It’s January, so you know what that means: The 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists longlist is here, celebrating the hospitality industry across the United States. In our pocket of Northern California, the Bay Area’s bars, restaurants, and chefs were heartily represented on the list that dropped on Wednesday, January 21, with a mix of new and familiar faces.
The Best Chef: California list is packed with local chefs, garnering half the nomination slots. In San Francisco, the nominees include chef Kim Alter of Nightbird; Harrison Cheney of Sons & Daughters; Brandon Rice of Ernest; and Kosuke Tada of Mijoté. Out of Oakland, Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu of Sun Moon Studio received a semifinalist nod, as did Geoff Davis of Burdell, plus Fik Saleh and Reka Saleh of Fikscue Craft BBQ, and Zareen Khan of Zareen’s in Palo Alto. Rounding out the list are Emma Lipp and Stephanie Reagor of Valley Bar & Bottle in Sonoma, as well as Eric Alexander and Courtney McDonald of Restaurant Josephine in Auburn (it’s not quite Bay Area, but we’ll spread the love).
Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, March 31. The winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
This is the full list of nominees from the Bay Area in the 2026 James Beard Awards:
2026 James Beard Foundation Awards Restaurant and Chef Bay Area Semifinalists
Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water
Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service