We hope you're hungry. The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the James Beard Awards are here — and several Austin chefs + restaurants made the cut.

From a celebrity pastry chef to a new Laotian American restaurant, let's dig into the local people and places that are up for one of the culinary world's highest honors.

Local semifinalists

Birdie's earned nods from both the Global Tastemakers Awards + the James Beard Awards this week. | Photo by @mksrn

Outstanding Chef | Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Canje
Best New Restaurant | Lao'd Bar
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service | Arjav Ezekiel of Birdie's
Outstanding Bar | Techo Mexcaleria & Agave Bar
Best Chef: Texas | Takéhiro Asazu and Masazumi Saio of Uroko + Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue

MICHELIN called LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue's banana pudding tiramisu a "clever hybrid." | Photo by Jessica Attie

What's next?

Nominees will be named on Wednesday, April 2. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 16 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.

Can't get enough? Check out our historical list of James Beard nominees and winners in ATX.