For nearly four decades, the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One have served as the pinnacle of culinary recognition in the U.S. The Restaurant and Chef nominees recognized today embody exceptional talent and leadership within the independent restaurant industry. Winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15, 2026 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Inaugurated in 2025, the Impact Awards is the newest Awards program, born out of the Foundation’s impact work and advocacy policy priorities. They recognize changemakers actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system. Impact Award honorees will be acknowledged at a ceremony in Chicago on Sunday, June 14, as well as on stage at the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony, along with the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian of the Year Award honorees.
Tickets for the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago can be purchased here.
South Carolina saw nominations in three categories: Best Chef: Southeast; Outstanding Bakery; and Best New Restaurant. The full list of nominees in each category are as follows:
Joe Cash, Scoundrel, Greenville, SC
Mary Ellen Diaz, Alma Bea, Shepherdstown, WV
J. Trent Harris, Mujō, Atlanta, GA
Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, NC
David Willocks, The Baker's Table, Newport, KY
Cultured, Sister Bay, WI
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, Anchorage, AK
Super Secret Ice Cream, Bethlehem, NH
Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, SC
Wild Crumb, Bozeman, MT
1033 Omakase, Milwaukee, WI
Agnes and Sherman, Houston, TX
Anjin, Kansas City, MO
Emmett, Philadelphia, PA
Ki, Los Angeles, CA
Lei, New York, NY
Maison Bar à Vins, Washington, D.C.
Merci, Charleston, SC
Robin, St. Louis, MO
Tamba, Las Vegas, NV
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