5 IL Restaurants, Chefs Nominated For Prestigious James Beard Awards

ILLINOIS — The culinary scene in Illinois is well-represented in the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees announced Wednesday by the James Beard Foundation.

2025 is an important milestone for the James Beard Foundation: It’s the 35th anniversary of the awards, considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors. Awards will be presented in 25 categories this year with an expanded focus on cocktail and beverage service.

Illinois nominees are:

Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water

• Galit, Chicago, IL
  • Galit is a Middle Eastern restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. The restaurant is operated by Andrés Clavero and James-Beard Award-winning chef Zachary Engel.

Outstanding Bar

• Kumiko, Chicago, IL
  • Kumiko is an intimate Japanese dining bar in Chicago's West Loop. Last year, Kumiko chef Josh Mummert won the 2024 Michelin Guide Chicago Young Chef Award Winner.

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

• Thai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, IL
• Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading, Chicago, IL
• Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, IL

The James Beard Awards, first presented in 1991, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries and are often regarded as the “Oscars of culinary arts.” They recognize a range of experiences, from fine-dining restaurants to casual gems, in 22 categories.

Winners will be announced Monday, June 16, in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.