Queens Chef Named 2026 James Beard Awards ‘Best Chef’ Finalist

QUEENS, NY — Amid New York City’s endlessly competitive dining scene, one Queens chef and their restaurant have earned national recognition.

The James Beard Foundation unveiled its 2026 award finalists this week, with several local names—including this standout—among the honorees.

Some standout chefs and buzzworthy restaurants are in the running for top honors in categories such as Outstanding Chef, Emerging Chef, Best New Bar and Best New Restaurant.

In Queens’ Long Island City, the chef behind Meju, a Michelin-recognized Korean restaurant tucked behind a banchan shop at 5-28 49th Ave., has earned a finalist spot for Best Chef: New York State.

Known for its dishes rooted in traditional Korean fermentation, the acclaimed restaurant has become a popular dining destination.

Chef Hooni Kim was named a nominee — marking the final step toward potentially earning the James Beard Foundation’s top honor, to be announced in June.

“Chef Hooni Kim is a worthy guide as he builds a deeply personal menu around traditional Korean ingredients that he’s been wild fermenting and aging for the last decade,” a Michelin list of the best Korean restaurants in New York City reads. “He brings the room together and impresses with carefully calibrated dishes that appear strikingly minimalist.”

First presented in 1991, the James Beard Awards honor exceptional talent across the culinary and food media industries and are often described as the “Oscars of the culinary world.”

The awards celebrate a wide range of dining experiences, from fine-dining institutions to casual neighborhood gems, spanning 23 categories.

The James Beard Foundation honors restaurants and chefs who demonstrate excellence in cuisine, food media, and building stronger food systems, the organization said. Honorees also reflect a commitment to equity, community, sustainability and fostering a culture where all can thrive.