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 North Texas restaurants and chefs made this year’s list, including some past nominees and a few new additions:
- 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)
- Far-Out, Dallas (Best New Restaurant)
- Starship Bagel, Dallas (Outstanding Bakery)
- Maggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas (Outstanding Pastry Chef of Baker)
- Ayahuasca Cantina, Dallas (Outstanding Bar)
- Gabe Sanchez, Midnight Rambler, Dallas (Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service)
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)
- Mercado Sin Nombre, Austin (Outstanding Bakery)
- Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi, San Antonio (Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker)
- Barley Swine, Austin (Outstanding Hospitality)
- Kalimotxo, Austin (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program)
- Taconeta, El Paso, TX (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program)
- Lee's, Houston (Best New Bar)
- Celia Pellegrini, Este, Austin (Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service)
- June Rodil, March, Houston (Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service)
- Kristine Nguyen, Bludorn, Houston (Outstanding Profession in Cocktail Service
- Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, Houston (Best Chef: Texas)
- Thai Changthong, P Thai's Khao Man Gai & Noodles, Austin (Best Chef: Texas)
- Michael Che, Tsuke Edomae, Austin (Best Chef: Texas)
- Ali Clem, La Barbecue, Austin (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)
- Daniela Landaverde and Rosa Landaverde, La Santa Barbacha (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)
- Bob Somsith, Lao'd Bar, Austin (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.
Avery Escamilla-Wendell is KERA’s news intern. Got a tip? Email Avery at aescamillawendell@kera.org. You can follow her on Instagram @by_avery_escamilla.
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