San Francisco’s Culinary Stars Nominated for 2025 James Beard Awards
The finalists for the 2025 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards were unveiled on Wednesday, showcasing a notable presence from San Francisco’s culinary scene. While the city does not have any new eats contending this year, several esteemed chefs and beverage professionals have achieved finalist status.
Notable Finalists from San Francisco
Husband-and-wife duo Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, who previously won the Best Chef: West award in 2015, are once again recognized. Their acclaimed restaurants, State Bird Provisions and The Progress, both boasting Michelin stars, alongside the newer Anchovy Bar, continue to captivate diners. This year, they are finalists for the Outstanding Restaurateur category, where they are up against notable competitors including Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr from New York, and Sue and Jason Chin of Good Salt Restaurant Group in Orlando.
Chef Recognitions in California
In the category previously known as Best Chef: California, San Francisco is represented by Richard Lee, the executive chef at Saison, and Kosuke Tada from Mijoté. They will be competing with acclaimed chefs such as Tara Monsod from San Diego, John Yao from Los Angeles, and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano.
Outstanding Beverage Service Nominee
Jacob Brown, the beverage director at Lazy Bear, has been nominated in the inaugural Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category, which has been differentiated from the established category for cocktail service professionals.
Absence in Major Categories
Despite the strong showing in certain categories, San Francisco restaurants are notably absent from major categories including Outstanding Restaurant, Emerging Chef, and Best New Restaurant. The Chinatown favorite, Four Kings, reached the semifinalist stage for Best New Restaurant but did not advance.
Hope for Future Recognition
In recent years, San Francisco has seen a decline in recognition at the James Beard Awards, a ceremony that once celebrated the city’s vibrant dining culture consistently. The culinary community remains hopeful that this year’s nominations may signal a resurgence in acknowledgment of San Francisco’s gastronomic talent.
For a complete list of finalists, please visit the official James Beard Foundation website.
