And then there were two: Lom Wong chef Yotaka "Sunny" Martin and Valentine pastry chef Crystal Kass are the sole Arizonans to make it to the finalist round of the 2025 James Beard Awards. Why it ...

Yotaka Martin of Lom Wong restaurant in downtown Phoenix has won her first James Beard Award for Best Chef — Southwest. The James Beard Awards — the Oscars of the restaurant industry — were ...

Yotaka Martin, chef of Lom Wong in Phoenix, won the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef — Southwest. Several Phoenix chefs congratulated Martin on social media. The James Beard Awards — the ...

Yotaka Martin of Lom Wong was a finalist for Best Chef — Southwest. She opened Lom Wong in Phoenix in 2022 alongside her husband, Alex Martin. The restaurant specializes in regional Thai cuisine.

Lom Wong’s Yokata “Sunny” Martin won the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest, beating out other chefs from Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma.

In the 2022 Best of Phoenix, Sunny was awarded Best Chef. In this year's awards, we named Lom Wong the Best Thai Restaurant in town. And earlier this month, the duo expanded their reach once again.

When I dine out, I want to be surprised, and at Lom Wong, I feel like I learn something new with every meal. Details: 218 E. Portland St., Phoenix. 602-675-0522, lomwongaz.com.

Chilte and Lom Wong shared the spotlight with New York's Ilis, founded by Mads Refslund, a cofounder of Noma, which was considered the best restaurant in the world for many years.

- Lom Wong is meaning sitting, gather around in a circle, friend, family, like when you, like a celebrate something. - For guests who come to Lom Wong, they'll be experiencing regional Thai food.