Over 20 Miami Restaurant Visionaries Named Rising Stars

Miami’s food and drink scene has never been more electric. Fueled by global influences, a deep well of local talent, and an unshakable sense of place, the city’s kitchens, bars, bakeries, and dining rooms are telling stories that matter – and StarChefs is paying attention.

The national restaurant industry magazine has announced the 2025 Miami Rising Stars Award winners, celebrating a bold, diverse new class of local culinary talent. This year’s honorees don’t just cook well-they lead, inspire, and uplift their communities, representing the best of South Florida’s ever-evolving food landscape.

The 2025 class-selected from over 100 in-person tastings and interviews-represents the fifth Rising Stars group from the region and the 91st class nationwide. Honorees are selected through months of research, in-person tastings, and interviews, emphasizing not just great food and drink, but mentorship, innovation, and community impact. This year’s Miami cohort reflects the city’s diverse and evolving culinary identity.

Below, meet the visionaries shaping the future of Miami’s hospitality scene.

The 2025 Miami Rising Stars Award Winners
Chefs

• Estefania Andrade – Trippy Kitchen
• Ivan Barros – Magie’s Wine Bar, formerly of Amara at Paraiso
• Javier Cussato and Carmen Ibarra – Atomica
• Maria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez – Recoveco
• Juan Camilo Liscano – Palma
• Tam Pham – T’m T’m
• Juan Manuel Umbert – Pasta

Game Changers

• Evan Burgess and Osmel Gonzalez – EntreNos

Community

• Karla Hoyos – Tacotomia

Concept

• Kavan Burke, Wayne Sharpe, and Harrison Soffer – Jrk!

Restaurateurs

• Josh Hackler, Pili Restrepo, and Sebastián Vargas – Grassfed Culture Hospitality

Pastry Chef

• Ana De Sa Martins – formerly of Stubborn Seed

Bakers

• Christian Julien and Oscar Lastra – Façade

Bartender

• Rensel Cabrera – The Sylvester

Sommeliers

• Gabriela Ospina – Boia De
• Matt Whitney – Sunny’s Steakhouse

Mentor

• Diego Oka – La Mar by Gastón Acurio

Celebrate the Winners and Give Back With Restaurant Week

To mark the occasion, StarChefs will host Miami Rising Stars Restaurant Week from May 7 through May 21, featuring special menus and dishes across participating restaurants. A portion of proceeds from each special will benefit Rethink Food, a nonprofit that repurposes excess food to provide more than 40,000 free meals each week to food-insecure communities in New York City and Miami.