San Antonio's strong showing in 2025 James Beard semifinals

By the numbers: Seven San Antonio chefs or restaurants were named semifinalists Wednesday. Last year, that count was four.

• Overall, 39 Texas chefs and restaurants are semifinalists for the 2025 awards.

Zoom in: Mixtli — which earned San Antonio's first Michelin star in November — is a semifinalist in the national Outstanding Hospitality category.

• Leo Davila (Stixs & Stone), Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin (Best Quality Daughter), Grey Hwang (Shiro Japanese Bistro), Emil Oliva (Leche de Tigre), John Ramos and Jonathan Reyes (Chika), and Alex and Brenda Sarmiento (El Pastor Es Mi Señor) are semifinalists in the Best Chef: Texas category.

Zoom out: David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes of Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin are semifinalists for the national Outstanding Chef award.

Between the lines: With the exception of Mixtli and Dobbertin, all of the 2025 semifinalists from San Antonio are new to the awards.

What they're saying: Oliva and Davila spoke with Axios moments after the list was announced.

• "I'm so excited for the whole city. So many great San Antonio restaurants are represented," Oliva told Axios. "It's really such an honor to be listed alongside such great talent. It's a huge win for the whole team."
• "It is a pretty surreal feeling to get nominated," Davila told Axios. "I'm shocked, shaking and on the verge of happy tears, but most of all just grateful."

What's next: The semifinalist list will be narrowed to nominees on April 2, and winners will be announced on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.