NEW YORK CITY — Three New York City restaurants were honored at Monday’s James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
The awards, regarded as the Academy Awards of the U.S. restaurant industry, honor excellence across a range of categories, from fine dining to casual gems.
Lei, a wine bar and restaurant in Chinatown, was named the best new restaurant, and Borgo's Lee Campbell was named an outstanding professional in beverage service.
For the best chef in New York state, Hooni Kim of Meju in Long Island City took the title.
Other nominees from New York City were:
Established in honor of the renowned chef and culinary author, the New York-based James Beard Foundation stands as a premier authority in the American food scene.
While it is famous for the namesake awards handed out Monday, the nonprofit is also dedicated to fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable environment for independent restaurants, making its endorsement a highly coveted distinction.
Marking its 36th anniversary, the James Beard Awards were launched in 1990 to celebrate chefs and establishments that excel in culinary craft, food media, and the improvement of food systems. Beyond gastronomic excellence, the foundation evaluates nominees on their dedication to community impact, sustainability, and the promotion of racial and gender equity within the industry.
The awards presented Monday are the latest from the foundation.
Earlier in June, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2026-27 TasteTwenty chefs, a national group of culinary professionals recognized as “ones to watch” in the independent restaurant industry.
In New York City, Yara Herrera, who owns Hellbender in Ridgewood, won the title.
The 20 chefs will headline events in their hometowns as part of the foundation’s Taste America culinary tour, which begins Sept. 16 in New Orleans and continues in cities across the country through March 2027.
The foundation said the chefs were selected not only for culinary talent but also for their work beyond the kitchen, including efforts such as supporting sustainable agriculture, investing in restaurant teams, elevating quality ingredients and advocating for a stronger food system.
Chefs in Houston, Detroit, Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles and New Orleans are among the 20 to watch.
New York City restaurants and chefs who were named semifinalists for the James Beard Awards in January were:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
New York City, NY Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.