Some of the country's most prestigious dining awards announced a slew of L.A.-based finalists, from coffee to best new restaurant to the top chef in the state.
The James Beard Foundation Awards — some of the country’s most prestigious accolades in the dining and beverage industries — just announced the 2026 finalists, with nine of them in the Los Angeles area.
This year’s awards will also recognize two L.A.-based aid organizations and the recipient of the lifetime achievement award, L.A. chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Nancy Silverton. The James Beard Foundation said in its announcement that “Silverton has mentored countless chefs, bakers and restaurateurs who have since defined their own culinary identities and meaningfully contributed to the independent restaurant ecosystem.” Silverton joins the ranks of past awardees including Ruth Reichl, Wolfgang Puck, Toni Tipton-Martin, Madhur Jaffrey and Martin Yan, among others. In January the foundation released the year’s semifinalists, which included two dozen individuals, restaurants and bars in the L.A. region. The nine remaining nominees run the gamut of the city’s cuisines and talent, from fine-dining tasting menus to chefs based in a Historic South-Central food hall. The winners will be announced and awarded at a June 15 ceremony held at Chicago’s Lyric Opera. In the category of outstanding chef, Gilberto Cetina of Holbox, located in Mercado La Paloma, and Niki Nakayama of n/naka are nominees; farther north, in San Francisco, so is Quince’s Michael Tusk. Fátima Juárez, of Komal, is a contender for emerging chef. This category spotlights chefs of “exceptional talent, character and leadership ability, and who likely to make a significant impact in years to come.” In the regional category of best chef in California — an accolade won by L.A. chefs the last three years in a row — two local names are still in the running. Dave Beran of Santa Monica’s Seline and Kwang Uh of the Arts District’s Baroo are finalists. Up the coast, so are Daisy Ryan of Los Alamos’ Bell’s, Harrison Cheney of San Francisco’s Sons & Daughters, and Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu of Oakland’s Sun Moon Studio. “I’m very grateful,” Uh told the L.A. Times in January. “At the same time, it’s this question like, ‘Am I really worth it?’ But I’m very thankful.” In 2025 the category was won by Kato’s Jon Yao, in 2024 by Kuya Lord’s Lord Maynard Llera, and in 2023 by Anajak Thai Cuisine’s Justin Pichetrungsi. Modern Korean tasting menu Restaurant Ki, which the L.A. Times called the best new restaurant of 2025, is now a nominee for best new restaurant. Providence, which earned three Michelin stars last year for the first time in its 21-year run, is a nominee in the category for outstanding hospitality. Downtown restaurant Kato, with a menu that balances cocktails, nonalcoholic beverages and an extensive wine selection, is a finalist for outstanding wine and other beverages program. No L.A. bars were semifinalists in the category of outstanding bar, but San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove is now a nominee. Jack Benchakul of Chinatown coffee shop Endorffeine is a nominee for the category of outstanding professional in beverage service. The beverage categories have historically been dominated by beer, cocktail and wine establishments and programs. Benchakul hopes that is changing. “I think it’s always been a dream to be seen by our hospitality peers,” he said. “I think that's been the same for most coffee professionals. We kind of exist in our little specialty niche.” He likens coffee programs to pastry programs 20 or more years ago, and hopes that coffee and tea — like pastry and baking — will become more frequently considered for industry awards. Onyx Coffee Lab, based in Rogers, Ark., is another coffee finalist in this year’s awards as a nominee in the outstanding bar category. “It's humbling and flattering, and I didn't think it would happen during my career,” Benchakul said. “I thought we were probably another 10 years out before being seen on the same level as other restaurant professionals, chefs, bartenders and pastry chefs.” L.A. saw no semifinalists in the category of outstanding professional in cocktail service this year, but San Francisco’s Kevin Diedrich of Pacific Cocktail Haven is a finalist. L.A.'s semifinalists for outstanding restaurateur are no longer in the running, but Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar of Cal-India Collective — with operations in Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park and Los Altos — are contenders. With a number of names culled in this round, L.A. is no longer in the running for the categories of outstanding restaurateur, outstanding restaurant, outstanding bakery, outstanding pastry chef or baker, or best new bar. But the L.A.-based Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights is an Impact Awards honoree, while the recipients of the humanitarian of the year award are Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz of L.A.’s No Us Without You. Both organizations champion immigrant rights and representation, as well as aid distribution in L.A. and beyond. In February, the foundation named Inglewood's multigenerational Serving Spoon restaurant an American classic, signifying its 'timeless appeal' and that Serving Spoon reflects 'local character and cultural traditions and serve as an enduring anchor for their communities by serving delicious food across many years.' Find the full list of 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards nominees here.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Philly scores seven 2026 James Beard Award finalistsKalaya, Emmett, and the Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday all scored nominations for Outstanding Restaurant, Best New Restaurant, and Outstanding Bar, respectively.
Read more »
The Best New Restaurants And Bars In America—According To The 2026 James Beard AwardsFrom omakase counters and tasting-menu spots to innovative cocktail lounges, this year’s nominees highlight the most exciting venues across the United States.
Read more »
Several LA chefs advance to the James Beard Award 2026 finalsSuzanne Levy is a senior editor for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »
James Beard Award 2026 finalists announced: Nine LA County names make the cutNancy Silverton, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and No Us Without You will also receive honorary awards.
Read more »
Austin misses out on James Beard Award finalist roundWhile nine restaurants and chefs were named semifinalists, none made it to the final round for this year's James Beard Awards.
Read more »
San Antonio restaurant Mixtli and chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph among latest James Beard Award finalistsSan Antonio's Mixtli was named a finalist in the James Beard Awards' Outstanding Restaurant category. A San Antonio restaurant and a San Antonio chef are
Read more »