The winners will be announced and awarded at a June 15 ceremony held at Chicago\u2019s Lyric Opera.<\/p>\n
In the category of outstanding chef, Gilberto Cetina of Holbox, located in Mercado La Paloma, and Niki Nakayama of n\/naka are nominees; farther north, in San Francisco, so is Quince\u2019s Michael Tusk.<\/p>\n
![\"Komal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774990209_535_.jpeg\")
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Komal co-owner F\u00e1tima J\u00faarez works the line in the kitchen of her Mercado La Paloma restaurant and molino.<\/p>\n
(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
F\u00e1tima Ju\u00e1rez, of Komal, is a contender for emerging chef. This category spotlights chefs of \u201cexceptional talent, character and leadership ability, and who [are] likely to make a significant impact in years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the regional category of best chef in California \u2014 an accolade won by L.A. chefs the last three years in a row \u2014 two local names are still in the running. Dave Beran of Santa Monica\u2019s Seline and Kwang Uh of the Arts District\u2019s Baroo are finalists. Up the coast, so are Daisy Ryan of Los Alamos\u2019 Bell\u2019s, Harrison Cheney of San Francisco\u2019s Sons & Daughters, and Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu of Oakland\u2019s Sun Moon Studio.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful,\u201d Uh told the L.A. Times in January. \u201cAt the same time, it\u2019s this question like, \u2018Am I really worth it?\u2019 But I\u2019m very thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"LPerilla](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774990209_985_.png\")
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Perilla leaf sorbet with lemon fern and smoked tomato at Restaurant Ki.<\/p>\n
(Myung J. Chun \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
In 2025<\/a> the category was won by Kato\u2019s Jon Yao, in 2024<\/a> by Kuya Lord\u2019s Lord Maynard Llera, and in 2023<\/a> by Anajak Thai Cuisine\u2019s Justin Pichetrungsi.<\/p>\n Modern Korean tasting menu Restaurant Ki, which the L.A. Times called the best new restaurant of 2025<\/a>, is now a nominee for best new restaurant.<\/p>\n Providence, which earned three Michelin stars<\/a> last year for the first time in its 21-year run, is a nominee in the category for outstanding hospitality.<\/p>\n Downtown restaurant Kato, with a menu that balances cocktails, nonalcoholic beverages and an extensive wine selection, is a finalist for outstanding wine and other beverages program. No L.A. bars were semifinalists in the category of outstanding bar, but San Francisco\u2019s Smuggler\u2019s Cove is now a nominee.<\/p>\n Jack Benchakul of Chinatown coffee shop Endorffeine is a nominee for the category of outstanding professional in beverage service. The beverage categories have historically been dominated by beer, cocktail and wine establishments and programs. Benchakul hopes that is changing.<\/p>\n Endorffeine owner Jack Benchakul tests his drip coffee set up ahead of opening for the day. Formerly a biochemist, he has a unique, artful take on preparing coffee.<\/p>\n (Oscar Mendoza \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s always been a dream to be seen by our hospitality peers,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that\u2019s been the same for most coffee professionals. We kind of exist in our little specialty niche.\u201d<\/p>\n He likens coffee programs to pastry programs 20 or more years ago, and hopes that coffee and tea \u2014 like pastry and baking \u2014 will become more frequently considered for industry awards. Onyx Coffee Lab, based in Rogers, Ark., is another coffee finalist in this year\u2019s awards as a nominee in the outstanding bar category.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s humbling and flattering, and I didn\u2019t think it would happen during my career,\u201d Benchakul said. \u201cI thought we were probably another 10 years out before being seen on the same level as other restaurant professionals, chefs, bartenders and pastry chefs.\u201d<\/p>\n L.A. saw no semifinalists in the category of outstanding professional in cocktail service this year, but San Francisco\u2019s Kevin Diedrich of Pacific Cocktail Haven is a finalist. L.A.\u2019s semifinalists for outstanding restaurateur are no longer in the running, but Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar of Cal-India Collective \u2014 with operations in Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park and Los Altos \u2014 are contenders.<\/p>\n Oth\u00f3n Nolasko, left, and Dami\u00e1n Diaz \u2014 the co-founders of nonprofit No Us Without You \u2014 are this year\u2019s humanitarian of the year honorees.<\/p>\n (Silvia Razgova \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n With a number of names culled in this round, L.A. is no longer in the running for the categories of outstanding restaurateur, outstanding restaurant, outstanding bakery, outstanding pastry chef or baker, or best new bar.<\/p>\n But the L.A.-based Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights is an Impact Awards honoree, while the recipients of the humanitarian of the year award are Oth\u00f3n Nolasko and Dami\u00e1n Diaz of L.A.\u2019s No Us Without You. Both organizations champion immigrant rights and representation, as well as aid distribution in L.A. and beyond.<\/p>\n![\"Endorffeine](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774990210_214_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Oth\u00f3n](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774990210_766_.jpeg\")
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