Los Angeles restaurants secured a series of major wins at the 2026 James Beard Awards held in Chicago on June 15. The city’s culinary scene earned top honors in categories including Best Chef: California, Outstanding Hospitality, and Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, reinforcing its standing as a national gastronomic leader.
Los Angeles Wins at the 2026 James Beard Awards
The 2026 ceremony, often referred to as the “Oscars of food,” brought significant recognition to the Los Angeles dining landscape. Dave Beran, of the Santa Monica tasting menu destination Seline, was named Best Chef: California. During his acceptance, Beran emphasized the necessity of community, stating, “What you need more than anything are the people in your life.”
Other notable Los Angeles winners included the seafood institution Providence, which took home the award for Outstanding Hospitality. Donato Poto, co-owner alongside Michael Cimarusti, reflected on the accolade: “Hospitality is an art of reaching out a hand without asking for anything in return,” Poto said. Additionally, Kato earned the award for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, marking the second consecutive year the restaurant has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation.
The James Beard Foundation Awards, which recognize culinary professionals for excellence, community impact, and industry standards, serve as one of the most prestigious honors in the American restaurant industry. The selection process involves a rigorous system of judges, including culinary experts, food writers, and industry professionals who evaluate nominees based on criteria such as consistency, innovation, and service quality. For Los Angeles, these wins are particularly significant as the city continues to compete with New York and Chicago for global culinary dominance.
Philadelphia and Great Lakes Regional Honorees
The awards also highlighted shifts in the culinary landscape across the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. In Philadelphia, Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya secured the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award, his first win after nine nominations. According to 6abc Philadelphia, the city also celebrated a win for Kalaya in the Best Restaurant category, a significant milestone for the Fishtown establishment.
In Chicago, chef Jacob Potashnick of Feld won the regional Best Chef: Great Lakes award. Potashnick, who opened Feld in 2024 and received a Michelin star that November, emphasized the collaborative nature of his work. As WBEZ Chicago reported, he credited local farmers for his success, noting, “Feld would not exist without them.” When asked about his plans following the win, Potashnick remarked, “I think when you win something like this, the next step is figuring out how to support other people in the industry, so that they get this opportunity as well.”
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Future of the Awards Ceremony in Chicago
The long-term venue for the James Beard Awards remains a point of speculation. While the ceremony has been held in Chicago since 2015, its future beyond 2028 is currently unconfirmed. Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, described Chicago as the foundation’s “home away from home,” confirming that the event is secured for the city through 2028 following an extension with Choose Chicago. The foundation has previously undergone significant internal restructuring, including the formation of an ethics committee and efforts to diversify its voting body, following a period of programming cancellations in 2020 and 2021.
The decision to keep the awards in Chicago reflects a long-standing partnership between the Foundation and the city’s tourism bureau. The awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago serves as a major draw for the city, attracting thousands of chefs, restaurateurs, and media professionals from across the country. This influx of visitors provides a notable economic boost to local hotels, transport, and dining establishments, which remains a key factor in the city’s ongoing efforts to retain the hosting rights for the prestigious event.
The James Beard Foundation’s commitment to diversity and ethics remains a focal point of their operations. Since 2021, the organization has implemented systematic changes to its voting procedures to ensure that the awards better reflect the diversity of the American restaurant industry. These reforms were initiated after the foundation suspended the awards in 2020 to conduct a comprehensive audit of its policies. By prioritizing transparency and broadening the scope of nominees, the Foundation aims to maintain its status as the definitive authority on American dining, ensuring that the awards continue to carry weight with both industry peers and the dining public.
