James Beard Awards announces nominations Eliesa Johnson/ James Beard AwardsA great restaurant is about more than just memorable food. It creates a unique atmosphere and hints at the future of dining. This idea is central to the James Beard Awards.Now in their 36th year, the awards are still among the industry’s most respected honors. They recognize excellence everywhere, from top dining rooms to local bars. Being nominated can boost a career, and winning often brings national attention.The awards are often called the “Oscars of the food world.” They shine a light on the chefs, restaurant owners, and bar teams shaping how Americans eat and drink. More and more, the awards also focus on bigger issues like sustainability, fairness, and how hospitality helps build communities.The awards do more than just give recognition. They help shape the national conversation about food. By highlighting lesser-known cuisines and new talent, they keep expanding the idea of American dining. Winners will be announced in June.James Beard Foundation Awards 2025Eliesa Johnson for James Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation was established to honor the late James Beard, often known as America’s first “foodie.” In the 1940s and 1950s, while many Americans looked to Europe for inspiration, he championed American cuisine, local talent, and homegrown ingredients. He supported the farm-to-table movement well before it became mainstream.Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach says: “America’s food scene has never been more dynamic, more diverse and exciting. We owe that dynamism to the immigrant communities that lead and underpin this industry… we get to taste the world because of them. We celebrate not just excellence, but the people and stories behind it, those shaping culture through food.”Emerging Chef nominees were also highlighted including Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles, E.J. Lagasse, Emeril's, New Orleans, Rasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Ra, New York, Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Chicago, and Adrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place, TX.The voting body for the Restaurant and Chef Awards includes subcommittee members and judges who can independently evaluate chefs and restaurants. These members are food and beverage writers, critics, editors, book authors, media producers, food studies scholars, and culinary instructors.Today’s best restaurants and bars stand out not only for their food and drinks, but also for the stories and identities they share.CaliforniaKi - Los AngelesKi serves Japanese dishes with great care, using seasonal California ingredients and traditional techniques. The 10-seat dining room is simple, allowing guests to focus on the chef’s work. Chef Ki Kim recently won the Michelin Guide’s 2025 Young Chef Award.Anjin in Kansas CityAnjinMissouriAnjin - Kansas CityChef-owner Nick Goellner runs this Japanese izakaya, where guests grill top-quality meats at their own tables. The space is intimate, with just 20 seats, making for a hands-on dining experience.Robin - St. LouisChef Alec Schingel serves his version of upscale comfort food with a prix fixe menu that features Midwestern ingredients and global touches. The dining room has 11 tables, 264 seats and 4 seats at the bar.Tamba Bar in Las VegasTambaNevadaTamba- Las VegasExecutive Chef Anand Singh brings a modern, harvest-driven approach to Indian cuisine, focusing on live-fire techniques including tandoor, charcoal, and mangal grilling. The space includes a vibrant dining room, lounge, and private alcove.Lei Restaurant in New YorkPhoto by Matt Russell, courtesy of LeiNew YorkLei - New York CityOwner Annie Shi and Chef Patty Lee offer regional dishes inspired by classic recipes. Lei is a 28-seat wine bar serving a broad array of wine from classic producers as well as up-and-coming winemakers. The menu, which features dishes rooted in regional Chinese recipes, is designed to eat well alongside the constantly changing list. Emmett in PhiladelphiaEmmett PennsylvaniaEmmett - PhiladelphiaChef Evan Snyder creates a changing menu inspired by Levantine and Mediterranean cooking, blending flavors from French, Italian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines.Merci RestaurantLindsey Shorter PhotographySouth CarolinaMerci - CharlestonChef Michael and Courtney Zentner run Merci, serving French and Italian-inspired dishes in a cozy 26-seat space that feels like a private dinner party.Agnes and Sherman RestaurantAgnes and ShermanTexasAgnes and Sherman - HoustonA joint venture of chef Nick Wong and former DoorDash executive Lisa Lee, this diner offers a casual, cool vibe with Asian American comfort food.Maison Bar à VinsDeb LindseyWashington, D.C.Maison Bar à Vins - Washington, D.C.Maison Bar à Vins is both a wine bar and a restaurant. It offers a curated wine list alongside French-inspired food, all in a three-story brownstone building.Wisconsin1033 Omakase - Milwaukee1033 Omakase is a cozy spot with just 10 seats. Chef Ray Worawit Boonyapitaksakul leads guests through a 14-course Japanese dining experience.Bar Please! in Boise, IdahoBar PleaseThe five restaurant nominees show that the dining scene is changing. This year’s Best Bar contenders also reveal a shift, with cocktail programs becoming more technical, focused on storytelling, and connected to their locations.IdahoBar Please! - BoiseBar Please! combines playful experimentation and genuine hospitality, offering inventive cocktails in a welcoming neighborhood setting. It is a laid-back bar with a serious cocktail program run by owners Adam and Mandy Hanby.MichiganBar Chenin - DetroitBar Chenin blends natural wines and elegant cocktails in a relaxed, stylish space that has quickly become a hub for Detroit’s wine lovers. The bar is owned and curated by Nick Arone. Inspired by his travels in Paris and Japan, he designed the space to offer natural wines with handmade pastas and pizzas.Clemente Bar in New YorkClemente BarNew YorkClemente Bar - New York CityClemente Bar merges art, design, and mixology into an immersive experience with striking cocktails. Owned by chef Daniel Humm in partnership with artist Francesco Clemente, this art-filled cocktail bar features a five-course tasting menu focused on Japanese ingredients and creative mixology.Later Bye barSteven Idlet / Later ByeOklahomaLater Bye - Oklahoma CityLater Bye is an aperitivo bar owned by Brian and Bailey Butler and cocktail expert Steven Idlet. Behind The Harvey Bakery & Kitchen, it serves cocktails and small plates in an intimate 31-seat setting.Loma Bar in ProvidenceLomaRhode IslandLoma - ProvidenceLoma pairs Latin-inspired cocktails with a moody mid-century setting that evokes a 1960s living room. Owned and operated by bartender Leishla Maldonado, Osman Cortave, and Yefri Cortave, the lounge highlights their Guatemalan heritage with specialized cocktails.MORE FROM FORBESForbesThe World’s Best Hotel Restaurants, According To MichelinBy Jim Dobsonbest new restaurants