Philly Has Six James Beard Award Finalists for 2023

Six contenders from Philly have made the cut as finalists, or nominees, for the 2023 James Beard Awards, considered one of the highest honors in the food world. The James Beard Foundation announced these finalists this morning in Nashville and will announce winners at a gala in Chicago on June 5.

Philly’s finalists include tasting-menu darling Friday Saturday Sunday in the category of outstanding restaurant; Amanda Shulman of the family-style Her Place Supper Club for the emerging chef award; and Ellen Yin of High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, High Street Philly, etc.) for best restaurateur.

The other three local nominees are all competing in the category of outstanding chef, Mid-Atlantic: Jesse Ito of Japanese hot spot Royal Sushi & Izakaya; Dionicio Jiménez of Mexican newcomer Cantina La Martina; and Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon of Thai destination Kalaya (Eater’s 2019 Restaurant of the Year, now at a huge new location in Fishtown). They’ll also face off against a pair of chefs from Pittsburgh and one from Washington, D.C. Philly chef Cristina Martinez of South Philly Barbacoa and Casa Mexico won this award last year.

Today’s “short list” of finalists has been whittled from a “long list” of semifinalists, announced in January, that included 15 contenders from Philly. That said, even making it to the semifinals is considered an honor in the restaurant industry.

Corinne’s Place, a longtime soul food restaurant in Camden founded by Corinne Bradley-Powers, was one of six winners in the America’s Classics category.

Here’s a full list of this year’s finalists throughout the country.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2023.