The James Beard Foundation — often dubbed “the Oscars of the food world” — recently released its list of chef and corresponding restaurant semifinalists for this year’s “Best Chef” awards. Last week, we got to know the semfinalists in their Southeast category. Today’s article covers the 20 restaurants honored in The South, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico.
The finalists will be announced on April 3, and the big winners will be announced on June 10 at a ceremony in Chicago, so stay tuned! In the meantime, read more below about the Southern restaurants that made the cut and the chefs behind each establishment being honored.
Helen
Location: Birmingham, AL
More info: helenbham.com
Chef Rob McDaniel’s vivid memories of his grandmother’s cooking inspired him to become a chef. Now, his downtown Birmingham restaurant, named Helen in her honor, is receiving national acclaim for its Southern-inspired cuisine. The menu honors Rob’s nostalgic recollections of cooking over his grandmother’s indoor grill with hardwood coals and smoke, with items like steaks and seasonal vegetables prepared over the kitchen’s large open-fire grill.
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At Helen, prime meats and seafood are cooked in an open kitchen and served alongside vegetables and non-traditional sides. Image: Caleb Chancey
KBC
Location: Dothan, AL
More info: eatkbc.com
Born and raised in the small town of Dothan, AL, Kelsey Barnard Clark made a national name for herself after winning Top Chef in 2019. Today, visitors flock to downtown Dothan to dine at her restaurant, KBC. The menu boasts contemporary interpretations of Southern cuisine and family recipes influenced by a Gulf Coast upbringing, all prepared using classic French techniques. Try dishes like the “Duck à l’Orange,” featuring a roasted duck breast with a side of creamed collards.
Red or White
Location: Mobile, AL
More info: redorwhitewine.com
Growing up with two food-loving parents in culturally rich New Mexico, Arwen Rice brings her culinary prowess to Mobile’s Red or White. The wine bar and restaurant specializes in fresh, wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta, and gourmet cheese and meat platters. The wine menu changes frequently, always available by the glass or as two-ounce tastes.
CONIFER
Location: Bentonville, AR
More info: coniferbentonville.com
At his restaurant CONIFER, Chef Matthew Cooper crafts a distinctive gluten-free menu featuring farm-fresh ingredients with purposeful culinary flair. Anticipate regional-style cooking at CONIFER, incorporating elements inspired by Northwest Arkansas: fresh fish, gluten-free bread baked to order, and an array of vibrant vegetable dishes.
Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico
Location: Bentonville, AR
More info: yeyosnwa.com
Rafael Rios, the son of migrant farmers in California, embodies a self-made success story. Arriving in northwest Arkansas in 2006, he worked as a farmer in the area before venturing into the food industry, eventually opening his first food truck. His flagship restaurant, Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, is located in Bentonville’s 8th Street Market. Traditional Mexican dishes prevail, such as the Enmoladas featuring a slightly spicy, rich Oaxacan mole negro.
Maty’s
Location: Miami, FL
More info: matysmiami.com
Maty’s, a bustling 150-seat Peruvian restaurant and bar, is nestled in the vibrant heart of Midtown Miami, spearheaded by Chef Valerie Chang. Named after Chef Chang’s grandmother, Maty’s showcases traditional Peruvian cuisine influenced by her family. At Maty’s, savor the delightful complexity of classic Peruvian dishes such as Chicken Milanesa, Cebiche, and Oxtail Saltado.
Ocean Social
Location: Miami, FL
More info: edenrochotelmiami.com
Ocean Social, led by Chef Tristen Epps, is the signature restaurant at the iconic Eden Roc Miami Beach. Epps has worked alongside some of the culinary world’s most distinguished names, including Thomas Keller and Marcus Samuelsson. He brings this invaluable experience to Ocean Social, creating a menu that playfully explores the concept of “surf and turf” with inventive twists.
Kabooki Sushi
Location: Orlando, FL
More info: kabookisushi.com
Henry Moso spent his childhood in his native Laos and throughout Southeast Asia. At 22, he opened Kabooki Sushi in Orlando, FL. Now, Moso is one of Orlando’s most celebrated sushi chefs, and Kabooki’s legendary omakase is known for its extravagance, featuring high-quality ingredients sourced from both local waters and those of the Pacific.
Kadence
Location: Orlando, FL
More info: kadenceorlando.com
Jennifer and Mark Berdin, a husband and wife duo, are the driving force behind Kadence, a sake and sushi bar with just nine seats. The multi-course meals are impeccably presented, with dishes centered around offerings from both land and sea. The sake program is also unparalleled, as both Jennifer and Mark are certified advanced sake professionals.
Būccan
Location: Palm Beach, FL
More info: buccanpalmbeach.com
At Palm Beach’s Būccan, Clay Conley’s innovative American cuisine is a testament to culinary artistry. Būccan is renowned for its small plate, big flavor dishes, including menu items like Hand Rolled Fusilli adorned with Maine lobster and uni butter, and spicy sweet Florida Rock Shrimp Ceviche.
Alma Cafe
Location: New Orleans, LA
More info: eatalmanola.com
Chef Melissa Araujo honors her Honduran heritage and grandmother’s culinary legacy at her inviting cafe in Bywater, just outside the French Quarter. Alma, which means “soul” in Spanish, focuses on brunch specialties such as the best-selling “Alma Brunch”— two eggs with refried beans, sweet plantains, avocado, queso fresco, and homemade crema.
Palm&Pine
Location: New Orleans, LA
More info: palmandpinenola.com
Palm&Pine is a lively New Orleans restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter. It proudly celebrates the rich culinary traditions of Louisiana, the South, and the “South of that,” drawing inspiration from the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Chef Amarys Herndon and her husband, Chef Jordan Herndon, lead the kitchen and set the tone for the restaurant’s unique concept.
Mister Mao
Location: New Orleans, LA
More info: mistermaonola.com
Sophina Uong is the executive chef and co-owner of the innovative Mister Mao restaurant and bar. The restaurant is fondly referred to as a “tropical roadhouse that highlights ‘inauthentic’ globally-inspired cuisine.” The menu offers a distinctive and spice-forward selection of dishes and changes often.
Saffron
Location: New Orleans, LA
More info: saffronnola.com
Saffron, helmed by Arvinder Vilkhu, is a fine-dining Indian restaurant in uptown New Orleans. Vilkhu runs the restaurant alongside his family, and his menu showcases elevated Indian specialties infused with Louisiana ingredients. The multi-course tasting menu recognizes India’s diverse flavors and culinary traditions, blending modern interpretations and timeless classics.
Chicken’s Kitchen
Location: Gretna, LA
More info: chickens-kitchen.com
Chef Marlon “Chicken” Williams is a self-taught cook from New Orleans, Louisiana. His Gretna restaurant, Chicken’s Kitchen, offers a different menu served each weekday from a row of steam tables. You can find everything from fried chicken and catfish to ribs, blackened salmon, and seafood pasta. Various Southern sides include crawfish hushpuppies, salt pork cabbage, and candied yams.
Us Up North
Location: Shreveport, LA
More info: usupnorth.com
Hardette Harris serves up “soul in a bowl” with the distinct flavors and cooking techniques of North Louisiana. Us Up North, located in the Allendale neighborhood of Shreveport, offers pop-ups and privately booked culinary experiences. In 2015, Chef Harris announced her groundbreaking creation of the official meal of North Louisiana, one of only two official meals in the United States.
Elvie’s
Location: Jackson, MS
More info: elviesrestaurant.com
Elvie’s pays homage to Hunter Evans’s grandmother, Elvaretta May Good, who exposed Evans to New Orleans’ famed French Quarter at a young age. Elvie’s provides a warm and sophisticated dining atmosphere reminiscent of NOLA cafes, with dishes like Redfish Almondine standing out as the ideal example of the ‘Mississippi French’ style of cooking that Evans modeled Elvie’s after.
Leña Eh Food Truck
Location: San Juan, PR
More info: Instagram
Chef Ruben Guzman’s exceptional cooking over an open fire elevates Leña Eh Food Truck to a must-visit destination in San Juan. Signature dishes include the roasted chicken thigh, a Choripán sandwich with chimichurri, and the catch of the day, often spearfished by Chef Guzman himself.
Orujo
Location: San Juan, PR
More info: Instagram
Orujo, led by chef and owner Carlos Portela, offers a menu inspired by the freshest produce, fish, and meat sourced from local purveyors. The prix fixe menu, ranging from 15 to 24 courses, promises a dining journey that can span up to five delightful hours. Chef Portela personally selects and pours the wine pairings, ensuring an equally remarkable experience.
Verde Mesa
Location: San Juan, PR
More info: verdemesapr.com
Following a lengthy break, Chef Gabriel (Gaby) Hernández reopened Verde Mesa in 2023. The restaurant returns to its roots as a seasonal, vegetable-centric establishment, and Hernández can be spotted at farmers’ markets weekly, hand-selecting ingredients like star fruit, pomarossa, jobo, and breadfruit. Inspired by Mediterranean influences, the menu showcases small plates meant to be shared.
Wishing the best of luck to these local chefs! To see the complete list of semifinalists, visit jamesbeard.org.
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