On Wednesday, April 2, the prestigious James Beard Foundation announced its restaurant and chef award finalists for 2025.
Multiple chefs from Philadelphia made the cut, including Mawn’s Phila Lorn, nominated for Emerging Chef, and Royal Sushi & Izakaya’s Jesse Ito and Her Place Supper Club’s Amanda Shulman, both up for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. On the drinks side, the Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday is a nominee for the foundation’s Outstanding Bar award.
Last year, Philly was largely overlooked in the nominations. The city claimed one finalist, chef Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya, who was up for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. (Harley Peet of Bas Rouge in Easton, Maryland, ended up taking home the award.)
The announcement of the restaurant and chef award winners is slated for Monday, June 16, at the foundation’s annual awards show in Chicago.
Check out the full list of Philly finalists below:
Emerging Chef
Outstanding Bar
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation.
