More than a dozen Philly chefs, bars and restaurants are semifinalists for the James Beard awards, which are often likened to the Oscars, but for the food industry.
Chefs
Four Philadelphia chefs are in the running for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
Yun Fuentes of Bolo, a Latin American and Caribbean cuisine restaurant, is in the running for best chef. Billy Penn spoke with Fuentes in 2023. He said his ultimate goal in building his career was to “give Caribbean and Latin American food the respect it deserved.”
Another finalist is Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya. Ito was the sole finalist from Philadelphia in the Beard awards last year. Ito’s sushi bar restaurant has received a lot of acclaim for its high-end atmosphere. This will be Ito’s eighth nomination.
Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club is also on the list. Her restaurant in Center City is inspired by college dinner parties she would throw. She encourages conversations across the few tables at her restaurant.
The final nominee is Juan Carlos Aparicio of El Chingón, a vibrant, Mexican restaurant in South Philly. In 2024, Aparicio described his journey to bringing “a good Mexican sandwich” and more childhood favorites to the City of Brotherly Love.
Philly chefs stood out in other categories as well.
Greg Vernick of Vernick Fish, an American oyster bar and restaurant, is up for Outstanding Chef.
Phila Lorn of perpetually-booked hotspot Mawn is in the running for Emerging Chef. This award celebrates chefs earlier in their careers.
Finally, Abigail Dahan is up for the award for Outstanding Bakery or Pastry Chef. Dahan currently works at Provenance – a restaurant that hosts a 20-plus-course tasting menu.
Restaurants/Bakeries
Kalaya, a Thai restaurant in Fishtown, is up for the Outstanding Restaurant category. The restaurant’s owner and chef, Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, won the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award in 2023. She told Billy Penn she felt the city holds a “special place in her heart” and has “embraced her with open arms” following this win.
The restaurant also received national attention and accolades in 2020 – with Food & Wine calling it one of the country’s best new restaurants and Esquire rating it No. 1 in the U.S.
Machine Shop, a bakery focusing on handmade, high-quality and locally sourced ingredients, is up for Outstanding Bakery.
Little Fish, a seafood BYOB restaurant in Queen Village, is in the running for the Outstanding Hospitality category.
Bars/Coffee
Càphê Roasters is a Vietnamese coffee roastery in Kensington. Its products are coffee-centered, but it is in the running for the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program award.
Billy Penn spoke with cafe co-owners Thu Pham and Raymond John in 2021. They said they started the roastery in the hopes of educating customers on Vietnamese culture through “food, coffee and conversation.”
Friday Saturday Sunday in Rittenhouse is up for the Outstanding Bar category. The restaurant and bar won in the Outstanding Restaurant category in 2023.
In the Best New Bar category, Kampar Kongsi is located on the second floor of the Malaysian Kampar restaurant in Bella Vista.
The list of finalists will be announced on April 2. The final awards will take place in Chicago on June 16. No winners came out of Philly in 2024, though several semifinalists had emerged.
