Following the Michelin Awards Ceremony last year, the Lone Star State continues to serve up culinary excellence, with Texas restaurants, bakeries and bars landing spots as 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists. While the winners won’t be announced until Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera House of Chicago, there’s plenty of time to check out the nominees until then.
Texas establishments and chefs clinched semifinalist spots across all categories, including Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Bakery, Outstanding Wine Program and more. The only category Texas didn’t make the cut in is Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. Regardless, Texas is pulling all the stops to showcase its culinary strength, with standout chefs hailing from all over the state—from Marfa to Irving and the Culinary Capital of Texas, San Antonio.
Without further ado, check out the full list of Texas nominees:
Outstanding Restauranter
- Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Sof Hospitality Group (Hamsa, Badolina Bakery, and Doris Metropolitan), Houston, TX
- Sara Stayer and Martin Stayer, Nobie's, Toasted Coconut, and Nonno's, Houston, TX
Outstanding Chef presented by Hilton
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje, Austin, TX
- David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin, TX
Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water
- ELEMI, El Paso, TX
Emerging Chef presented by S. Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
- Suu Khin, Burmalicious, Houston, TX
- RJ Yoakum, Georgie, Dallas, TX
Best New Restaurant
- Ema, Houston, TX
- Lao’d Bar, Austin, TX
- Mābo, Dallas, TX
Outstanding Bakery
- Koffeteria, Houston, TX
- Starship Bagel, Lewisville, TX
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
- Mateo Herrera, La Puerta del Sol, El Paso, TX
Outstanding Hospitality presented by American Airlines
- Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
- March, Houston, TX
- Taconeta, El Paso, TX
Outstanding Bar
- Apothecary, Dallas, TX
- Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar, Austin, TX
Best New Bar
- Bar Colette, Dallas, TX
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
- Andres Blanco, Le Jardinier, Houston, TX
- Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie's, Austin, TX
Best Chef: Texas
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston, TX
- Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio, Uroko, Austin, TX
- Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, TX
- Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó, Houston, TX
- Leo Davila, Stixs & Stone, San Antonio, TX
- Evelyn Garcia, Jūn, Houston, TX
- Alexandra Gates, Cochineal, Marfa, Texas
- Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks, Smoke'N Ash BBQ, Arlington, TX
- Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter, San Antonio, TX
- Grey Hwang, Shiro Japanese Bistro, San Antonio, Texas
- Evan LeRoy, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Austin, TX
- Beatriz Martines, Xalisko, The Woodlands, TX
- Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio, TX
- Anais Paniagua and Iris Rojas, Doña Maria, Irving, TX
- John Ramos and Jonathan Reyes, Chika, San Antonio, TX
- Regino Rojas, Purépecha, Dallas, TX
- Alex Sarmiento and Brenda Sarmiento, El Pastor Es Mi Señor, San Antonio, TX
- Michael Anthony Serva, Bordo, Marfa, TX
- David Skinner, Ishtia, Kemah, TX
- Eugenio Uribe, Le Rêve, Brownsville, TX