The 2025 James Beard Awards Are Serving Major Flavor—So Many Latine Chefs and Restaurants Getting the Shine They Deserve
The James Beard Foundation’s 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees are out and there is a lot of Latine representation. The awards are among the foremost culinary honors bestowed on restauranteurs, chefs, and restaurants. The awards uplift restauranteurs, restaurants, and chefs bringing forward the best in the culinary world. Here are some of the Latine restaurants and chefs who are in the running for these coveted food industry prizes.
There are two Latine chefs in the running for Outstanding Chef
Gilberto Cetina is the chef for Holbox in Los Angeles, California. The restaurant serves up Mexican seafood. Holbox is one of the few nestled in the Historic South Central LA’s Mercado La Paloma. Cetina started out cooking next to his father at the stall Chichen Itza in the mercado. According to the Chichen Itza website, the Cetina family stuck to creating traditional Mexican cuisine. The focus on the cuisine garnered a lot of praise.
Greg Léon is the owner of Amilinda in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The restaurant specializes in Spanish and Portuguese food but his Latine roots run deep. Léon was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and spent time as a child living in his father’s home country Venezuela. Once they moved back to the United States, Léon’s culinary adventure began. The James Beard Foundation has already honored Léon for his culinary work. He was a finalist for Best Chef Midwest in 2022 and 2023. He was also a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in 2024.
Latine-owned restaurants in Georgia and Oklahoma are getting some recognition
Co-owned by Chef Luis Damian, Casa Balam is an upscale Mexican restaurant in Decatur, Georgia. Just north of Atlanta, Decatur has a population of around 23,000 and this restaurant has made itself at home. Offering some incredibly complex and fascinating Mexican dishes. The restaurant was the brainchild of the chef and his partners after visiting Mexico over the years. The restaurant dives into the flavor profiles that make Mexico one of the most enchanting food destinations in the world.
Nestled in the heart of America, Noche is bringing bold Mexican flavors to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Noche, owned by Chef Sheamus Feeley, is dedicated to uplifting and celebrating the vibrant food culture of Mexico. Noche is an authentic agave bar and wood-fired grill restaurant. Diners can truly explore the often indescribable Mexican culinary journey.
There are so many Latine chefs and restaurants on the list that we can’t list them all
To see the full list, check out the James Beard Foundation’s website. There you will learn about restaurants and chefs continuing the legacy of Latine food in the U.S. The food of our cultures is expressive. We are connected to each other through similar ingredients and flavor profiles. It is incredible to see our food continue to reach the masses with restaurants in Florida, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, New York, Washington D.C., Oklahoma, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Indiana, Washington, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Arkansas, Tennessee, Nevada, and New Mexico. The list of honorees is a testament to the enduring love affair diners the world over have had with Latine food.
Congratulations to all of the nominees.
