Restaurant in Northwest Arkansas shortlisted for the James Beard Award

Little Rock, Arkansas – A chef from Northwest Arkansas is competing for a James Beard Award.

Rafael Rios is a finalist for the Best Chef in the South award at Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville.

Yeyo’s is a family-run eatery with two food trucks in addition to a permanent site.

For a restaurant to qualify for the category, it must have opened between Jan. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022, “that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations while contributing positively to its broader community.”

According to the Beard Awards website, the new restaurants nominated also appear to have a big impact in the upcoming years.

Rios is competing in the Best Chef category, which is divided into regions. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Mississippi make up the South.

The nominated chefs have “set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities” and are creating a “sustainable work culture” in their regions while contributing positively to the community.

In 2022, Yeyo’s was included on the list of the 50 greatest restaurants in the nation by the New York Times.

According to the New York Times, the Rios family’s farm in Northwest Arkansas serves as a source of food for both its food trucks and restaurant. Mexican cuisine from Rios’ home country is served at Yeyo’s, including tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.