These L.A. chefs and restaurants are 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists

Every year, restaurants and bars across the country turn heads when the James Beard Foundation announces the top chefs, restaurateurs and beverage professionals competing for its coveted awards. The semifinalists announced today are the first announcement in a series, and restaurants and individuals in the Los Angeles area have established two dozen hubs.

Pooh these semi-finalistsNominees will be announced on March 31, while winners will be announced and honored at a ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

Now in its 40th year, the foundation was founded in honor of the chef of the same name, who founded his own cooking school, wrote numerous cookbooks and promoted cooking with whole foods. The awards, first presented in 1991, tended to impact the business of restaurants — even for those that didn't make it to the finalist round. According to the foundation, a 2025 survey found that 96% of semifinalists reported increased sales following the announcements.

For some, it marks the recognition of a new era. Kwang Uh His first semifinalist award came in 2016, when his fermentation-focused Korean restaurant Baroo had an order-at-the-counter spot next to a 7-Eleven in East Hollywood in the running for best new restaurant in the state. Today he received his second semifinalist award as Best Chef in California for his work at a new, more formal Baroo – widely praised for its creativity and modern Korean tasting menu. It was the LA Times Restaurant of the Year for 2024 and regularly appears on the Times list of the 101 Best Restaurants in LA

Uh learned the news through a call from his wife, Baroo co-owner Mina Park, as he headed to the Arts District restaurant to prepare for dinner that evening.

“I’m very grateful,” he said. “At the same time, it's the question: 'Am I really worth it?' But I’m very grateful.”

The nomination as a semifinalist came as a surprise to Uh, as he said many people are responsible for the restaurant's success, including his employees, Park, the customers, his family and other chefs, all of whom inspired him.

LA-area chefs have won this category the past three years: Jon Yao of Kato in 2025, Maynard Llera of Kuya Lord in 2024 and Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai Cuisine in 2023.

This year's category of California's best chefs includes Uh as well as Angelenos Dave Beran by Seline and Pasjoli; Brian Dunsmoor from Dunsmoor; Sarah Hymanson oath Sarah Kramer from Kismet and Kismet Rotisserie; Andrew and Michelle Munoz from Moos Craft Barbecue; oath Charles Namba by Camélia, Ototo and Tsubaki.

There are others in the running besides LA Eric Bost from Carlsbad's Lilo, Jeune et Jolie, Campfire and Wildland; Tara Monsod by San Diego's Animae and Le Coq; Viet Nguyen the Nep Cafe and Kei Concepts restaurant group in Fountain Valley; Daisy Ryan the Bell's and Companion Hospitality group in Los Alamos; Emma Lipp oath Stephanie Reagor from Sonoma's Valley Bar & Bottle and Valley Swim Club; Eric Alexander oath Courtney McDonald from Auburn's Restaurant Josephine and Four Tines Farm; Zareen Khan from Zareen's in Palo Alto, Redwood City and Mountain View; Fik and Reka Saleh from Alameda's Fikscue Craft BBQ; Oakland Sarah Cooper oath Alan Hsu by Sun Moon Studio and Geoff Davis by Burdell; and in San Francisco, Kim Alter by Nightbird; Harrison Cheney of sons and daughters; Brandon Rice of seriousness; oath Kosuke Tada by Mijote.

When Michelle Muñoz heard the news, she screamed so loudly that her husband — and co-owner of Moo's Craft Barbecue — thought something was wrong.

The couple were named semifinalists in the category in 2023, but never thought they could be considered again.

“When you don't expect it and then you get the news, it just feels so good,” she said, adding, “It reminds us that it's really important to stay focused and grounded for the long term. That's a huge win, not just for Andrew and I, but for our entire staff and for the community and everyone who continues to advocate for us. It's hard to talk about it without getting emotional.”

Two LA chefs are also contenders for the National Outstanding Chef category: Holbox and Chichen Itza's Gilberto Cetina and n/naka and n/soto Niki Nakayama. Michael Tuskfrom San Francisco's Quince, is also a semifinalist. Semifinalists and nominees in this category not only set high culinary standards, but also serve as positive role models in the industry.

Only one Los Angeles restaurant is in the running in the Outstanding Restaurant category: Chad Colby's Italian Destination Antico Nuovoin Larchmont. San Francisco Foreign cinema is the state's only other semifinalist.

And in the Emerging Chef category, which highlights chefs with “exceptional talent, character and leadership skills and who.” [are] will likely have a significant impact in the years to come,” recognizing two names from the LA area: Fatima Juarez the historic South-Central's Komal and José Olmedo Carles Rojas from Venice's Si! Mon. far in the north Steve Joofrom Oakland-based Joodooboo, is also a contender.

LA is also home to two contenders in the Best New Restaurant category: modern Korean tasting menu Thein Little Tokyo and California Izakaya RVR in Venice The happy cranein San Francisco, is California's only other semifinalist.

The Outstanding Restaurateurs category recognizes those who “use and demonstrate their business as a vehicle for building community.”[s] Creativity in entrepreneurship and integrity.” Holly Fox oath Adam Weisblatt of Last Word Hospitality — which operates LA restaurants Found Oyster, Rasarumah, Queen's and Barra Santos, as well as the Copper Room in Yucca Valley and the Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown — are the only Southern Californians represented. In the Bay Area Srijith Gopinathan oath Ayesha Thapar from Ettan, Copra and Eylan are also semi-finalists Stuart Brioza oath Nicole Krasinski the nuclear workshop.

Long Beach Gusto breada standout baker candidate for two years, is a semifinalist in this category – and the only California representative this year.

Hannah Ziskin of Echo Park's Quarter Sheets is the only baker in Southern California in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category. In Oakland: Tarts de Feybesse Monique and Paul Feybesse are also in the running.

Family run Middle Eastern restaurant Ammatoli in Long Beach is a semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality, as is the three-Michelin-star seafood tasting menu restaurant providence in Hollywood. San Francisco House of Prime Rib is the state's only other contender.

katoin the Arts District, is the only restaurant or bar in Southern California that offers an outstanding wine and other beverage program, but just up the coast, in Montecito, it's the only one Carusosand further north is San Francisco the progress.

With the exception of San Diego, no LA area bars are in the running for the best bar category this year Realm of 52 remedies and San Francisco Smugglers' Bay Are.

Sherman Oaks' Daisy Margarita BarHowever, like San Francisco's, it's in the running for best new bar the Valley Club.

Jason Leefrom West Hollywood's Darling, is the only Southern Californian recognized as a preeminent professional in cocktail service; San Francisco Kevin Diedrichof Pacific Cocktail Haven, is the only other semifinalist in the state.

The Outstanding Beverage Service Professionals category can be about much more than just alcohol, and the only contender from LA is proof: Jack Benchakulfrom Chinatown Café Endorffeine, received the James Beard semifinalist award for the first time this year. California's only other semifinalists can be found in restaurants: Paul Einbund from San Francisco's Morris, and Derek Stevenson by Calistoga's Auro.

Find the full list of 2026 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists here Here.