The James Beard Foundation named 23 Chicago restaurants, chefs and bars Tuesday as semifinalists for this year’s coveted awards. The so-called “Oscars of the food world” annually recognize the best in America’s culinary scene.
The eateries on the list for the coveted Outstanding Restaurant award are the Near West Side eatery EL Ideas, featuring eclectic American fare from chef Phillip Foss, and the Ukrainian Village Filipino restaurant Kasama, which recently earned its second Michelin star.
Diana Dávila of Logan Square’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria and Zachary Engel of Lincoln Park’s Galit both earned spots on the list for Outstanding Chef.
Chicago also has nine chefs on the semifinalist list for best regional chef, including Thai Dang of HaiSous and Christopher Jung and Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwells Trading, who were finalists in the category last year.
These Chicago eateries vie to join the lengthy list of local restaurants that have won a Beard over the years. Last year, West Loop dining bar Kumiko and chef Noah Sandoval of fine dining restaurant Oriole were Chicago’s two Beard winners.
This list is just the first in this year’s Beard process. This year’s finalists will be announced on March 31 and the awards will be given out on June 15 in a ceremony at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House.
Here is the full list of Chicago-area 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists
Outstanding Restaurateur
Frank Callero, Joe Flamm, and Steven Zaleski, Day Off Group (Rose Mary, il Carciofo, and BLVD Steakhouse)
Outstanding Chef
Diana Dávila, Mi Tocaya Antojeria
Zachary Engel, Galit
Outstanding Restaurant
EL Ideas
Kasama
Emerging Chef
Nicolai Mlodinow, Class Act
Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Best New Restaurant
Nadu
Nic & Junior's
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Courtney Kenyon-Snider, Obélix
Outstanding Hospitality
Daisies
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Brasero
Outstanding Bar
Hopleaf
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Christopher Marty, Best Intentions
Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)
Thai Dang, HaiSous
Danny Espinoza, Santa Masa Tamaleria
Norman Fenton, Cariño
Christopher Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells Trading
Mari Katsumura and Adam Sindler, SHŌ
Nick Kleutsch and James Sanders, Sanders BBQ Supply Co.
Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir, Mirra
Ben Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel, Loaf Lounge
Jacob Potashnick, Feld
Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.
