New York City Restaurants Score Five 2025 James Beard Awards
New York City restaurants made a strong return at the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, earning five national honors. After limited wins in past years, the city’s chefs and hospitality teams finally received recognition for their work, leadership, and innovation.
Vijay Kumar of Semma earned the title Best Chef: New York State. He rooted his cooking in South Indian traditions and gained wide acclaim. During his acceptance speech, Kumar said, “When I started cooking, I never thought a kid like me from Tamil Nadu could make it to a room like this… If it’s true, it’s powerful.”
Meanwhile, Jungsik Yim, chef at the Korean fine-dining restaurant Jungsik, secured the Outstanding Chef award. This recognition added to his recent achievement of earning three Michelin stars in 2024.
Additionally, Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr claimed the Outstanding Restaurateurs award. They run Frenchette, Le Rock, and Le Veau d’Or, restaurants known for their bold French menus and distinctive service.
Atomix, led by former Jungsik chef Junghyun “JP” Park and his wife, Ellia Park, received the Outstanding Hospitality award. The restaurant stood out for its thoughtful, guest-focused service. Furthermore, Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, the creative mind behind Superbueno, won the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service award. His inventive Mexican-inspired drinks have made a lasting impact on the city’s cocktail scene.
- Vijay Kumar, Semma: Best Chef, New York State
- Jungsik Yim, Jungsik: Outstanding Chef
- Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette/Le Rock/Le Veau d’Or: Outstanding Restaurateurs
- Atomix: Outstanding Hospitality
- Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, Superbueno: Cocktail Service
The awards ceremony took place on June 16, 2025, at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. These results signal a shift as New York City restaurants reassert themselves nationally after a quieter stretch.
More…
- https://www.grubstreet.com/article/2025-james-beard-awards.htm
- https://www.eater.com/jbfa/886261/james-beard-awards-2025-winners-restaurant-and-chef-awards
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/dining/here-are-the-2025-james-beard-restaurant-award-winners.html
- https://www.overherenewyork.com/top-new-michelin-guide-restaurants-in-new-york-city/