Filipino-American chef Paolo Dungca has been named a semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category of the prestigious 2025 James Beard Awards. Based in Washington, DC, Dungca is the creative force behind Hiraya, a restaurant known for its modern take on Filipino cuisine.
Recognized by the James Beard Foundation for his innovative approach, Dungca expressed his gratitude on Instagram, calling it a dream come true. The foundation officially announced the list of semifinalists on January 22, with winners set to be revealed on April 2. The awards ceremony will take place on June 16 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
Hiraya, which means “fruit of one’s hopes and dreams” in ancient Filipino, has gained attention for its unique dishes, including the tocino burger with ube buns, which was featured on the cover of Food & Wine Magazine in 2022. Other highlights from the menu include adobo chocolate chip cookies, black truffle ensaymadas, and ube pandan lattes.
Dungca follows in the footsteps of fellow Filipino-American chef Lord Maynard Llera of Kuya Lord in Los Angeles, who won Best Chef: California in last year’s James Beard Awards.
