Dallas will be well-represented at the 35th James Beard Awards in June, with four nominees from the city.
On Wednesday, the nominees for the prestigious 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award were announced. Five of the nominees are based in North Texas, four of which are right here in Dallas. Chad Houser of Cafe Momentum on Pacific Avenue was also announced as the winner of this year’s James Beard Humanitarian of the Year Award.
“As one of the culinary industry’s most celebrated events, this annual ceremony honors the exceptional talent, innovation, and dedication of chefs and restaurateurs from across the country,” reads a description of the annual event on the James Beard website.
So, which chefs and restaurants will represent Big D this year?
Best Chef: Texas – Regino Rojas
Regino Rojas of Purépecha is known for highlighting dishes from Michoacan, Mexico, leveraging traditional and international ingredients.
Emerging Chef – RJ Yoakum
RJ Yoakum is the executive chef at Georgie, a fine dining establishment. He is known for his extensive network with local farmers and food artisans, who bring fresh ingredients to Dallas foodies.
Best New Restaurant – Mābo
Last month, The Dallas Express reported that Mābo was ranked the third-best restaurant in the state on a list by Texas Monthly. Mābo also secured a spot on Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2024, the only establishment in the city with that honor.
Now, Mābo, which serves up Asian cuisine prepared by chef Masayuki Otaka, is once again being recognized, this time by the legendary James Beard Foundation.
Best New Bar – Bar Colette
Bar Colette on McKinney Avenue is known for curated cocktails and fine dining in one of the city’s classiest establishments.
In addition to the four Dallas nominees, Starship Bagel in Lewisville was nominated in the Outstanding Bakery category. The annual award ceremony will take place later this year on June 16 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
A full listing of the nominees can be found here.