The James Beard Awards recognize the best chefs and restaurants in the country. Here are the Texas restaurants and chefs that made the cut.
TEXAS, USA — The restaurants and chefs named 2025 James Beard Award winners, akin to the Oscars of the food world, have been announced. A number of North Texas restaurants and chefs were up for the prestigious awards.
The 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award winners, as well as the Impact, Lifetime Achievement, and Humanitarian of the Year Award honorees, were recognized June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards, established in 1990, recognize chefs and restaurants in 22 categories, including for different regions across the country. The Restaurant and Chef Awards introduced three new categories this year: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
The Restaurant and Chef Award winners announcement comes after it was announced in April that Dallas’ Chad Houser, the CEO and founder of Cafe Momentum, would receive the Humanitarian Award.
There were five finalists from North Texas — four from Dallas and one from Lewisville. The following North Texas restaurants and chefs were named finalists for the 2025 awards: Regino Rojas of Purepecha in Dallas was nominated for Best Chef: Texas, RJ Yoakum of Georgie in Dallas was nominated in the Emerging Chef category, Mabo in Dallas was nominated for Best New Restaurant, Starship Bagel in Lewisville, which previously took home “Schmear of the Year” at New York BagelFest in 2024, was nominated in the Outstanding Bakery category, and Bar Colette in Dallas was nominated in the Best New Bar category.
Here are the Texas restaurants and chefs who made the cut this year:
Austin
- Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Arjav Ezekiel – Birdie’s
Dallas
- Humanitarian of the Year: Chad Houser – Cafe Momentum
Spring
- Best Chef Texas: Thomas Bille – Belly of the Beast