Los Angeles Takes Center Stage at 2026 James Beard Awards

WHO:

Eater Los Angeles - Susan Bae from Moon Rabbit in D.C. won the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker award.

Eater Los Angeles - Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco of No Us Without You were recognized as Humanitarian of the Year.

Eater Los Angeles - Nancy Silverton received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her influential cooking at various restaurants.

Eater Los Angeles - Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto are the co-owners of Providence, which won Outstanding Hospitality.

Eater Los Angeles - Jon Yao is the chef of Kato, which won Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

Eater Los Angeles - Ryan Roadhouse won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific.

Eater Los Angeles - Tommy Klaus, founder of Scotch Lodge, won the award for Outstanding Bar.

Eater Los Angeles - Dana Street, founder of Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and Street and Co. in Portland, won the Outstanding Restaurateur award.

Eater Los Angeles - Dave Beran, chef of Seline, mentioned specific dishes served at his restaurant, including puffed beef tendon displayed on a branch, black cod with mussels and fennel, and coffee and caviar.

Eater Los Angeles - Ryan Bailey, co-owner and operations and wine director of Kato, highlighted the restaurant's beverage program, which includes cocktails, an impressive wine cellar, and non-alcoholic pairings.

Eater Los Angeles - Dave Beran, chef of Seline; Jon Yao, chef of Kato; Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto, co-owners of Providence; Ryan Bailey, co-owner and operations and wine director of Kato; Nancy Silverton, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco of No Us Without You; Harold E. Sparks, founder of The Serving Spoon.

WHAT:

Eater Los Angeles - The Serving Spoon was named one of the recipients of the 2026 America’s Classics award.

Eater Los Angeles - Providence won Outstanding Hospitality, and Kato won Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

Eater Los Angeles - Ryan Roadhouse won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific.

Eater Los Angeles - Seline serves a 15 to 18-course menu, which may include dishes like puffed beef tendon displayed on a branch, black cod with mussels and fennel, and coffee and caviar.

Eater Los Angeles - Kato's beverage program includes cocktails, an impressive wine cellar, and non-alcoholic pairings.

Eater Los Angeles - The Serving Spoon was founded in 1983 and serves a menu of breakfast and Southern classics.

Eater Los Angeles - Roadhouse has received nine semifinalist nominations in the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category over the last decade.

Eater Los Angeles - Scotch Lodge is recognized for its cocktail offerings and has been nominated for the award for two consecutive years.

Eater - Street emphasized the award was a testament to the 340 employees working for him, stating, “Without the 340 people that work for us very hard every day, we wouldn’t be here.”

Eater - Street described the word "outstanding" in the award's title as preferable to "best," saying, “I don’t think we beat anybody.”

Eater Los Angeles - The Serving Spoon was founded in 1983 and serves a menu of breakfast and Southern classics, including the Spooner Breakfast, shrimp and grits, and catfish nuggets.

Eater Los Angeles - Nancy Silverton, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledged restaurants everywhere in her acceptance speech.

Eater Los Angeles - Los Angeles won multiple awards at the 2026 James Beard Awards, including Best Chef: California, Outstanding Hospitality, and Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

Eater Los Angeles - Seline received the Best Chef: California award; Kato won Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program; Providence won Outstanding Hospitality.

Eater Los Angeles - The Serving Spoon was named one of the recipients of the 2026 America’s Classics award.

Eater Los Angeles - Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco were recognized as Humanitarian of the Year.

Eater Los Angeles - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) received the Impact Award.

WHERE:

Eater Los Angeles - The 2026 James Beard Awards ceremony was hosted in Chicago.

Eater Los Angeles - The Serving Spoon is located in Inglewood, Los Angeles.

WHEN:

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Foundation hosted its media awards on June 13, 2026.

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Awards ceremony took place on June 15, 2026.

Eater - The James Beard Award winners were announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 15, 2026.

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Awards ceremony took place on June 15, 2026.

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Foundation hosted its media awards on June 13, 2026.

WHY:

Eater Los Angeles - In his acceptance speech, Ryan Roadhouse stated, “This medal belongs to you — without you, I would be nowhere [near where] I am today.”

Eater Los Angeles - In her acceptance speech, Susan Bae reflected on the significance of her award, stating, “As a Korean American chef, this recognition means something bigger than myself.”

Eater Los Angeles - Dana Street criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, calling them “despicable,” and highlighted the contributions of immigrant workers in his restaurants.

Eater Los Angeles - Roadhouse credited his mentors in his acceptance speech, stating, “This medal belongs to you — without you, I would be nowhere [near where] I am today.”

Eater - Street criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, calling them “despicable,” and highlighted the contributions of immigrant workers in his restaurants.

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Foundation Awards are considered prestigious in the food and hospitality industry, often referred to as the “Oscars of food.”

Eater Los Angeles - The awards have been under scrutiny due to past allegations of misconduct and a lack of diversity among nominees and winners, prompting the Foundation to conduct an internal audit and diversify its judging process.

HOW:

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Foundation conducted an internal audit to form an ethics committee and diversify the judges in response to scrutiny over past allegations of misconduct and a lack of diversity among nominees and winners.

Eater Los Angeles - The James Beard Foundation conducts annual awards that include categories such as Emerging Chef, Best New Restaurant, and America’s Classics Awards.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 06:38 UTC)

At the recent James Beard Foundation media awards, Susan Bae from Moon Rabbit in D.C. took home the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker award, while Ryan Roadhouse was honored with the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific. Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco of No Us Without You were recognized as Humanitarian of the Year, and Nancy Silverton received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her influential cooking. The Serving Spoon was also celebrated as one of the recipients of the 2026 America’s Classics award, highlighting the foundation's ongoing commitment to diversity and ethics in the culinary world.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 23:24 UTC)

In a recent announcement, Providence, co-owned by Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto, received the award for Outstanding Hospitality, while Kato, led by chef Jon Yao, was recognized for its Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. Kato's beverage offerings include a range of cocktails, an impressive wine cellar, and non-alcoholic pairings, while Seline features a unique 15 to 18-course menu with creative dishes like puffed beef tendon and black cod. Additionally, Dana Street criticized Trump’s immigration policies, calling them “despicable,” and emphasized the vital role of immigrant workers in the restaurant industry, prompting the James Beard Foundation to conduct an internal audit to enhance ethics and diversity among its judges.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 20:06 UTC)

Ryan Roadhouse has been honored with the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific region, marking a significant achievement after receiving nine semifinalist nominations over the past decade. Additionally, Tommy Klaus, the founder of Scotch Lodge, won the award for Outstanding Bar, recognized for its exceptional cocktail offerings and earning nominations for two consecutive years. In his acceptance speech, Roadhouse expressed gratitude to his mentors, saying, “This medal belongs to you — without you, I would be nowhere [near where] I am today.”

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 14:41 UTC)

Dana Street, the founder of several renowned Portland restaurants including Fore Street and Standard Baking Co., has been honored with the Outstanding Restaurateur award at the James Beard Awards ceremony held in Chicago on June 15, 2026. In his acceptance speech, Street emphasized that this recognition reflects the hard work of his 340 employees, stating, “Without the 340 people that work for us very hard every day, we wouldn’t be here.” He also expressed a preference for the term "outstanding" over "best," adding, “I don’t think we beat anybody,” while criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies and acknowledging the vital role of immigrant workers in his establishments.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 08:52 UTC)

In a recent feature by Eater Los Angeles, chef Dave Beran of Seline showcased unique dishes like puffed beef tendon displayed on a branch and black cod with mussels and fennel, while Ryan Bailey from Kato emphasized their diverse beverage program, which includes cocktails and an impressive wine cellar. The Serving Spoon, a beloved establishment since 1983, continues to delight diners with Southern classics such as shrimp and grits and catfish nuggets, and Nancy Silverton recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award, thanking restaurants everywhere in her acceptance speech. Meanwhile, the James Beard Foundation is taking steps to address past allegations of misconduct and improve diversity among nominees and winners by forming an ethics committee following an internal audit.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 06:52 UTC)

Los Angeles chefs and restaurants shone brightly at the 2026 James Beard Awards held in Chicago, with Seline taking home the Best Chef: California award, Kato winning for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, and Providence recognized for Outstanding Hospitality. Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco were honored as Humanitarian of the Year, while The Serving Spoon from Inglewood received the 2026 America’s Classics award, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights was presented with the Impact Award. These prestigious awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of food,” have faced scrutiny in recent years, leading the James Beard Foundation to implement changes aimed at increasing diversity among nominees and winners.