CHICAGO — The nation’s premier food awards ceremony returned to the Lyric Opera House this week, and two West Loop restaurants — Kumiko and Oriole — were among the biggest winners. As the James Beard Awards celebrated culinary excellence for its 35th year, the event doubled as a platform for immigrant recognition, cultural inclusion, and Chicago’s rising role in American dining.
Kumiko won Outstanding Bar, while Oriole’s Noah Sandoval was named Best Chef: Great Lakes, beating out other regional finalists from both Chicago and the Midwest.
Kumiko’s Win Highlights Immigrant Voices in Food
Accepting the award for Outstanding Bar, Kumiko owner Julia Momosé delivered one of the evening’s most powerful speeches. Born in Japan and now a leader in Chicago’s cocktail scene, Momosé emphasized how immigrants have long powered the food and beverage industry.
“What’s happening right now with ICE and the deportations and people being ripped away from their families and their homes, even from their places of work — it’s not right,” she told the crowd. “It doesn’t feel right to stand here and celebrate an industry built on the backs of immigrants without recognizing that.”
Her remarks were met with applause, affirming the industry’s growing awareness of its workforce roots.
Oriole’s Noah Sandoval Named Best Chef: Great Lakes
Though he was not present at the ceremony, Noah Sandoval of Oriole, known for its fine dining tasting menu in the West Loop, was honored as Best Chef in the Great Lakes region.
Oriole joins the ranks of Chicago’s elite establishments that have taken home multiple Beard honors in recent years, reinforcing the city’s growing clout in national fine dining.
Other Chicago finalists in the same category included:
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Maxwells Trading (Asian-inspired)
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HaiSous (Vietnamese, based in Pilsen)
Chicago’s Broader Impact on the 2025 Awards
While Frasca Food and Wine of Boulder, Colorado, won Outstanding Restaurant, Chicago’s Galit (Middle Eastern, Lincoln Park) was the only local finalist in that category. Galit’s co-owner Andrés Clavero called the recognition “absolutely bonkers,” saying:
“A team award in the host city is surreal. We don’t take any of this lightly.”
Additionally, South Side institution Lem’s Bar-B-Q received early honors this year as an America’s Classics awardee.
A Star-Studded Night at the Lyric Opera House
Hosted by chefs Nyesha Arrington and Andrew Zimmern, the sold-out event featured appearances from Mayor Brandon Johnson, his wife Stacie, and food icon Rick Bayless, who praised today’s young chefs for redefining authenticity.
“We can be the old guys on the block, but all of these young chefs are doing really fantastic things,” Bayless said.
Kristen Reynolds, CEO of Choose Chicago, reiterated the city’s commitment to keeping the James Beard Awards here beyond 2027, the final year of its current hosting deal.
Why This Matters to Chicago’s Suburbs Too
From Logan Square’s Lula Cafe to Pilsen’s HaiSous and West Loop’s Oriole, the diverse culinary talent across Chicago’s neighborhoods is shaping national dining trends. Suburban diners, tourists, and foodies are directly impacted by this recognition — with more visitors flocking to Chicago for its award-winning dining scene.
Restaurants that win Beard Awards often expand, collaborate, or inspire culinary offshoots in suburbs like Evanston, Oak Park, and Berwyn, helping bridge the city-suburb food connection.
What’s Your Favorite Local Spot Worthy of a Beard Award?
Do you have a go-to suburban restaurant that deserves James Beard recognition? Know an immigrant chef making waves in your neighborhood? Share their story with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com and help spotlight the region’s next big name in food.
