James Beard Restaurant & Chef Award Nominees 2026

Just strawberries, sugar, and a little downtime.

From playful food in the West Loop to exploring the African diaspora on the South Side, Chicago's dining scene is on fire.

From a chic North Side listening room to an acclaimed Pilsen brewery, Chicago’s drinks scene is as diverse as its 77 neighborhoods.

Plus four wonderful things to know about the baklava guy, a new bakery you’re going to want to know about, and this year’s James Beard Award nominees.

The awards will be livestreamed from Chicago exclusively on Bon Appétit June 15.

Houston's bar scene is as sprawling and surprising as the city itself, from aperitivo-focused cocktail dens to Ethiopian coffee houses.

LA is one of America’s great food cities. Here are the must-hit spots around town.

Go beyond your same old smoothies and grain bowls.

A punchy, spicy peanut vinaigrette transforms a simply grilled steak into a showstopping main.

A lightning-fast dinner inspired by an Italian classic.

Double your proteins—like peanut sauce steak or lemongrass chicken—not your time by the grill.

Like chilled soba and fluffy pancakes.

Smashed zucchini salad, curry-yogurt-drizzled tomatoes, and more low-touch dishes to round out a summer meal.

Pickled chile vinaigrette, salami, and torn crispy bread help turn a bowl’s worth of stone fruit into a lightning fast summery dinner.

The dip you need for every party, produce-packed side dishes, foolproof grilled mains, and a fireworks finale for dessert.

A blender dressing does double duty as both a flavorful marinade and a final dressing in this pared-back version of Vietnamese-style lemongrass chicken.

Raw zucchini has never tasted better.

The high-impact flavors traditionally used in the marinade for Peruvian chicken—soy sauce, cumin, and paprika—are applied to grilled tofu with resounding success.

Raw corn kernels add pops of crunchy sweetness to this quick weeknight pasta.