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.