16 CA Chefs, Restaurants Earn 2026 James Beard Nominations

Multiple California chefs, restaurants and organizations were named 2026 James Beard Foundation Award nominees and honorees, the organization announced Tuesday.

A vanguard of culinary honors in the U.S. since 1990, the awards have served as a benchmark for excellence in the food and restaurant industry for decades.

Sometimes called the "Oscars of food," the awards recognize chefs, restaurants and organizations shaping American dining culture, as well as encouraging a more equitable and sustainable industry.

"This year's nominees show just how vibrant and dynamic restaurant culture is right now," Lauren Saria and Erinn Tucker-Oluwole, Restaurant and Chef Awards Subcommittee co-chairs, said in a joint statement.

"From longstanding institutions to exciting newcomers, they reflect an industry defined by outstanding craft, hospitality, and deep connection to the communities they serve. Together, they offer a compelling snapshot of American dining today."

The 2026 nominees span national categories and regional honors, including Best Chef: California, along with achievement awards recognizing humanitarian work and lifetime impact.

Receiving a James Beard Award can significantly boost visibility and business for restaurants and chefs, with recognition often leading to new opportunities, economic impact, and widespread clamoring for reservations.

Winners will be announced June 15 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

In California, the following chefs, restaurants and organizations were recognized this year:

Restaurant and Chef Nominees

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Cal-India Collective (Ettan, Copra, Eylan and Little Blue Door), Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Los Altos

Outstanding Chef

• Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles
• Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles
• Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco

Emerging Chef

• Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles

Best New Restaurant

• Ki, Los Angeles

Outstanding Hospitality

• Providence, Los Angeles

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

• Kato, Los Angeles

Outstanding Bar

• Smuggler's Cove, San Francisco

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

• Jack Benchakul, endorffeine coffee bar, Los Angeles

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

• Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco

Best Chef: California

• Dave Beran, Seline, Santa Monica
• Harrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San Francisco
• Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio, Oakland
• Kwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles
• Daisy Ryan, Bell's, Los Alamos

Achievement Awards

Humanitarian of the Year

Los Angeles nonprofit No Us Without You and its co-founders, Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz, were named Humanitarian of the Year for their work providing food relief to hospitality workers affected by the pandemic, including undocumented back-of-house workers ineligible for unemployment benefits.

Impact Award

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights was also recognized with an Impact Award for its advocacy and services supporting immigrant communities.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Los Angeles chef Nancy Silverton received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades-long influence on American cuisine, including founding La Brea Bakery, helping spark the modern artisanal bread movement, and winning the first-ever James Beard Award for Pastry Chef of the Year in 1991.

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