Restaurants & Bars
9 LA County Restaurants, Chefs Named 2026 James Beard Nominees
Known as the "Oscars of food," the awards recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional dishes.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Nine Los Angeles restaurants and chefs were among the 2026 James Beard Foundation Award nominees announced Tuesday.
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.
Often 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.
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
The nominees announced this week were narrowed down from a list of semifinalists announced earlier this year. Winners will be announced June 15 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony in Chicago.
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Outstanding Chef
Five chefs nationwide are in the running for this award — three of them come from California restaurants, including two in Los Angeles.
Emerging Chef
Fátima Juárez of Mexican restaurant Komal, located in South Central, is among five nationwide nominees for the Emerging Chef award.
Best New Restaurant
Ten eateries nationwide are competing for Best New Restaurant, including Little Tokyo's Korean restaurant Ki.
Outstanding Hospitality
Hollywood's Providence has a long list of accolades, including three Michelin Stars and a James Beard Award for Michael Cimarusti.
This year, Providence is up against five other U.S. restaurants for Outstanding Hospitality.
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Last year, Chef Jon Yao was named James Beard's Best Chef in California for his work at contemporary Asian restaurant Kato.
This year, the downtown LA eatery is nominated for its beverage program.
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Five nominees nationwide are competing for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, including Jack Benchakul of Chinatown's endorffeine coffee bar.
Best Chef: California
Of the state's five Best Chef nominees, two are in LA County:
Achievement Awards
The LA County winners of three awards have already been announced:
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.
Check out the full lists of California nominees and national nominees.
Patch staffer Kristina Houck contributed reporting.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
