31 CA Restaurants, Chefs Named 2026 James Beard Semifinalists

CALIFORNIA — 31 California restaurants and chefs were named 2026 James Beard semifinalists, the organization announced Wednesday.

A vanguard of culinary honors in the United States since 1990, the Awards have been a definitive source for culinary excellence for more than 35 years.

Sometimes known as the “Oscars of food,” the awards recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, the James Beard Foundation said.

Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

The semifinalists announced on Wednesday are across 14 categories. The best chef semifinalists are in a dozen regions.

In California, the following restaurants and chefs were named semifinalists this year:

Restaurants

• Antico Nuovo — Los Angeles
• Foreign Cinema — San Francisco
• Ki — Los Angeles
• RVR — Venice
• The Happy Crane — San Francisco
• Ammatoli — Long Beach
• Providence — Los Angeles
• House of Prime Rib

Chefs

• Eric Alexander and Courtney McDonald, Restaurant Josephine — Auburn
• Kim Alter, Nightbird — San Francisco
• Dave Beran, Seline — Santa Monica
• Eric Bost, Lilo — Carlsbad
• Harrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters — San Francisco
• Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio — Oakland
• Geoff Davis, Burdell — Oakland
• Gilberto Cetina, Holbox — Los Angeles
• Niki Nakayama, n/naka — Los Angeles
• Michael Tusk, Quince — San Francisco
• Brian Dunsmoor, Dunsmoor — Los Angeles
• Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer, Kismet — Los Angeles
• Zareen Khan, Zareen's — Palo Alto
• Emma Lipp and Stephanie Reagor, Valley Bar & Bottle — Sonoma
• Tara Monsod, Animae — San Diego
• Andrew Muñoz and Michelle Muñoz, Moo's Craft Barbecue — Los Angeles
• Charles Namba, Camélia — Los Angeles
• Viet Nguyen, Nep Cafe — Fountain Valley
• Brandon Rice, Ernest — San Francisco
• Daisy Ryan, Bell's — Los Alamos
• Fik Saleh and Rachel Saleh, Fikscue Craft BBQ — Alameda
• Kosuke Tada, Mijoté — San Francisco
• Kwang Uh, Baroo —Los Angeles

Receiving a James Beard Award can be transformational for restaurants and chefs. Recognition of any kind — whether as a semifinalist, nominee, or winner — can lead to significant visibility, new opportunities, and positive economic impact that helps sustain these vital businesses.

In 2025, 96 percent of surveyed semifinalists reported a positive impact on their business and communities following their recognition, the organization said in a news release.

Nominees will be announced on March 31, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.