2023 James Beard semifinalists
6 Austin restaurants score coveted James Beard Award nominations
The James Beard Foundation has revealed the semifinalists for its 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Six Austin restaurants have been included in both national categories and the coveted title of Best Chef: Texas.
Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards recognize outstanding chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories ranging from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. The awards also include media categories that will be announced at a later date.
Austin restaurants and bars are well represented among both the national and regional awards. Overall, the city earned three national nominations and three nominations for Best Chef: Texas. Perhaps one of them will follow Austin chefs Edgar Rico, Iliana de la Vega, and Jesse Griffiths, who took home James Beard Awards in 2022.
They are:
Outstanding Restaurant: La Condesa
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Suerte
Best Chef: Texas nominees
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje
- Damien Brockway, Distant Relatives
- Kareem El-Ghayesh, KG BBQ
Elsewhere, Houston and Dallas both boast 10 nominees, San Antonio has seven, and Fort Worth has two.
As with last year, the nominees include a wide range of barbecue pitmasters. Austin’s KG BBQ and Distant Relatives are joined by the pitmasters at five other restaurants. Building on Austin chef Iliana de la Vega’s Best Chef: Texas win last year, several chefs who serve Mexican cuisine received semifinalist nominations.
Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, March 29. The Foundation will reveal its winners at an awards ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.




The space by Gabrielle Elizabeth Designs is internationally inspired, with items from around the world, including doors from Morocco.Photo by Luisa Pineda
Classes here look dark, warm, and tightly packed.Photo by Luisa Pineda
The café's red tiles pay tribute to painted roofs and temple walls in Bhutan, and the pendant lights recall golden temple rooftops.Photo by Luisa Pineda