefs — Northwest and Pacific (Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington)
- Nathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, Alaska
- Tony Brown, Ruins, Spokane, Washington
- Peter Cho, Han Oak, Portland, Oregon
- Joshua Dorcak, MÄS, Ashland, Oregon
- Brian Hirata, Na‘au, Hawai‘i Island, Hawaii
- Jonathan Jones, Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails, Salem, Oregon
- Dan Koommoo, Crafted, Yakima, Washington
- Keaka Lee, Kapa Hale, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Melissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle, Washington
- Vince Nguyen, Berlu, Portland, Oregon
- David Nichols, Eight Row, Seattle, Washington
- Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland, Oregon
- Crystal Platt, Lion & Owl, Eugene, Oregon
- Beau Schooler, In Bocca Al Lupo, Juneau, Alaska
- Sheldon Simeon, Tiffany’s, Wailuku, Hawaii
- Mutsuko Soma, Kamonegi, Seattle, Washington
- Renee Trafton, Beak Restaurant, Sitka, Alaska
- Robert Urquidi, Ethel’s Grill, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle, Washington
- Lee Anne Wong, Papa‘aina, Lahaina, Hawaii
Best Chefs — Southeast (Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia)
- Sam Fore, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, Lexington, Kentucky
- Josh Habiger, Bastion, Nashville, Tennessee
- Sam Hart, Counter-, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ronald Hsu, Lazy Betty, Atlanta, Georgia
- Daniel “Dano” Heinze, Vern’s, Charleston, South Carolina
- Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, Georgia
- Dayna Lee-Márquez, Comal 864, Greenville, South Carolina
- Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor, Heirloom Market BBQ, Atlanta, Georgia
- Josiah McGaughey, Vivian, Asheville, North Carolina
- Ramin Mirzakhani, Laury’s Restaurant, Charleston, West Virginia
- Trevor Moran, Locust, Nashville, Tennessee
- Dean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington, North Carolina
- Keith Rhodes, Catch, Wilmington, North Carolina
- Isaiah Screetch, Spark Community Café, Versailles, Kentucky
- Jessica Shillato, Spotted Salamander, Columbia, South Carolina
- Sahar Siddiqi, Chai Pani, Decatur, Georgia
- Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, West Virginia
- Stephanie Tyson, Sweet Potatoes, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Deborah VanTrece, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Atlanta, Georgia
- Preeti Waas, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, Raleigh, North Carolina
Best Chefs — South (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico)
- Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith, Saint-Germain, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Timon Balloo, The Katherine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Jeremy and Cindy Bearman, Oceano Kitchen, Lantana, Florida
- Ana Castro, Lengua Madre, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Fernando, Nando, and Valerie Chang, Itamae, Miami, Florida
- Hunter Evans, Elvie’s, Jackson, Mississippi
- Francis Guzmán, Vianda, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Amarys and Jordan Herndon, Palm & Pine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Timothy Hontzas, Johnny’s Restaurant, Homewood, Alabama
- Alex Perry and Kumi Omori, Vestige, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- Rick Mace, Tropical Smokehouse, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Melissa M. Martin, Mosquito Supper Club, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Pushkar Marathe, Stage, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Henry Moso, Kabooki Sushi, Orlando, Florida
- Charly Pierre, Fritai, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Colleen Quarls and Liz Hollinger, Molly’s Rise and Shine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Rafael Rios, Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, Bentonville, Arkansas
- Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Natalia Vallejo, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Lojo Washington, Queen of Sheeba, West Palm Beach, Florida
Best Chef — Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma)
- Ben Alexander, Mr. Kims, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Oscar Amador and Francesco Di Caudo, Anima by EDO, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Rene Andrade and Roberto Centeno, Bacanora, Phoenix, Arizona
- Kaoru Azeuchi, KAISEKI YUZU, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Jaren Bates and Brett Vibber, The Table at Junipine, Sedona, Arizona
- Lisa Becklund, FarmBar, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der Lao Kitchen, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Yip Cheung, Red Plate, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Nephi Craig, Café Gozhóó, Whiteriver, Arizona
- Wendy Garcia, Tumerico, Tucson, Arizona
- Basit Gauba, Tikka Spice, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Fernando Hernández, Testal, Phoenix, Arizona
- Jimmy Li, ShangHai Taste, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Luis and Berenice Medina, El Chile Toreado, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Yotaka and Alex Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, Arizona
- Andrea Meyer, The Love Apple, Taos, New Mexico
- Justin Pioche, Pioche Food Group, Upper Fruitland (Doolkai), Navajo Nation, New Mexico
- David Sellers, Horno Restaurant, Santa Fe, New Meixco
- Paul Wilson, Boston Title & Abstract, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Best Chefs — Texas
- Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack, San Antonio
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin
- Damien Brockway, Distant Relatives, Austin
- Reyna Duong, Sandwich Hag, Dallas
- Kareem El-Ghayesh, KG BBQ, Austin
- Jalen Heard, Lane Milne, and Jonny White, Goldee’s Barbecue, Fort Worth
- Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia, and Sean Wen, Curry Boys BBQ, San Antonio
- Greg Gatlin, Gatlin’s BBQ, Houston
- Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen, Houston
- Ai Le, Nam Giao, Houston
- Olivia López and Jonathan Percival, Molino Olōyō, Dallas
- Enrique Lozano, El Charlatan, Socorro
- Emiliano Marentes, ELEMI, El Paso
- Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission
- Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, José, Dallas
- Regino Rojas, Revolver Taco Lounge, Dallas
- John Russ, Clementine, San Antonio
- Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin
- Kiran Verma, Kiran’s, Houston
- Jon Walter, Chez Sami, Wolfforth
Award nominees will be announced March 29, and the winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 5 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.