The Resy Guide to the 2026 James Beard Awards® Winners
The 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards® Winners
The 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards® winners have finally been revealed, with many of the country’s top restaurant industry professionals getting lots of love.
It was a great year for Philly, with Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi Omakase winning Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic and Kalaya taking home the national honor of Outstanding Restaurant in America. Lei in New York’s Chinatown was a big winner, too, as the year’s Best New Restaurant.
On the beverage front, Lee Campbell of Borgo in New York for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Portland’s Scotch Lodge won Outstanding Bar. Best Chef: New York went to Hooni Kim of Meju, while Jacob Potashnick of Chicago’s Feld won Best Chef: Great Lakes.
Raoul’s owner Karim Raoul, along with director Greg Olliver and producer Kathleen Squires, also garnered 2026 James Beard Media Awards® recognition for their documentary film, “Raoul’s, A New York Story,” detailing the tale behind one of the city’s most iconic bistros.
Photo courtesy of Scotch Lodge!
Outstanding Restaurateur
- WINNER: Dana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, ME
- Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Ettan, Copra, and Eylan, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Altos, CA
- Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, NC
- Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group ( Pêche, Herbsaint Bar & Restaurant, Cochon, Gianna, and others), New Orleans, LA
- Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Xochi, Urbe, and others), Houston, TX
Outstanding Chef
- WINNER: Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, CA
- Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, CA
- Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, CA
- Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO
- David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT
Outstanding Restaurant
- WINNER: Kalaya, Philadelphia, PA
- The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN
- The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY
- Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
- Vicia, St. Louis, MO
Best New Restaurant
- WINNER: Lei, New York, NY
- 1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, WI
- Agnes and Sherman, Houston, TX
- Anjin, Kansas City, MO
- Emmett, Philadelphia, PA
- Ki, Los Angeles, CA
- Maison, Washington, D.C.
- Merci, Charleston, SC
- Robin Restaurant, St. Louis, MO
- Tamba, Las Vegas, NV
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
- WINNER: Lee Campbell, Borgo, New York, NY
- Jack Benchakul, Endorffeine, Los Angeles, CA
- Ryan Fletter, Barolo Grill, Denver, CO
- Brent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.
- June Rodil, March, Houston, TX
Best Chef: California
- WINNER: Dave Beran, Seline, Santa Monica, CA
- Harrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San Francisco, CA
- Daisy Ryan, Bell’s, Los Alamos, CA
- Kwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles, CA
Best Chef: New York State
- WINNER: Hooni Kim, Meju, Queens, NY
- Fidel Caballero, Corima, New York, NY
- Giovanni Cervantes, Carnitas Ramirez, New York, NY
- Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, New York, NY
- Joshua Pinsky, Claud, New York, NY
Conclusion
The list of winners showcases the incredible talent and diversity within the restaurant industry, highlighting innovative chefs and unique dining experiences across the country.