46 CA Restaurants, Chefs Named 2025 James Beard Semifinalists

CALIFORNIA — Forty-six California restaurants, chefs and industry professionals were named 2025 James Beard semifinalists, the organization announced Wednesday.

2025 is the 35th anniversary of the prestigious culinary awards, sometimes known as the "Oscars of food," that recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, the organization said. Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

This year in celebration of the pivotal anniversary, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists are recognized across 25 categories, with an expanded focus on beverages, introducing three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Other categories include outstanding restaurateur, outstanding chef, outstanding restaurant, emerging chef, best new restaurant, outstanding bakery, outstanding pastry chef or baker, outstanding hospitality, outstanding wine and other beverages program, outstanding bar and best chef.

In California, the following restaurants, chefs and industry professionals were named semifinalists this year:

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, The Anchovy Bar, State Bird Provisions, and The Progress, San Francisco
• Daisy Ryan and Greg Ryan, Companion Hospitality (Bell's, Bar Le Cote, Priedite BBQ, and others), Los Alamos

Outstanding Chef

• Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles
• Suzette Gresham-Tognetti, Acquerello, San Francisco

Outstanding Restaurant

• Benu, San Francisco
• Pasjoli, Santa Monica

Emerging Chef

• Jesus "Chuy" Cervantes, Damian, Los Angeles
• Spencer Horowitz, Hadeem, San Francisco

Best New Restaurant

• Bridgetown Roti, Los Angeles
• Four Kings, San Francisco

Outstanding Bakery

• Gusto Bread, Long Beach
• Quail and Condor, Healdsburg

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

• Monique Feybesse, Tarts de Feybesse, Oakland
• Nicole Rucker, Fat + Flour, Los Angeles

Outstanding Hospitality

• Harbor House Inn, Elk
• République, Los Angeles

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

• Kitchen Istanbul, San Francisco
• Strong Water, Anaheim

Outstanding Bar

• Thunderbolt, Los Angeles
• True Laurel, San Francisco

Best New Bar

• The Halfway Club, San Francisco
• Roma Norte, San Diego

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

• Jacob Brown, Lazy Bear, San Francisco
• Tonya Pitts, One Market, San Francisco

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

• Danny Louie, KAIYŌ, San Francisco
• Tobin Shea, Redbird, Los Angeles

Best Chef: California

• Roberto Alcocer, Valle, Oceanside
• Evan Algorri, Etra, Los Angeles
• Darryl Bell, Stateline Road Smokehouse, Napa
• Jonny Black, Chez Noir, Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Val Cantu, Californios, San Francisco
• Daniel Castillo, Heritage Barbeque, San Juan Capistrano
• Danielle Duran Zecca, Amiga Amore, Los Angeles
• Elvia Garcia and Alex Garcia, Evil Cooks, Los Angeles
• Richard Lee, Saison, San Francisco
• Melissa López, Barra Santos, Los Angeles
• Gaby Maeda, Friends & Family, Oakland
• Jordan Makableh and Saif Makableh, Mazra, Redwood City
• Tara Monsod, ANIMAE, San Diego
• Charles Namba, Camélia, Los Angeles
• Laura Ozyilmaz and Sayat Ozyilmaz, Dalida, San Francisco
• Kosuke Tada, Mijote, San Francisco
• Kwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles
• Ari Weiswasser, Glen Ellen Star, Glen Ellen
• Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles
• Nite Yun, Lunette, San Francisco

Nominees will be announced on April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.