Widely regarded as the Oscars of the food world, the James Beard Awards are a glittering showcase of America's brightest culinary talent.
Given out annually since 1990 in a variety of chef and restaurant categories—from outstanding chef to best new bar—recognition from the Beard Awards is considered an incredible honor. They may be second to only the MICHELIN Guide when it comes to food and drink prestige in America.
And although it took a while for the Beard Foundation to fully open their eyes to the incredible food coming from the City of Oaks, they did so just in time. Since 2008, the Raleigh area has accounted for more James Beard nominations (43) than any other destination in North Carolina.
You can see the full list below of chefs and restaurants in the Raleigh area that have earned Beard recognition, but it's worth pointing out a few shining stars.
Ashley Christensen—the matriarch of modern dining in Raleigh—has been recognized an incredible 10 times. She was the winner in the category of Best Chef: Southeast in 2014, and then again for Outstanding Chef (the Beard Foundation's highest honor) in 2019. Christensen is the chef behind the iconic Poole's Diner, as well as the high-end Death & Taxes and more casual Beasley's Chicken + Honey—all in downtown Raleigh.
Not far behind in recognition is Scott Crawford, a 2025 nominee for Outstanding Restaurateur and the chef behind four restaurants that are widely considered among the Tar Heel State's best—Crawford and Son; Jolie; Brodeto; and Crawford Brothers Steakhouse. Crawford's first Beard Award nomination came in 2011 while he was the chef at Herons, a five-star fine dining restaurant located at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary.
And Cheetie Kumar, the rock star chef that brought Indian-inspired cuisine to the forefront in Raleigh with the 2013 opening of her now-closed restaurant Garland, has been recognized six times now—five times in the category of Best Chef: Southeast, and once in 2024 in the category of Best New Restaurant when her second restaurant, Ajja, opened to great fanfare (proof that reinvention is a beautiful thing).
2025
- Scott Crawford: Outstanding Restaurateur*
- Figulina: Best New Restaurant
- Bhavin Chhatwani (Tamasha), Emerging Chef
- Christopher Prieto (Prime Barbecue): Best Chef: Southeast
* Scott Crawford is the owner of Crawford and Son; Jolie; Brodeto; Crawford Brothers Steakhouse
2024
- Crawford and Son: Outstanding Hospitality
- Preeti Waas (Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
- Bittersweet: Outstanding Bar
- Ajja: Best New Restaurant
2023
- Preeti Waas (Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
2022
- Sunny Gerhart (St. Roch's Fine Oysters + Bar): Best Chef: Southeast
- Cheetie Kumar (Garland, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
- Oscar Diaz (Cortez, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
2020
* Death & Taxes is owned by Ashley Christensen, the celebrated chef behind Poole's Diner and Beasley's Chicken + Honey
2019
- Steven Devereaux Green (Herons): Best Chef: Southeast
- Ashley Christensen (Poole's Diner): Outstanding Chef WINNER
- Oscar Diaz (Cortez, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
- Cheetie Kumar (Garland, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
2018
- Ashley Christensen (Poole's Diner): Outstanding Chef
- Brewery Bhavana: Best New Restaurant
- Cheetie Kumar (Garland, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
2017
- Ashley Christensen (Poole's Diner): Best Chef: Southeast
- Steven Devereaux Green (Herons): Best Chef: Southeast
- Lionel Vatinet (La Farm Bakery): Outstanding Baker
- Cheetie Kumar (Garland, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
2016
- Death & Taxes: Best New Restaurant
- Ashley Christensen (Poole's Diner): Best Chef: Southeast
- Steven Devereaux Green (Herons): Best Chef: Southeast
- Lionel Vatinet (La Farm Bakery): Outstanding Baker
- Scott Crawford (Standard Foods, now closed): Best Chef: Southeast
2015
2014
- Ashley Christensen (Poole's Diner), Best Chef: Southeast WINNER
- Scott Crawford (Herons): Best Chef: Southeast
2013
2012
2011
- Ashley Christensen (Poole's Diner), Best Chef: Southeast
- Scott Crawford (Herons): Best Chef: Southeast
2010
2008
- Jeremy Sabo (South, now closed): Rising Star Chef of the Year
