These SF Chefs, Restaurants Are James Beard Awards Semifinalists

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The prestigious James Beard Foundation list of 2022 semifinalists was announced on Wednesday, and San Francisco chefs and restaurants were nominated in several categories.

Willy Ng of Koi Palace, Dragon Beaux, and Palette Tea House is a finalist for Outstanding Restaurateur while Reem Assil of Reem's, both Oakland and San Francisco, is a finalist for Outstanding Chef. David Yoshimura of Nisei is a finalist for Emerging Chef. Clement Hsu, Katherine Campecino-Wong, and James Wong of Breadbelly are all finalists for Outstanding Baker.

ABACÁ is the lone San Francisco finalist for Best New Restaurant. House of Prime Rib is a finalist for Outstanding Hospitality.

For the career-making category of Best Chef, San Francisco has six nominees —Sylvan Mishima Brackett of Rintaro, Val M. Cantu of Californios, Brandon Jew of Mister Jiu's, Heena Patel of Besharam, Melissa Perello of Octavia, and Pim Techamuanvivit of Nari.

"Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13, 2022, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago," the semifinal's announcement states.

Here is the complete list of 2022 California James Beard Award semifinalists, by category and restaurant:

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Greg Dulan, Dulan's Soul Food Restaurant, Los Angeles
• Willy Ng, Koi Palace, Dragon Beaux, and Palette Tea House, San Francisco

Outstanding Chef

• Reem Assil, Reem's, Oakland and San Francisco, CA
• Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles

Outstanding Restaurant

• Paragary's, Sacramento, CA
• Post & Beam, Los Angeles

Emerging Chef

• Casey Felton, Banh Oui, Los Angeles
• Crystal Wahpepah, Wahpepah's Kitchen, Oakland, CA
• David Yoshimura, Nisei, San Francisco

Best New Restaurant

• ABACÁ, San Francisco
• Angry Egret Dinette, Los Angeles
• Horn BBQ, Oakland, CA

Outstanding Pastry Chef

• Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles

Outstanding Baker

• Joseph, Archalous, and Caroline Geragosian, Old Sasoon Bakery, Pasadena, CA

• Clement Hsu, Katherine Campecino-Wong, and James Wong, Breadbelly, San Francisco

Outstanding Hospitality (Presented by American Airlines)

• House of Prime Rib, San Francisco

Outstanding Wine Program

• The Punchdown, Oakland, CA

Outstanding Bar Program

• Friends and Family, Oakland, CA
• Genever, Los Angeles

Best Chefs (Presented by Capital One) — Best Chef: California

• Chris Barnum-Dann, Localis, Sacramento, CA
• Sylvan Mishima Brackett, Rintaro, San Francisco
• Val M. Cantu, Californios, San Francisco
• Keith Corbin, Alta Adams, Los Angeles
• Srijith Gopinathan, Ettan, Palo Alto, CA
• Tony Ho, Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Rosemead, CA
• Judept Irra, Tamales Elena y Antojitos, Bell Gardens, CA
• Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu's, San Francisco
• Matthew Kammerer, The Harbor House Inn, Elk, CA
• Bryant Ng, Cassia, Santa Monica, CA
• Heena Patel, Besharam, San Francisco
• Natalia Pereira, Woodspoon, Los Angeles
• Melissa Perello, Octavia, San Francisco
• Minh Phan, Phenakite, Los Angeles
• Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Los Angeles
• Carlos Salgado, Taco María, Costa Mesa, CA
• Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada, Los Angeles
• James Syhabout, Commis, Oakland, CA
• Pim Techamuanvivit, Nari, San Francisco
• Anthony Wells, Juniper and Ivy, San Diego

See the full list of James Beard semifinalists here.