Reem Assil

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Reem Assil

RESTAURANT

Reem's California

HOMETOWN

San Francisco, CA

Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef and owner of Reem’s California, a nationally acclaimed restaurant, inspired by her passion for Arab street corner bakeries and the vibrant communities that surround them. Reem has garnered an array of top accolades in the culinary world, including back to back  James Beard Semifinalist nods for Best Chef: West.  She is a graduate of the competitive food business incubator program, La Cocina.  Before dedicating herself to a culinary career, Reem spent over a decade as a community and labor organizer, building leadership in workers and residents to fight  voice in their jobs and their neighborhoods. Reem sits at the intersection of her three passions: food, community, and social justice. She uses food to invoke the central virtue of her Arab culture ⁠— hospitality ⁠— to build strong, resilient, and connected community.

Awards & Accolades

  • James Beard Semifinalist in the Best Chef: West in 2018 & 2019 
  • Thrillist's "2018 Chef of the Year" 
  • San Francisco Magazine’s “2018 Chef of the Year" 
  • San Francisco Chronicle's “2017 Rising Star Chef” 
  • Star Chefs "2019 Rising Star Restauranteur" 
  • Reem’s California: National: Food & Wine’s "2018 Top 10 New Restaurants of the Year” 
  • Local SF Chronicle’s 2019 Top 100 & 2020 Top 90  
  • Mercury News’ “Bay Area’s Best 50 Restaurants” 
  • East Bay Express "2019 Best Middle Eastern Restaurant"