Who are the 2026 James Beard culinary award winners from California?
Due to California’s innovative and exciting food scene, chefs and restaurants from the state have always performed well at the James Beard Awards. Three Californian culinary professionals and two restaurants received honors for their culinary work in2026, with some nominees facing off against fellow Californians in their categories.
The five California standouts were named during Monday’s annual Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. Since 1990, the James Beard Foundation has recognized exemplary American chefs, restaurants, and cookbook authors with awards for their contributions to food culture.
Outstanding Chef
Michael Tusk of Quince in San Francisco received the 2026 James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef. Two other California chefs, Gilberto Cetina of Holbox and Niki Nakayama of n/naka, both in Los Angeles, received nominations.
Outstanding Hospitality
Seafood restaurant Providence in L.A. received the 2026 award for Outstanding Hospitality. According to the James Beard Foundation website, the honor is awarded to a “restaurant, bar, or other food and drinking establishment that fosters a sense of hospitality among its customers and staff that serves as a beacon for the community and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations.”
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages
Kato, a modern Taiwanese restaurant in L.A., took home the prize in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages category.
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
The James Beard Award for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service went to Kevin Diedrich of Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco.
Best Chef: California
Out of five nominations from across the state, Dave Beran of Seline in Santa Monica received the award for Best Chef: California.
Californian Foundations Recognized at James Beard Awards
The James Beard Foundation presented Humanitarian of the Year award to Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz of No Us Without You, an organization providing food security to undocumented and underserved members of the restaurant industry.
The Foundation also honored Los Angeles-based Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights (CHIRLA) with an Impact Award. According to the James Beard Foundation, Impact Awards go to “individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.”
Nancy Silverton, cookbook author and the founder of Los Angeles’s La Brea Bakery, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
