These 24 NorCal restaurants and chefs were just named 2026 James Beard semifinalists
This year’s list of James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists, released Jan. 21, includes 24 Bay Area and Northern California restaurants, chefs and leaders in the food and beverage world. Among those listed are well-loved Bay Area restaurants and bars like San Francisco’s House of Prime Rib, Foreign Cinema and Smuggler’s Cove alongside newer-to-the-scene talents like Chef Steve Joo of Joodooboo in Oakland and Fik Saleh and Reka Saleh of Fikscue Craft BBQ in Alameda.
The impressive representation of the Bay Area on the list of semifinalists might signal that the region is getting more recognition this year by the James Beard Awards team. But the real test will come in June with the announcement of the winners — last year, no Bay Area restaurant or chefs were among the major awardees at the annual Chicago ceremony. The same thing happened in 2023 and 2024.
The list of finalists is expected to be announced in early April.
Outstanding Restaurateur
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, Atomic Workshop (The Anchovy Bar, The Progress, and State Bird Provisions), San Francisco
Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar, Ettan, Copra, and Eylan, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Altos, and Menlo Park
Outstanding Chef
Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco
Outstanding Restaurant
Foreign Cinema, San Francisco
Emerging Chef
Steve Joo, Joodooboo, Oakland
Best New Restaurant
The Happy Crane, San Francisco
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Monique Feybesse and Paul Feybesse, Tarts de Feybesse, Oakland
Outstanding Hospitality
House of Prime Rib, San Francisco
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
The Progress, San Francisco
Outstanding Bar
Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco
Best New Bar
The Valley Club, San Francisco
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Paul Einbund, The Morris, San Francisco
Derek Stevenson, Auro, Calistoga
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco
Best Chef: California
Eric Alexander and Courtney McDonald, Restaurant Josephine, Auburn
Kim Alter, Nightbird, San Francisco
Harrison Cheney, Sons & Daughters, San Francisco
Sarah Cooper and Alan Hsu, Sun Moon Studio, Oakland
Geoff Davis, Burdell, Oakland
Zareen Khan, Zareen’s, Palo Alto
Emma Lipp and Stephanie Reagor, Valley Bar & Bottle, Sonoma
Brandon Rice, Ernest, San Francisco
Fik Saleh and Reka Saleh, Fikscue Craft BBQ, Alameda
Kosuke Tada, Mijoté, San Francisco
Access the full list of semifinalists here.