LA Chefs Lead 2026 James Beard Semifinalists Across Multiple Categories

Los Angeles-area chefs and restaurants earned about two dozen James Beard Award semifinalist nods in 2026 across categories including Best Chef: California (Kwang Uh of Baroo, with LA peers like Moo’s Craft Barbecue’s Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, Dave Beran, Brian Dunsmoor, and others), Outstanding Chef (Gilberto Cetina of Holbox; Niki Nakayama), Outstanding Restaurant (Antico Nuovo), Emerging Chef (Fátima Juárez; José Olmedo Carles Rojas), Best New Restaurant (Ki; RVR), Outstanding Restaurateur (Last Word Hospitality), Outstanding Bakery (Gusto Bread), and more (Daisy Margarita Bar for Best New Bar; Jason Lee of Darling for cocktail service). Finalists are announced March 31 and winners June 15 in Chicago.