A pair of Los Angeles chefs were named finalists Tuesday for the prestigious James Beard Award for outstanding chef, while local eatery Ki was tabbed as a finalist for best new restaurant.
Southern California eateries failed to garner any nominations for outstanding restaurant or outstanding restaurateur, although Providence on Melrose Avenue was named a finalist for outstanding hospitality. Kato in downtown Los Angeles was named a finalist for outstanding wine and other beverages program.
Gilberto Cetina of Holbox near Exposition Park and Niki Nakayama of n/naka, located near Overland Avenue and Palms Boulevard, were among five finalists in the outstanding chef category.
Restaurant Ki in Little Tokyo was the only California eatery earning a finalist position in the best new restaurant category.
Fátima Juárez of Komal, also near Exposition Park, was named a finalist for emerging chef. Jack Benchakul of endorffeine coffee bar in Chinatown is a finalist for outstanding professional in beverage service.
Nominated for best chef: California were Dave Beran of Seline in Santa Monica and Kwang Uh of Baroo in the downtown Arts District.
Winners will be announced during the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 in Chicago.
The Los Angeles-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, will be presented with an Impact Award during the event, honored for its long-standing work on behalf of immigrants, including its defense of families impacted by immigration-enforcement raids and support of low-income workers and families.
Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz, who co-founded the No Us Without You food-relief organization in Los Angeles during the COVID pandemic, were named recipients of the Humanitarian of the Year Award. The organization provided food support to hospitality workers, “including undocumented back-of-house workers ineligible for unemployment benefits.” More recently, the organization has provided home meals to families to help them avoid immigration raids at L.A. restaurants, according to the Beard Foundation.
Nancy Silverton, founder of La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles and other iconic spots such as Campanile and Osteria Mozza, will receive the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. A former James Beard Award winner for outstanding chef, Silverton “has mentored countless chefs, bakers, and restaurateurs who have since defined their own culinary identities and meaningfully contributed to the independent restaurant ecosystem. Through her widely acclaimed cookbooks, media appearances, and educational initiatives, Silverton has shaped public understanding of food, craft, and tradition, reinforcing the cultural and emotional significance of food in American life.”
Here is a complete list of the finalists named Tuesday:
Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees
Outstanding Restaurateur
Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Cal-India Collective (Ettan, Copra, Eylan and Little Blue Door), Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Los Altos, CA
Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, NC
Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Link Restaurant Group (Péche Seafood Grill, Herbsaint, Cochon, and others), New Orleans, LA
Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H Town Restaurant Group (Hugo’s, Xochi, Urbe, and others), Houston, TX
Dana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, ME
Outstanding Chef
Gilberto Cetina, Holbox, Los Angeles, CA
Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles, CA
Josh Niernberg, Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO
David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT
Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, CA
Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water
The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN
The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY
Kalaya, Philadelphia, PA
Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
Vicia, St. Louis, MO
Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Fátima Juárez, Komal, Los Angeles, CA
E.J. Lagasse, Emeril’s, New Orleans, LA
Rasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Ra, New York, NY
Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Chicago, IL
Adrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place, TX
Best New Restaurant
1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, WI
Agnes and Sherman, Houston, TX
Anjin, Kansas City, MO
Emmett, Philadelphia, PA
Ki, Los Angeles, CA
Lei, New York, NY
Maison Bar á Vins, Washington, D.C.
Merci, Charleston, SC
Robin, St. Louis, MO
Tamba, Las Vegas, NV
Outstanding Bakery
Cultured, Sister Bay, WI
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Anchorage, AK
Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH
Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, SC
Wild Crumb, Bozeman, MT
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Neale Asato, Asato Family Shop, Honolulu, HI
Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio, TX
Maggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas, TX
Justine MacNeil, Fiore, Philadelphia, PA
Outstanding Hospitality
Ansots Basque Chorizos & Catering, Boise, ID
Aria, Atlanta, GA
Bottega, Birmingham, AL
Louie, Clayton, MO
Providence, Los Angeles, CA
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Chambers, New York, NY
Field & Main Restaurant, Marshall, VA
Kato, Los Angeles, CA
The Port of Call, Mystic, CT
Sway Brewing & Blending, Baileys Harbor, WI
Outstanding Bar
Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, PA
Onyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, AR
Scotch Lodge, Portland, OR
Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco, CA
Best New Bar
Bar Chenin, Detroit, MI
Bar, Please!, Boise, ID
Clemente Bar, New York, NY
Later Bye, Oklahoma City, OK
Loma, Providence, RI
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Jack Benchakul, endorffeine coffee bar, Los Angeles, CA
Lee Campbell, Borgo, New York, NY
Ryan Fletter, Barolo Grill, Denver, CO
Brent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.
June Rodil, March, Houston, TX
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Hastings Cameron, Imaginary Factory, Madison, WI
Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA
Nicky Fas, Pantera, Caguas, PR
McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright, Yacht Club, Denver, CO
Ivy Mix, Whoopsie Daisy, Brooklyn, NY
Best Chef: California
Dave Beran, Seline, Santa Monica, CA
Harrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San Francisco, CA
Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio, Oakland, CA
Kwang Uh, Baroo, Los Angeles, CA
Daisy Ryan, Bell’s, Los Alamos, CA