Jan 22, 2025 - Food and Drink

Here are the Seattle area's James Beard semifinalists

Melissa Santos

Animated illustration of salt and pepper shakers posing on a red carpet as cameras flash. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Sixteen chefs, bars and restaurants from Washington state were named semifinalists for James Beard Awards on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The annual awards are considered some of the restaurant industry's highest honors — but no one from Seattle has taken one home in the past three years.

Zoom in: Quynh Pham and Yenvy Pham, who run The Boat, Phở Bắc Súp Shop, and Phởcific Standard Time, are semifinalists in the outstanding restaurateur category for the third year in a row.

Two Seattle spots, meanwhile, are up for best new restaurant: Atoma, a Wallingford restaurant that has been racking up accolades, and FamilyFriend, a Guamanian spot in Beacon Hill whose burgers went viral this past year.

Here's a look at the other local semifinalists. All are in Seattle unless otherwise noted.

Best Chef Northwest and Pacific: Janet Becerra of Pancita; Logan Cox of Homer; Aisha Ibrahim of Canlis; Ajay Panicker of Kathakali, An Indian Eatery (Kirkland); Jun Takai of Takai by Kashiba (Bellevue); and Jay Blackinton of Houlme (Orcas Island).

Outstanding bakery: Saint Bread

Outstanding hospitality: Archipelago

Outstanding wine and other beverages program: Ltd Edition Sushi

Outstanding bar: Roquette

Best new bar: Sophon

Outstanding professional in beverage service: Linda Milagros Violago of Canlis

Outstanding professional in cocktail service: Anu Apte of Rob Roy

What's next: The semifinalist list will be whittled down to a shorter list of nominees on April 2. Winners will be named June 16.

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Here are the Seattle area's James Beard semifinalists

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