The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists for its 2025 culinary awards, with five Los Angeles chefs and restaurants making the cut. Jon Yao of Kato in the Arts District is a finalist for Best Chef: California, alongside Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano.
Yao’s restaurant, which offers a celebrated tasting menu informed by his Taiwanese heritage, has garnered widespread acclaim, including two years in a row as the top restaurant on the L.A. Times’ list of top restaurants and a Michelin star.
Castillo, who helms Heritage Barbecue, is celebrating his first James Beard nomination for the restaurant, citing its team effort and dedication to showcasing barbecue as a whole.
Other Los Angeles-area nominees include rising-star talent, stalwart spots, new restaurants, and some of the country’s best baked goods. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 16.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-04-02/los-angeles-orange-county-nominees-2025-james-beard-awards