The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its 36th annual Awards on June 15th at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Congratulations to all of the 2026 recipients on this well-deserved recognition!

Explore career opportunities with this year's winners and/or discover openings with past years' winners.  

Outstanding Restaurateur: Dana Street - Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others (Portland, ME)

Outstanding Chef: Michael Tusk - Quince (San Francisco, CA)

Outstanding Restaurant: Kalaya (Philadelphia, PA)

Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres - Maximo (West University Place, TX)

Best New Restaurant: Lei (New York, NY)

Outstanding Bakery: Wild Crumb (Bozeman, MT)

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Susan Bae - Moon Rabbit (Washington, D.C.)

Outstanding Hospitality: Providence (Los Angeles, CA)

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Kato (Los Angeles, CA)

Outstanding Bar: Scotch Lodge (Portland, OR)

Best New Bar: Loma (Providence, RI)

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Lee Campbell - Borgo (New York, NY)

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Kevin Diedrich - Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco, CA)

Best Chef: California: Dave Beran - Seline (Santa Monica, CA)

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Jacob Potashnick - Feld (Chicago, IL)

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Jesse Ito - Royal Sushi & Izakaya (Philadelphia, PA)

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Loryn Nalic - Balkan Treat Box (Webster Groves, MO)

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Penelope Wong - Yuan Wonton (Denver, CO)

Best Chef: New York State: Hooni Kim - Meju (Queens, NY)

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): Evan Hennessey - Stages (Dover, NH)

Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA): Ryan Roadhouse - Nodoguro (Portland, OR)

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Serigne Mbaye - Dakar NOLA (New Orleans, LA)

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Taylor Montgomery - Montgomery Sky Farm (Leicester, NC)

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Sarah Thompson - Casa Playa (Las Vegas, NV)

Best Chef: Texas: Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu - JŪN (Houston, TX)