The James Beard Foundation revealed its \u201clong list\u201d of James Beard Awards semifinalists today, Jan. 21, with only one Orange County name earning recognition.<\/p>\n
Viet Nguyen was named a semifinalist for Best Chef: California for Nep Cafe in Fountain Valley.<\/p>\n
Hungry? Sign up for The Eat Index, our weekly food newsletter, and find out where to eat and get the latest restaurant happenings in Orange County. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nguyen is the founder of several restaurants under Kei Concepts, including Nep Cafe, Vox Kitchen and Qua. He arrived in the United States 22 year ago from Vietnam as a 16-year-old on the college track. After the 2008 financial collapse, he found himself in low-paying IT jobs and taking dishwashing shifts.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t really have much money,\u201d recalled Nguyen recalled in a 2025 interview<\/a>. \u201cI was sleeping on the floor\u201d of a friend\u2019s home or \u201csleeping in my car. I had a 24-Hour Fitness membership, so I\u2019d go in, take a shower and then go back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked about being named a semifinalist by the foundation on Wednesday, Nguyen said he was \u201cstill processing the news,\u201d adding, \u201cI\u2019m very, very surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Viet Nguyen, Kei Concepts chef-founder, reshapes OC\u2019s culinary landscape<\/a><\/p>\n Nguyen is the only Orange County-based name listed as a James Beard semifinalist this year; past years have included<\/a> Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue<\/a> and Ying Chang and Robert Adamson\u2019s Strong Water Anaheim<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nguyen is now up for possible finalist consideration, which will be announced on March 31.<\/p>\n Other Southern California names to land on the 2026 semifinalist list include Gilberto Cetina of Holbox (in the category of Outstanding Chef), Niki Nakayama of N\/naka\u00a0 (Outstanding Chef), Antico Nuovo in Los Angeles (Outstanding Restaurant), F\u00e1tima Ju\u00e1rez of Komal in Los Angeles (Emerging Chef), Jos\u00e9 Olmedo Carles Rojas of Si! Mon in Venice (Emerging Chef), Ki in Los Angeles (Best New Restaurant) and RVR in Venice (Best New Restaurant), to name a few.<\/p>\n The entire 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists are as follows:<\/p>\n Outstanding Restaurateur<\/p>\n Elizabeth Blau, Blau + Associates (Buddy V\u2019s and Honeysalt), Las Vegas, NV Outstanding Chef<\/p>\n Ann Ahmed, Kh\u00e2luna, Minneapolis, MN Outstanding Restaurant<\/p>\n Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, CA Emerging Chef<\/p>\n Hector Garate, Palmira Barbecue, Charleston, SC Best New Restaurant<\/p>\n 1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, WI Outstanding Bakery<\/p>\n B\u00e1nh by Lauren, New York, NY Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker<\/p>\n Renata Ameni, Birdee, Brooklyn, NY Outstanding Hospitality<\/p>\n Ammatoli, Long Beach, CA Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program<\/p>\n Ada\u2019s Wine Bar, Las Vegas, NV Outstanding Bar<\/p>\n Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, New York, NY Best New Bar<\/p>\n Almanac, Philadelphia, PA Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service<\/p>\n Zac Adcox, Kid Sister, Phoenix, AZ Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service<\/p>\n Anu Apte, Rob Roy, Seattle, WA Best Chefs<\/p>\n Best Chef: California<\/p>\n Eric Alexander and Courtney McDonald, Restaurant Josephine, Auburn, CA Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)<\/p>\n Javier Bardauil, BARDA, Detroit, MI Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)<\/p>\n Matthew Adler, Cucina Morini, Washington, D.C. Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)<\/p>\n Zak Baker, Ca\u2019Lucchenzo, Wauwatosa, WI Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)<\/p>\n Theo Adley, Marigold, Lyons, CO Best Chef: New York State<\/p>\n Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar, New York, NY Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)<\/p>\n Tiara Adorno, The Crooked Ram, Manchester, VT Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)<\/p>\n Janet Becerra, Pancita, Seattle, WA Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)<\/p>\n Cory Bahr, Parish, Monroe, LA Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)<\/p>\n Khaled AlBanna, Calliope, Chattanooga, TN Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)<\/p>\n Danny Calleros, Ardovino\u2019s Desert Crossing, Sunland Park, NM Best Chef: Texas<\/p>\n Ope Amosu, Ch\u00f2pnBl\u1ecdk, Houston, TX
\nStuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, Atomic Workshop (The Anchovy Bar, The Progress, and State Bird Provisions), San Francisco, CA
\nMike Brown, Bob Gerken, and James Winberg, Travail Collective (Travail Kitchen & Amusements, ie by Travail, and Dream Creamery), Robbinsdale, MN
\nFrank Callero, Joe Flamm, and Steven Zaleski, Day Off Group (Rose Mary, il Carciofo, and BLVD Steakhouse), Chicago, IL
\nRachel Cope, 84 Hospitality (Elisabetta, Gor\u014d Ramen, and Burger Punk), Oklahoma City, OK
\nScott Drewno and Danny Lee, Fried Rice Collective (Anju, Chiko, and I Egg You), Washington, D.C.
\nBrett Evje and Michael Ochsner, PLONK Bozeman, J.W. Heist Steakhouse, and PLONK Missoula, Missoula, Bozeman, MT
\nHolly Fox and Adam Weisblatt, Last Word Hospitality (Found Oyster, Rasarumah, and The Copper Room), Los Angeles, CA
\nSrijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Ettan, Copra, and Eylan, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Altos, and Menlo Park, CA
\nMeherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, NC
\nSimon Kim, Gracious Hospitality (COTE, Undercote, and COQODAQ), New York, NY
\nTommy Lee, Uncle, Hop Alley, and Molino Chido, Denver, CO
\nDonald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group (P\u00eache Seafood Grill, Herbsaint, Cochon, and others), New Orleans, LA
\nTom Main, Freeland\u2019s and Tinker Street, Indianapolis, IN
\nLeslie McCrorey Wells, Pizzeria Verit\u00e0, Trattoria Delia, Sotto Enoteca, and others, Burlington, VT
\nPeter Merriman, Merriman\u2019s, Monkeypod, and others, O\u2019ahu, Maui, and Big Island, HI
\nHugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo\u2019s, Xochi, Urbe, and others), Houston, TX
\nDana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, ME
\nGreg Vernick, Vernick Philadelphia (Vernick Food & Drink, Vernick Fish, and Vernick Coffee Bar), Philadelphia, PA
\nJennifer Vitagliano and Nicole Vitagliano, Elizabeth Street Hospitality (The Musket Room, Raf\u2019s, and Cafe Zaffri), New York, NY<\/p>\n
\nCharleen Badman, FnB, Scottsdale, AZ
\nGilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, CA
\nDiana Davila, Mi Tocaya Antojeria, Chicago, IL
\nZachary Engel, Galit, Chicago, IL
\nManabu Horiuchi, Katami, Houston, TX
\nDavid Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin, TX
\nGabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY
\nJoseph Lenn, J.C. Holdway, Knoxville, TN
\nRob McDaniel, Bayonet, Birmingham, AL
\nNiki Nakayama, n\/naka, Los Angeles, CA
\nDean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington, NC
\nJosh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO
\nKwame Onwuachi, Tatiana, New York, NY
\nPeter Pastan, 2 Amy\u2019s, Washington, D.C.
\nMissy Robbins, Lilia, Brooklyn, NY
\nAlex Roberts, Alma, Minneapolis, MN
\nDavid Standridge, The Shipwright\u2019s Daughter, Mystic, CT
\nMichael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, CA
\nAaron Verzosa, Archipelago, Seattle, WA<\/p>\n
\nBar La Grassa, Minneapolis, MN
\nBlackbird Kitchen, Bozeman, MT
\nThe Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN
\nCentrolina, Washington, D.C.
\nChubby Fish, Charleston, SC
\nEL Ideas, Chicago, IL
\nFarmBar, Tulsa, OK
\nForeign Cinema, San Francisco, CA
\nThe Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY
\nKalaya, Philadelphia, PA
\nKasama, Chicago, IL
\nLe Pigeon, Portland, OR
\nMixtli, San Antonio, TX
\nNonesuch, Oklahoma City, OK
\nO Ya, Boston, MA
\nOberlin, Providence, RI
\nVia Carota, New York, NY
\nVianda, San Juan, PR
\nVicia, St. Louis, MO<\/p>\n
\nAnthony Jones, Marcus DC, Washington, D.C.
\nSteve Joo, Joodooboo, Oakland, CA
\nF\u00e1tima Ju\u00e1rez, Komal, Los Angeles, CA
\nE.J. Lagasse, Emeril\u2019s, New Orleans, LA
\nMax Lapp\u00e9 and Jacques Varon, Baso, Houston, TX
\nSunny Lee, Sunn\u2019s, New York, NY
\nKyle Lussier, The Pines, Grand Rapids, MN
\nNicolai Mlodinow, Class Act, Chicago, IL
\nEllie Parker, Main Street Provisions, Las Vegas, NV
\nRasheeda Purdie, Ramen by R\u0101, New York, NY
\nFrankie Ramirez, Am\u00e1, Philadelphia, PA
\nJos\u00e9 Olmedo Carles Rojas, Si! Mon, Venice, CA
\nVanessa Rose, Mother\u2019s, Milwaukee, WI
\nAhmed Suliman, Cafe Suliman, Seattle, WA
\nBailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Chicago, IL
\nPao Thampitak, Gaaeng Supper Club, Boston, MA
\nAdrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place, TX
\nBao Tran, Giovedi, Honolulu, HI
\nJasmine Watson, Audette, Newport, RI<\/p>\n
\nAgnes and Sherman, Houston, TX
\nAnacacho Coffee & Cantina, San Antonio, TX
\nAnjin, Kansas City, MO
\nBong, New York, NY
\nCaf\u00e9 Monette, St. Albans, VT
\nClaudine, Providence, RI
\nEchelon Kitchen & Bar, Ann Arbor, MI
\nEmmett, Philadelphia, PA
\nEvviva, New Orleans, LA
\nFar-Out, Dallas, TX
\nThe Happy Crane, San Francisco, CA
\nIndibar, Scottsdale, AZ
\nJunah, Salt Lake City, UT
\nKabawa, New York, NY
\nKi, Los Angeles, CA
\nKizaki, Denver, CO
\nLei, New York, NY
\nLittle Beast Ballard, Seattle, WA
\nMaison Bar \u00e0 Vins, Washington, DC
\nMerci, Charleston, SC
\nNadu, Chicago, IL
\nNic & Junior\u2019s, Chicago, IL
\nPeregrine, Raleigh, NC
\nRobin, St. Louis, MO
\nROLi, New Haven, CT
\nRVR, Venice, CA
\nSaint Claire, New Orleans, LA
\nTamba, Las Vegas, NV
\nThe Wayland Mill, Seattle, WA<\/p>\n
\nBorn & Bread Bakehouse, Lakeland, FL
\nThe Burque Bakehouse, Albuquerque, NM
\nBywater Bakery, New Orleans, LA
\nCaf\u00e9 Dear Leon, Baltimore, MD
\nCultured, Sister Bay, WI
\nDan The Baker, Columbus, OH
\nDeLuxe Cakes and Pastries, Iowa City, IA
\nFire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Anchorage, AK
\nGusto Bread, Long Beach, CA
\nLibrae, New York, NY
\nThe Local General Store, Honolulu, HI
\nMercado Sin Nombre, Austin, TX
\nNiedlov\u2019s Bakery Cafe, Knoxville, TN
\nNight Moves Bread, South Portland, ME
\nPoulette Bakeshop, Parker, CO
\nStarship Bagel, Dallas, TX
\nSuper Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH
\nWeltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, SC
\nWild Crumb, Bozeman, MT<\/p>\n
\nNeale Asato, Asato Family Shop, Honolulu, HI
\nSusan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
\nYoussef Boudarine, J\u2019adore Pastry, Indianapolis, IN
\nTavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio, TX
\nMonique Feybesse and Paul Feybesse, Tarts de Feybesse, Oakland, CA
\nMonica Glass, Verveine Cafe & Bakery, Cambridge, MA
\nMaggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas, TX
\nCourtney Kenyon-Snider, Ob\u00e9lix, Chicago, IL
\nHelen Jo Leach, The Town Company, Kansas City, MO
\nEunji Lee, Lys\u00e9e, New York, NY
\nJustine MacNeil, Fiore, Philadelphia, PA
\nClaudia Martinez, Bar ANA, Atlanta, GA
\nKimberly Mcintosh, MILKFISH Bakeshop, Las Vegas, NV
\nLucia Merino, Lucia Patisserie, San Juan, PR
\nOscar Ortega, Atelier Ortega, Jackson Hole, WY
\nWhitney Stancil, Cuv\u00e9e at Chatham Inn, Chatham, MA
\nEmily Thompson, The Wolf\u2019s Tailor, Denver, CO
\nChristina Wood, Temple Pastries, Seattle, WA
\nHannah Ziskin, Quarter Sheets, Los Angeles, CA<\/p>\n
\nAnsots Basque Chorizos & Catering, Boise, ID
\nAria, Atlanta, GA
\nBarley Swine, Austin, TX
\nBottega, Birmingham, AL
\nBresca, Washington, D.C.
\nCosme, New York, NY
\nDaisies, Chicago, IL
\nHouse of Prime Rib, San Francisco, CA
\nJoan\u2019s in the Park, St. Paul, MN
\nLouie, Clayton, MO
\nMallorca, Cleveland, OH
\nOstra, Boston, MA
\nProvidence, Los Angeles, CA
\nRed Hook Tavern, Brooklyn, NY
\nRestaurant Olivia, Denver, CO
\nSofreh, Brooklyn, NY
\nState Road, Martha\u2019s Vineyard, MA
\nTailor, Nashville, TN
\nTutka Bay Lodge, Homer, AK<\/p>\n
\nAmara at Paraiso, Miami, FL
\nApteka, Pittsburgh, PA
\nBrasero, Chicago, IL
\nCaruso\u2019s, Montecito, CA
\nChambers, New York, NY
\nCoquine, Portland, OR
\nF.L.X. Table, Geneva, NY
\nField & Main, Marshall, VA
\nKalimotxo, Austin, TX
\nKato, Los Angeles, CA
\nLe Bouillon, Omaha, NE
\nLe Caviste, Seattle, WA
\nOne Legged Magpie, Red Lodge, MT
\nThe Port of Call, Mystic, CT
\nThe Progress, San Francisco, CA
\nStems and Skins, Charleston, SC
\nSway Brewing & Blending, Baileys Harbor, WI
\nTaconeta, El Paso, TX
\nTalulla, Cambridge, MA<\/p>\n
\nAyahuasca Cantina, Dallas, TX
\nBow & Arrow Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
\nDouble Chicken Please, New York, NY
\nDrastic Measures, Shawnee, KS
\nGraft Wine Shop & Wine Bar, Charleston, SC
\nHighball, Phoenix, AZ
\nHopleaf Bar, Chicago, IL
\nLady Jane, Denver, CO
\nLovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
\nThe Mothership, Milwaukee, WI
\nOnyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, AR
\nPost Office Place, Salt Lake City, UT
\nRealm of the 52 Remedies, San Diego, CA
\nRoquette, Seattle, WA
\nScotch Lodge, Portland, OR
\nSmuggler\u2019s Cove, San Francisco, CA
\nSpoke Wine Bar, Somerville, MA
\nWatch Hill Proper, Prospect, KY
\nWild Child Wines, Lafayette, LA<\/p>\n
\nBar Bucce, Miami, FL
\nBar Chenin, Detroit, MI
\nBar Please!, Boise, ID
\nBar Snack, New York, NY
\nClemente Bar, New York, NY
\nThe Contrary, Des Moines, IA
\nDaisy, Los Angeles, CA
\nDaydream Rum Bar, Albuquerque, NM
\nThe Elbow Room, Vancouver, WA
\nLater Bye, Oklahoma City, OK
\nLee\u2019s, Houston, TX
\nLoma, Providence, RI
\nLucky Star, Atlanta, GA
\nMadeira Park, Atlanta, GA
\nNocturno, Las Vegas, NV
\nPink Flamingo, Baltimore, MD
\nPublic Parking, Madison, WI
\nThe Valley Club, San Francisco, CA
\nVan Atta, Telluride, CO<\/p>\n
\nNader Asgari-Tari, Zurito, Boston, MA
\nBank Atcharawan, Jipata, Las Vegas, NV
\nJack Benchakul, Endorffeine, Los Angeles, CA
\nLee Campbell, Borgo, New York, NY
\nAndrea Ciavardini-Royko, Jianna, Greenville, SC
\nPaul Einbund, The Morris, San Francisco, CA
\nRyan Fletter, Barolo Grill, Denver, CO
\nBraithe Gill, Brennan\u2019s, New Orleans, LA
\nJoel Gunderson, Heavenly Creatures, Portland, OR
\nBrent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.
\nJared May, Vida, Indianapolis, IN
\nAlyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, The Koji Club, Boston, MA
\nCelia Pellegrini, Este, Austin, TX
\nTaurean Philpott, Avize, Atlanta, GA
\nAmy Racine, La Marchande, New York, NY
\nJune Rodil, March, Houston, TX
\nSara Sergent, Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Park City, UT
\nDerek Stevenson, Auro, Calistoga, CA
\nDan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Pi\u00f1era, Tequilas and La Jefa, Philadelphia, PA<\/p>\n
\nDoug Atwell, Southpaw, Baltimore, MD
\nEric Bennett, Continental Drift, Birmingham, AL
\nHastings Cameron, Imaginary Factory, Madison, WI
\nDiana Condori, Fern Bar, Kansas City, MO
\nKevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA
\nNicky Fas, Pantera, Caguas, PR
\nJesse Hedberg, Club Frills, Providence, RI
\nMcLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, CO
\nChristine Kim, Service Bar, Washington, D.C.
\nJason Lee, Darling, Los Angeles, CA
\nMiles Macquarrie, Kimball House, Atlanta, GA
\nChristopher Marty, Best Intentions, Chicago, IL
\nMariena Mercer Boarini, Aft Cocktail Deck, Las Vegas, NV
\nIvy Mix, Whoopsie Daisy, Brooklyn, NY
\nKristine Nguyen, Bludorn, Houston, TX
\nGabe Sanchez, Midnight Rambler, Dallas, TX
\nRoss Simon, Little Rituals, Phoenix, AZ
\nMike Stankovich, Longfellow, Cincinnati, OH
\nKate Wise, Juniper Bar, Burlington, VT<\/p>\n
\nKim Alter, Nightbird, San Francisco, CA
\nDave Beran, Seline, Santa Monica, CA
\nEric Bost, Lilo, Carlsbad, CA
\nHarrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San Francisco, CA
\nSarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio, Oakland, CA
\nGeoff Davis, Burdell, Oakland, CA
\nBrian Dunsmoor, Dunsmoor, Los Angeles, CA
\nSarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer, Kismet, Los Angeles, CA
\nZareen Khan, Zareen\u2019s, Palo Alto, CA
\nEmma Lipp and Stephanie Reagor, Valley Bar & Bottle, Sonoma, CA
\nTara Monsod, Animae, San Diego, CA
\nAndrew Mu\u00f1oz and Michelle Mu\u00f1oz, Moo\u2019s Craft Barbecue, Los Angeles, CA
\nCharles Namba, Cam\u00e9lia, Los Angeles, CA
\nViet Nguyen, Nep Cafe, Fountain Valley, CA
\nBrandon Rice, Ernest, San Francisco, CA
\nDaisy Ryan, Bell\u2019s, Los Alamos, CA
\nFik Saleh and Rachel Saleh, Fikscue Craft BBQ, Alameda, CA
\nKosuke Tada, Mijot\u00e9, San Francisco, CA
\nKwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles, CA<\/p>\n
\nMichael Bowe, Red Yeti, Jeffersonville, IN
\nVinnie Cimino, Cordelia, Cleveland, OH
\nThai Dang, HaiSous, Chicago, IL
\nSarah Dworak, Sudova, Cincinnati, OH
\nAndy Elliott and Emily Stewart, Modern Bird, Traverse City, MI
\nDanny Espinoza, Santa Masa Tamaleria, Chicago, IL
\nNorman Fenton, Cari\u00f1o, Chicago, IL
\nJames Galbraith, PostBoy, New Buffalo, MI
\nLuz Gonza and Omar Gonza, Macizo Restaurant, Indianapolis, IN
\nAaron Hansen, Lone Pine, Carmel, IN
\nHideki Harada, Kiki, Cincinnati, OH
\nJeffrey Harris, Nolia Kitchen, Cincinnati, OH
\nChristopher Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading, Chicago, IL
\nMari Katsumura and Adam Sindler, SH\u014c, Chicago, IL
\nNick Kleutsch and James Sanders, Sanders BBQ Supply Co., Chicago, IL
\nRishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir, Mirra, Chicago, IL
\nBen Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel, Loaf Lounge, Chicago, IL
\nJacob Potashnick, Feld, Chicago, IL
\nJohn Yelinek, Ladder 4 Wine Bar, Detroit, MI<\/p>\n
\nDarmyelesh Alemu, Beteseb, Silver Spring, MD
\nJamilka Borges, Lilith, Pittsburgh, PA
\nLeah Branch, The Roosevelt, Richmond, VA
\nRuss Cowan, Radin\u2019s Delicatessen, Cherry Hill, NJ
\nNathan Flaim, Luca, Lancaster, PA
\nFernando Gonzalez, 2Fifty TX BBQ, Washington, D.C.
\nIan Graye, Pietramala, Philadelphia, PA
\nMiguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora, Mita, Washington, D.C.
\nJohanna Hellrigl, Ama, Washington, D.C.
\nJesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Philadelphia, PA
\nDwain Kalup, La Fia, Wilmington, DE
\nMatthew Oetting, Marta, Baltimore, MD
\nCagla Onal, My Little Chamomile, Washington, D.C.
\nRandy Rucker, Little Water, Philadelphia, PA
\nTarik Sengul, Smyrna, Charlottesville, VA
\nAmanda Shulman, Her Place Supper Club, Philadelphia, PA
\nSuresh Sundash, Taipori, Washington, D.C.
\nOmar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate, Honeysuckle, Philadelphia, PA
\nDavid Viana, Judy and Harry\u2019s, Asbury Park, NJ<\/p>\n
\nNick Bognar, Sado, Pavilion, St. Louis, MO
\nKasey Lee Cooke, Mint Mark, Madison, WI
\nPhilip Day, Root Food + Wine, Augusta, MO
\nShigeyuki Furukawa, Kado No Mise, Minneapolis, MN
\nNick Hanke and Phil Shires, Masao, Des Moines, IA
\nAlex Henry, El Molino del Sureste, St. Louis, MO
\nCamillia Hjortnaes and Erik Hjortnaes, Hjem A.M., Custer, SD
\nLisa Kirkpatrick and Paul Zerkel, Goodkind, Milwaukee, WI
\nJohnny Leach, The Town Company, Kansas City, MO
\nAdam Marty, Ellinor, Appleton, WI
\nZach Midgett, Casa Bovina, Lincoln, NE
\nDiane Moua, Diane\u2019s Place, Minneapolis, MN
\nLoryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box, Webster Groves, MO
\nSwetha Newcomb, Of Course, Overland Park, KS
\nJason Rickard and Jordan Rickard, FioRito, Wichita, KS
\nIan Robertson, Oak Park, Des Moines, IA
\nGustavo Romero and Kate Romero, Oro by Nixta, Minneapolis, MN
\nDavid Utterback, Yoshitomo, Ota, Omaha, NE
\nYia Vang, Vinai, Minneapolis, MN<\/p>\n
\nAlex Cardoza, Susina, Boise, ID
\nMilo Carrier, Arlo, Salt Lake City, UT
\nRemle Colestock, Glorietta Trattoria, Jackson, WY
\nBrandon Cunningham, Pangea, Missoula, MT
\nJohnny Curiel, Alma Fonda Fina, Denver, CO
\nBrandon Dearden, Ember, Hamilton, MT
\nCal Elliott, The Avery, Boise, ID
\nAndrew Fuller, Oquirrh, Salt Lake City, UT
\nDave Grant and Rocky Hunter, Gladys, Edgewater, CO
\nTravis Herbert, Felt Bar & Eatery, Salt Lake City, UT
\nTommy Nguyen, The Pearl, Salt Lake City, UT
\nMiles Odell, Odell\u2019s Bagel, Denver, CO
\nBo Porytko, Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, Denver, CO
\nEarl James Reynolds, Herb and Omni, Whitefish, MT
\nKenneth Wan, MAKFam, Denver, CO
\nNathan Whitley, Terroir, Boise, ID
\nPenelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Denver, CO
\nJarrett Wrisley, Shan, Bozeman, MT
\nNick Zocco, Urban Hill, Salt Lake City, UT<\/p>\n
\nChristophe Bellanca, Essential by Christophe, New York, NY
\nSadie Mae Burns and Anthony Ha, Ha\u2019s Snack Bar, New York, NY
\nFidel Caballero, Corima, New York, NY
\nGiovanni Cervantes, Carnitas Ramirez, New York, NY
\nAretah Ettarh, Gramercy Tavern, New York, NY
\nEfr\u00e9n Hern\u00e1ndez, Casa Susanna, Leeds, NY
\nCorwin Kave, Deer Mountain Inn, Tannersville, NY
\nVikas Khanna, Bungalow, New York, NY
\nHooni Kim, Meju, Queens, NY
\nYvan Lemoine, Tourmaline, Forest Hills, NY
\nNate Limwong, Chalong, New York, NY
\nCheng Lin, Sh\u014dta Omakase, Brooklyn, NY
\nBuddha Lo, Huso, New York, NY
\nAngie Mar, Le B, New York, NY
\nAyesha Nurdjaja, Shukette, New York, NY
\nJoshua Pinsky, Claud, New York, NY
\nMads Refslund, Ilis, Brooklyn, NY
\nRafiq Salim, Rolo\u2019s, Queens, NY
\nStefano Secchi, Rezd\u00f4ra, New York, NY<\/p>\n
\nJeremy Broucek, Bread & Friends, Portland, ME
\nS\u0101sha Coleman, Comfort Kitchen, Boston, MA
\nAmarilys Colon, La Padrona, Boston, MA
\nDavid DiStasi, Materia Ristorante, Bantam, CT
\nLuke Fetbroth, Tonino, Boston, MA
\nChris Gould, Central Provisions, Portland, ME
\nEvan Hennessey, Stages, Dover, NH
\nBolivar Hilario, Community Table, New Preston, CT
\nSara Jenkins, Nina June, Rockport, ME
\nShi Mei, Lenox Sophia, Boston, MA
\nPeter Nguyen, L\u00ea Madeline, Quincy, MA
\nKevin O\u2019Donnell, Giusto, Newport, RI
\nAnnie Parisi, Jayd Bun, South Kingstown, RI
\nJake Stevens, Leeward, Portland, ME
\nThomas Takashi Cooke, Izakaya Minato, Portland, ME
\nShilimat Tessema, Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant, New Haven, CT
\nPaul Trombly, Fancy\u2019s, Burlington, VT
\nMax Vogel, Ondis, Montpelier, VT
\nDerek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway, Providence, RI<\/p>\n
\nNathan Bentley, Altura Bistro, Anchorage, AK
\nJohnny Courtney, Atoma, Seattle, WA
\nLogan Cox, Homer, Seattle, WA
\nMichele Di Bari, Sale Pepe, Lahaina, HI
\nMike Dodge, Whisky & Ramen, Anchorage, AK
\nJosh Dorcak, M\u00c4S, Ashland, OR
\nEd Kenney, Mud Hen Water, Honolulu, HI
\nJordan Koplowitz, Starla\u2019s, Bellingham, WA
\nAndrew Le, The Pig and the Lady, Honolulu, HI
\nTaylor Manning and Siobhan Speirits, Cafe Olli, Portland, OR
\nMelissa Miranda, Musang, Seattle, WA
\nKristen Murray, M\u00e5urice, Portland, OR
\nThai Nguyen and Trinh Nguyen, Ramie, Seattle, WA
\nThomas Pisha-Duffly, Gado Gado, Portland, OR
\nRyan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OR
\nSheldon Simeon, Tiffany\u2019s Restaurant and Bar, Wailuku, HI
\nJack Strong, JORY Restaurant at The Allison Inn & Spa, Newberg, OR
\nAaron Tekulve, Surrell, Seattle, WA
\nYuya Yamanaka, Paris Hawaii, Honolulu, HI<\/p>\n
\nMichael Beltran, Ariete, Miami, FL
\nBryce Bonsack, Rocca, Tampa, FL
\nAna Castro, Acamaya, New Orleans, LA
\nMatthew Cooper, Conifer, Bentonville, AR
\nRa\u00fal Correa, Ren\u00e9 Marichal, and Xavier Pacheco, Bacoa Finca + Fog\u00f3n, Juncos, PR
\nToni Elkhouri, Cedar\u2019s Cafe, Melbourne, FL
\nHunter Evans, Elvie\u2019s, Jackson, MS
\nMaria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez, Recoveco, Miami, FL
\nKristen Hall, La F\u00eate, Birmingham, AL
\nBarry Honan, Lotus Noodle Bar, St. Augustine, FL
\nMaria La Mota and Chason Spencer, Chancho King, Jacksonville, FL
\nWendy Lopez, Reyes Mezcaleria, Orlando, FL
\nSerigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA
\nGeri-Martha O\u2019Hara and Ryan O\u2019Hara, Pizza Grace, Birmingham, AL
\nJason Paul, Heirloom at 1907, Rogers, AR
\nCharly Pierre, Fritai, New Orleans, LA
\nJoerick Rivera, Bakku, Rincon, PR
\nJim Smith, The Hummingbird Way, Mobile, AL
\nAustin Sumrall, White Pillars, Biloxi, MS<\/p>\n
\nRobin Anthony, Omakase by Prime Fish, Charlotte, NC
\nNoam Bilitzer, MeeshMeesh, Louisville, KY
\nJoe Cash, Scoundrel, Greenville, SC
\nMatt Dawes, The Bull and Beggar, Asheville, NC
\nSteven Devereaux Greene, Herons at The Umstead, Cary, NC
\nMary Ellen Diaz, Alma Bea, Shepherdstown, WV
\nLaurence Faber, Potchke Deli, Knoxville, TN
\nCarlo Gan and Mia Orino, Kamayan ATL, Chamblee, GA
\nJimmy Gentry, The Lobbyist, Memphis, TN
\nJ. Trent Harris, Muj\u014d, Atlanta, GA
\nPhilip Krajeck, Rolf & Daughters, Nashville, TN
\nCheetie Kumar, Ajja, Raleigh, NC
\nColin Marcelli, Renzo, Charleston, SC
\nFreddy Money, Atlas, Atlanta, GA
\nTaylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, NC
\nBintou N\u2019Daw, Bint\u00fc Atelier, Charleston, SC
\nTodd Schafer, Abel Brown, Augusta, GA
\nHeidi Vukov, Hook & Barrel, Myrtle Beach, SC
\nDavid Willocks, The Baker\u2019s Table, Newport, KY<\/p>\n
\nRoberto Centeno, Espiritu, Mesa, AZ
\nJeff Chanchaleune, Bar Sen, Oklahoma City, OK
\nTJ Culp, Progress, Phoenix, AZ
\nRochelle Daniels, Atria, Flagstaff, AZ
\nGraham Dodds, NOSA Restaurant & Inn, Ojo Caliente, NM
\nOulay Ceesay Fisher, Calabash African Kitchen, Las Vegas, NV
\nArmando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, Tacos Chiwas, Phoenix, AZ
\nScott Holmes, Little Miss BBQ, Phoenix, AZ
\nBrian Howard, Sparrow + Wolf, Las Vegas, NV
\nKyle Kent, Chula Seafood, Phoenix, AZ
\nBrian Momanyi and Stayce Momanyi, Plus254, Oklahoma City, OK
\nSteve Riley, Mesa Provisions, Albuquerque, NM
\nYuri Szarzewski, Partage, Las Vegas, NV
\nSarah Thompson, Casa Playa, Las Vegas, NV
\nJamie Tran, Black Sheep, Las Vegas, NV
\nJames Trees, Bar Boh\u00e8me, Las Vegas, NV
\nClaudia Vindiola, La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood, Tucson, AZ
\nZack Walters, Sedalia\u2019s, Oklahoma City, OK
\nVeronica Zelada, Caf\u00e9 Kacao, Oklahoma City, OK<\/p>\n
\nThai Changthong, P Thai\u2019s Khao Man Gai & Noodles, Austin, TX
\nMichael Che, Tsuke Edomae, Austin, TX
\nAli Clem, La Barbecue, Austin, TX
\nKent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner, Milton\u2019s, Houston, TX
\nFrancisco Estrada and Lizzeth Martinez, Naco Mexican, San Antonio, TX
\nEvelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, J\u016aN, Houston, TX
\nShawn Gawle, Camaraderie, Houston, TX
\nScott Girling, Osteria Il Muro, Denton, TX
\nPatrick Hicks, Smoke\u2019N Ash BBQ, Arlington, TX
\nSue Kim, The Magpie, San Antonio, TX
\nDaniela Landaverde and Rosa Landaverde, La Santa Barbacha, Austin, TX
\nEmil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio, TX
\nMasayuki Otaka, Mabo, Dallas, TX
\nAndres Pablos, Acc\u00e1, El Paso, TX
\nGabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, Caf\u00e9 Piro, Socorro, TX
\nMichael Serva, Bordo, Marfa, TX
\nBob Somsith, Lao\u2019d Bar, Austin, TX
\nFinney Walter, The Nicolett, Lubbock, TX
\nGeorge Watts III, GW\u2019s BBQ Catering Co, San Juan, TX<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The James Beard Foundation revealed its \u201clong list\u201d of James Beard Awards semifinalists today, Jan. 21, with only…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143391,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164,7,6735,137,611,412,580,420,136],"class_list":["post-143390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news","tag-california","tag-fountain-valley","tag-los-angeles-county","tag-orange-county","tag-restaurants","tag-restaurants-food-and-drink","tag-things-to-do","tag-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143390\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}