AUSTIN, Texas — The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists – and some Austin restaurants and chefs are among them.
The James Beard Foundation describes itself as a nonprofit whose mission is to “celebrate, support and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity and sustainability.” The nonprofit, which was established more than 30 years ago, is based in New York City.
The semifinalists list has been released ahead of the James Beard Awards ceremony this summer. Nominees will be announced on April 2, and the ceremony will be held on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Which Austin restaurants and chefs are semifinalists?
Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Canje, a new-age Caribbean restaurant on East Sixth Street, has been named an Outstanding Chef semifinalist this year. This isn’t Bristol-Joseph’s first time on a James Beard list: last year, he was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Texas category.
Lao’d Bar, a Laotian-inspired spot located on FM 969, was named a semifinalist in this year’s Best New Restaurant category. Meanwhile, Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar on Manor Road was named an Outstanding Bar semifinalist.
Arjay Ezekiel, co-owner of the East 12th Street New American restaurant Birdie’s, was named a semifinalist in the new Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category. Birdie’s was named a Michelin Recommended restaurant back in November.
And finally, three Austin chefs – Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio at Uroko on Springdale Road and Evan LeRoy at LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue on Emerald Forest Drive – are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Texas category. LeRoy and Lewis recently received a Michelin star.
Here’s a look at the full list of Best Chef: Texas semifinalists:
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston
- Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio, Uroko, Austin
- Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring (Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient)
- Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston (Michelin star recipient)
- Leo Davila, Stixs & Stone, San Antonio
- Evelyn Garcia, Jūn, Houston
- Alexandra Gates, Cochineal, Marfa
- Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks, Smoke’N Ash BBQ, Arlington (Michelin Recommended restaurant)
- Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter, San Antonio
- Grey Hwang, Shiro Japanese Bistro, San Antonio
- Evan LeRoy, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin (Michelin star recipient)
- Beatriz Martines, Xalisko, The Woodlands
- Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio (Michelin Recommended restaurant)
- Anais Paniagua and Iris Rojas, Doña Maria, Irving
- John Ramos and Jonathan Reyes, Chika, San Antonio
- Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas
- Alex Sarmiento and Brenda Sarmiento, El Pastor Es Mi Señor, San Antonio
- Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo, Marfa
- David Skinner, Ishtia, Kemah
- Eugenio Uribe, Le Rêve, Brownsville