James Beard Award Semifinalists 2026: Every Los Angeles Restaurant, Chef, And Bar That Made The List

Los Angeles just made another major splash in the culinary world. The 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists have just been announced, and L.A.’s dining scene showed up in force, from iconic fine-dining institutions like Providence and n/naka to buzzy neighborhood favorites like Kismet , Holbox , and Antico Nuovo . With chefs, restaurateurs, and bars across the city earning national recognition, it’s official – [L.A. is the best place to dine out!](https://secretlosangeles.com/dine-la-restaurant-week-winter-2026/) Los Angeles Semifinalists — 2026 James Beard Awards --------------------------------------------------- ### Outstanding Restaurateur * Holly Fox & Adam Weisblatt Last Word Hospitality (Found Oyster, Rasarumah, The Copper Room) ### Outstanding Chef * **Gilberto Cetina** — Holbox * Niki Nakayama — n/naka ### Outstanding Restaurant * Antico Nuovo — Los Angeles, CA ### Emerging Chef * Fátima Juárez — Komal — Los Angeles, CA ### Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker * **Hannah Ziskin** — Quarter Sheets — Los Angeles, CA ### Outstanding Hospitality * Providence — Los Angeles, CA ### Outstanding Wine & Beverage Program * Kato — Los Angeles, CA ### Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service * Jack Benchakul — Endorffeine — Los Angeles, CA ### Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service * Jason Lee — Darling — Los Angeles, CA ### Best New Bar * Daisy — Los Angeles, CA ### Best Chef: California (L.A.-based semifinalists) * Brian Dunsmoor — Dunsmoor * Sarah Hymanson & Sara Kramer — Kismet * **Andrew & Michelle Muñoz** — Moo’s Craft Barbecue * Charles Namba — Camélia * Kwang Uh — Baroo You can read the full list of nominees 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists here. Source: https://secretlosangeles.com/2026-james-beard-award-semifinalists-in-la/