Award season is finally here, which means it’s finally time for the James Beard Foundation to announce its highly anticipated semifinalist list. Often referred to as the “Oscars of Food,” the James Beard Awards are among the most prestigious in the American culinary community—right up there with Michelin. 

Every year, the hundreds of Beard Foundation judges survey several restaurants across the nation, evaluating them by region and categories in search of the most exceptional culinary talent. This year, 12 Houston-area restaurants and chefs made the list, including Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught from the H-Town Restaurant Group, Manabu Horiuchi from Katami, and 27-year-old chef Adrian Torres from Maximo. 

Here’s a full list of Houston-area chefs and restaurants who made the cut for 2026:

• Outstanding Restaurateur: Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group (Hugo's, Xochi, Urbe, and others).
• Outstanding Chef: Manabu Horiuchi from Katami.
• Emerging Chef: Max Lappé and Jacques Varon from Baso, and Adrian Torres from Maximo
  
• Best New Restaurant: Agnes and Sherman
• Best New Bar: Lee's 
• Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: June Rodil from March 
• Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Kristine Nguyen from Bludorn 
• Best Chef: Texas: Ope Amosu from ChòpnBlọk; Kent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner from Milton's; Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu from Jūn; and Shawn Gawle from Camaraderie.

These semifinalists are now part of a history that dates to the inaugural awards in 1991. Each year, the awards are held in Chicago in June in memory of James Beard, often credited as America’s first “foodie.” During his lifetime, Beard earned recognition in the culinary world not only for his cookbooks but also for his role as host of the country’s first food program and as founder of his well-established James Beard Cooking School. 

Houston has had a great showing in recent years. In 2025, Thomas Bille of Spring’s Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Belly of the Beast took home the title of Best Chef: Texas—a considerable feat considering he was up against four other chefs, including Emmanuel Chavez of Michelin-starred restaurant Tatemó in Spring Branch. The three-time Beard finalist is known for his tasting menu centered on Mexican foodways, masa, and heirloom ingredients.

In 2023, chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter, the co-owner of Thai restaurant Street to Kitchen, won Best Chef: Texas, and in 2022, Alba Huerta’s cocktail bar, Julep, earned Outstanding Bar Program, marking Houston’s first win in a national category. Other local James Beard Award–winning chefs include Chris Shepherd and Hugo Ortega, who both won Best Chef: Southwest in 2014 and 2017, respectively, before the Beard Foundation introduced a Texas-specific chef category in 2020. 

Texas as a whole fared well, with 22 chefs and restaurants making the national categories, and a whopping 20 chefs named in the Best Chef: Texas category. 

The Austin area makes an impressive showing with eight national nods, including David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes of Seguin barbecue joint Burnt Bean Co. competing for Outstanding Chef, San Antonio’s tasting menu restaurant Mixtli competing for Outstanding Restaurant, and the diner-favorite Mercado Sin Nombre for Outstanding Bakery. Tavel Bristol-Joseph of San Antonio’s newly Michelin-starred dessert tasting menu restaurant Nicosi is also in the running for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.

Dallas also gets some Beard cred with five semifinalists in national categories, including Starship Bagel for Outstanding Bakery, and Ayahuasca Cantina (Outstanding Bar). 

This year, restaurant and chef nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, with awards following on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. 

Editor’s note: Some SagaCity Media staff members serve on the James Beard Awards committee.