These California restaurants just earned James Beard Awards

No surprise to any of us who eat in the state on a regular basis, but California dominated the food world's biggest night on June 15, with chefs and restaurants from Los Angeles, San Francisco and beyond taking home some of the most coveted honors at the 2026 James Beard Awards.

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On the national stage, San Francisco chef Michael Tusk of Quince captured the night's Outstanding Chef award, one of the foundation's highest individual honors. And L.A.'s Providence, Michael Cimarusti's acclaimed seafood restaurant in Hollywood, won Outstanding Hospitality. 

The headline local win went to chef Dave Beran of Santa Monica's Seline, who was named Best Chef: California. Beran's intimate tasting-menu restaurant has become one of Southern California's most celebrated dining destinations, and the award cements his status as one of the state's most influential culinary talents.

Los Angeles restaurants also took home the prize in several major categories. Kato earned a second consecutive James Beard Award, for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, after winning Best Chef: California last year. And Kevin Diedrich took home Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service for San Francisco's Pacific Cocktail Haven.

In non-competition honors, No Us Without You LA founders Damián Diaz and Othón Nolasco were named Humanitarians of the Year for their ongoing work supporting undocumented restaurant workers and their families. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the Los Angeles county-based organization focused on immigrant rights, also received a James Beard Impact Award during the ceremony. And restaurant legend Nancy Silverton, who opened the acclaimned Lapaba earlier this year, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The ceremony, held at Chicago's Lyric Opera House, is widely considered the Oscars of the food world. For Los Angeles diners, the results offered another reminder that some of the country's best restaurants aren't in New York or Chicago—they're right here, whether you're splurging on a tasting menu in Santa Monica, settling into a seafood feast in Hollywood or heading to a restaurant based on the chef's name alone.