The James Beard Foundation Awards announced the line-up of 2026 semifinalists for the restaurant and chef awards categories on Wednesday, January 21. The long list will be trimmed down to nominees on March 31, 2026, before winners are announced on June 15 at the awards ceremony in Chicago.

The James Beard Awards, often referred to as “the Oscars of food,” are among the most prestigious awards in the food and hospitality industry. Each year, the James Beard Foundation taps outstanding restaurants and chefs from across the country for awards, including Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Restaurateur, Emerging Chef, and Outstanding Hospitality. In recent years, the awards have been under increased scrutiny after canceling its programming in 2020 and 2021 due to allegations of misconduct and abuse against nominated chefs, as well as a lack of nominated and winning Black chefs in the categories. In response, the James Beard Foundation conducted an internal audit to make its voting processes more inclusive and equitable, and returned in 2022.

Los Angeles’s only winner at the 2025 ceremony was Kato’s Jon Yao, who took home the award for Best Chef: California.

Here is the list of 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalists from the Greater Los Angeles region.

Dave Beran, Seline, Santa Monica, California
Brian Dunsmoor, Dunsmoor, Los Angeles, California
Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer, Kismet, Los Angeles, California
Andrew Muñoz and Michelle Muñoz, Moo’s Craft Barbecue, Los Angeles, California
Charles Namba, Camélia, Los Angeles, California
Viet Nguyen, Nep Cafe, Fountain Valley, California
Daisy Ryan, Bell’s, Los Alamos, California
Kwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles, California

Holly Fox and Adam Weisblatt, Last Word Hospitality (Found Oyster, Rasarumah, and The Copper Room), Los Angeles, California

Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, California
Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, California

Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, California

Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles, California
José Olmedo Carles Rojas, Si! Mon, Venice, California

Ki, Los Angeles, California
RVR, Venice, California

Gusto Bread, Long Beach, California

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Bakery

Hannah Ziskin, Quarter Sheets, Los Angeles, California

Ammatoli, Long Beach, California
Providence, Los Angeles, California

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Caruso’s, Montecito, California
Kato, Los Angeles, California

Daisy, Los Angeles, California

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Jack Benchakul, Endorffeine, Los Angeles, California

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

Jason Lee, Darling, Los Angeles, California