The James Beard Awards on Wednesday announced its 2026 semifinalists for the 40th annual Restaurant and Chef Awards, which honor extraordinary talent in culinary and food media across the United States.
Several Austin restaurants and chefs made this year's list:
- Mercado Sin Nombre (Outstanding Bakery)
- Barley Swine (Outstanding Hospitality)
- Kalimotxo (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program)
- Celia Pellegrini, Este (Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service)
- Thai Changthong, P Thai's Khao Man Gai & Noodles (Best Chef: Texas)
- Michael Che, Tsuke Edomae (Best Chef: Texas)
- Ali Clem, la Barbecue (Best Chef: Texas)
- Daniela Landaverde and Rosa Landaverde, La Santa Barbacha (Best Chef: Texas)
- Bob Somsith, Lao'd Bar (Best Chef: Texas)
Here are the other semifinalists from Texas:
- Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo's, Xochi, Urbe and others), Houston (Outstanding Restauranteur)
- Manabu Horiuchi, Katami, Houston (Outstanding Chef)
- David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co., Seguin (Outstanding Chef)
- Mixtli, San Antonio (Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water)
- Max Lappé and Jacques Varon, Baso, Houston (Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water)
- Adrian Torres, Maximo, West University Place (Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water)
- Agnes and Sherman, Houston (Best New Restaurant)
- Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, San Antonio (Best New Restaurant)
- Far-Out, Dallas (Best New Restaurant)
- Starship Bagel, Dallas (Outstanding Bakery)
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio (Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker)
- Maggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas (Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker)
- Taconeta, El Paso (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program)
- Ayahuasca Cantina, Dallas (Outstanding Bar)
- Lee's, Houston (Best New Bar)
- June Rodil, March, Houston (Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service)
- Kristine Nguyen, Bludorn, Houston (Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service)
- Gabe Sanchez, Midnight Rambler, Dallas (Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service)
- Scott Girling, Osteria Il Muro, Denton (Best Chef: Texas)
- Patrick Hicks, Smoke'N Ash BBQ, Arlington (Best Chef: Texas)
- Masayuki Otaka, Mabo, Dallas (Best Chef: Texas)
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston (Best Chef: Texas)
- Kent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner, Milton's, Houston (Best Chef: Texas)
- Francisco Estrada and Lizzeth Martinez, Naco Mexican, San Antonio (Best Chef: Texas)
- Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN, Houston (Best Chef: Texas)
- Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie, Houston (Best Chef: Texas)
- Sue Kim, The Magpie, San Antonio (Best Chef: Texas)
- Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre, San Antonio (Best Chef: Texas)
- Andres Pablos, Accá, El Paso (Best Chef: Texas)
- Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, Café Piro, Socorro (Best Chef: Texas)
- Michael Serva, Bordo, Marfa (Best Chef: Texas)
- Finney Walter, The Nicolett, Lubbock (Best Chef: Texas)
- George Watts III, GW's BBQ Catering Co, San Juan (Best Chef: Texas)
Finalists will be announced March 31, and winners will be recognized at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Copyright 2026 KERA News
