Denver chef becomes first Asian woman in Colorado to win James Beard Award

Jun 30, 2026, 1:07 PM | Updated: 1:08 pm

98.5 KYGO

The James Beard Awards, which recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in culinary arts, hospitality, media and broader food system’s were held on June 15 and it was Colorado’s own Chef Penelope Wong who won “Best Chef” for the Mountain region.

Chef Wong won for her restaurant Yuan Wonton, and by doing so became the first Asian Woman to win that award in Colorado.

This marked Wong’s 3rd year in a row being a finalist with her restaurant which began as a food truck and now is in the Park Hill neighborhood serving items such as chili oil wontons, crispy garlic noodles, kung pao chicken and more.

The Mountain region includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

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