LA Wins Big at the 2026 James Beard Awards

Los Angeles had a night to remember at the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, held June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The James Beard Foundation's official winners list reads like a love letter to LA dining.

Dave Beran, chef and owner of Seline in Santa Monica, was named Best Chef: California. Providence, Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto's Hollywood seafood institution, won Outstanding Hospitality. And Kato took Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, the restaurant's second consecutive Beard win after chef Jon Yao was named Best Chef: California last year.

Chef Dave Beran. Photo courtesy of Seline

The full Los Angeles scorecard from the night:

• Best Chef: California: Dave Beran, Seline (Santa Monica)

• Outstanding Hospitality: Providence (Hollywood)

• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Kato (Arts District)

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Nancy Silverton

• America's Classics: The Serving Spoon (Inglewood)

• Humanitarian of the Year: No Us Without You

• Impact Award: Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

The honors ran deeper than the competitive categories. Nancy Silverton received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Serving Spoon, the Inglewood soul food landmark open since 1983, was celebrated as a 2026 America's Classic. LA nonprofit No Us Without You, founded by Othon Nolasko and Damian Diaz to feed vulnerable hospitality workers, was named Humanitarian of the Year.

Photo courtesy of Seline

Silverton, for her part, made clear the honor is not a farewell. "This award doesn't mean I'm going anywhere ... because I have nowhere to go," she said from the stage, as reported by LAist.

Between Beard night and the new Michelin selection, June made one thing official: Los Angeles is cooking at the very top of the American food world.

I hope you're hungry. - Matthew Tropp | FJM.