Philly Establishment Named Nation's Most Outstanding Restaurant At James Beard Awards

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia chef and restaurant received some of the culinary world's most prestigious honors at Monday’s James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

The awards, regarded as the Academy Awards of the U.S. restaurant industry, honor excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems.

Here are Philadelphia's winners:

• Outstanding Restaurant: Kalaya
• Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Jesse Ito (Royal Sushi & Izakaya)

Kalaya, a southern Thai restaurant, is the brainchild of James Bears Award-winning Chef Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon. Raised in Thailand and inspired by her mother's cooking, Suntaranon built Kalaya into one of the nation's most-celebrated Thai restaurants.

Meanwhile, Ito has won his first James Beard Award after nine nominations. Ito spent much of his childhood at Fuji — his family's restaurant, credited as one of the first to bring authentic Japanese cuisine to South Jersey.

With Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Ito brought a high-end sushi restaurant to Philly. Since then, he has opened a second Royal Sushi location in the city and founded Dancerobot — a Japanese restaurant and bar.

Several other Philadelphia chefs and restaurants were nominated for James Beard Awards in March:

• Best New Restaurant: Emmett
• Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Justine MacNeil, Fiore
• Outstanding Bar: The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday
• Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Amanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club; Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate, Honeysuckle

What Is The James Beard Foundation?

Established in honor of the renowned chef and culinary author, the New York-based James Beard Foundation stands as a premier authority in the American food scene.

While it is famous for the namesake awards handed out Monday, the nonprofit is also dedicated to fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable environment for independent restaurants, making its endorsement a highly coveted distinction.

Marking its 36th anniversary, the James Beard Awards were launched in 1990 to celebrate chefs and establishments that excel in culinary craft, food media, and the improvement of food systems. Beyond gastronomic excellence, the foundation evaluates nominees on their dedication to community impact, sustainability, and the promotion of racial and gender equity within the industry.

Other Philly Honorees

The awards presented Monday are the latest from the foundation.
Earlier this year, restaurants in six states were honored for classic menus.

The foundation also named 20 chefs to watch earlier this month. Honorees included Chef Phila Lorn of Mawn, a Cambodian and Southeast Asian noodle house in Philadelphia.

Earlier this year, the James Beard Foundation announced America’s Classics awards, which seek to reflect local character and cultural traditions at restaurants around the nation.

Philadelphia's Oyster House earned the America's Classics Mid-Atlantic honor.

Before the James Beard Award field was whittled down to the semifinalists and winners, hundreds of restaurants and chefs were named nominees, including the following from Philly:

• Outstanding Restaurateur: Greg Vernick, Vernick Philadelphia (Vernick Food & Drink, Vernick Fish, and Vernick Coffee Bar)
• Emerging Chef: Frankie Ramirez, Amá
• Best New Bar: Almanac
• Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Dan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Piñera, Tequilas and La Jefa
• Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Ian Graye, Pietramala; Randy Rucker, Little Water