Chefs and restaurants were honored on Monday night with James Beard Awards, one of the US culinary community’s highest accolades.

While accepting the honor, among the most prestigious in the culinary industry, Chef Jon Yao celebrating his city noting that it "is built by immigrants"

Only Jon Yao of Los Angeles took home a California award, in the Best Chef, California category. “At our restaurant, we tell stories of immigrants, of diaspora, endurance and perseverance,” he said in his acceptance speech. “LA is a city built by the toils of immigrant communities, and right now, those same communities are being ripped apart.”