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Philadelphia Chefs and Restaurants Earn 7 James Beard Award Nominations
The prestigious culinary honors recognize the city's thriving food scene.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:23am
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The finalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards were announced, and Philadelphia is well-represented with seven chefs and restaurants earning nominations. The list includes repeat nominees like Kalaya in Fishtown, which is up for Outstanding Restaurant for the second year in a row, as well as first-time finalists like Emmett in Kensington for Best New Restaurant and Justine Macneil of Fiore Fine Foods in Fishtown for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
Why it matters
The James Beard Awards are considered the 'Oscars' of the food world, so Philadelphia's strong showing is a testament to the city's thriving culinary scene and its reputation as a top dining destination. These nominations highlight the hard work and creativity of local chefs and restaurateurs, and will bring valuable national attention to Philadelphia's food community.
The details
The 13 Philadelphia semifinalists were whittled down to 7 finalists across several categories. Kalaya in Fishtown is up for Outstanding Restaurant for the second year in a row, while three local chefs - Jesse Ito from Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Amanda Shulman from Her Place Supper Club, and Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate from Honeysuckle - are finalists for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday is nominated for Outstanding Bar, and newcomers Emmett in Kensington and Justine Macneil at Fiore Fine Foods in Fishtown earned nods for Best New Restaurant and Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, respectively.
- The finalists were announced on April 1, 2026.
- The James Beard Awards ceremony will be held on June 15, 2026 in Chicago.
The players
Nok Suntaranon
The chef and owner of Kalaya in Fishtown, which is a two-time finalist for Outstanding Restaurant.
Jesse Ito
The chef from Royal Sushi & Izakaya, who is a nine-time finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
Amanda Shulman
The chef from Her Place Supper Club, who is a four-time finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate
The chef duo from Honeysuckle, who are two-time finalists for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
Justine Macneil
The pastry chef at Fiore Fine Foods in Fishtown, who is a first-time finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
What they’re saying
“It feels great. I was crying.”
— Nok Suntaranon, Chef/Owner of Kalaya
“These awards, they mean a lot in our community. I've been in this community for almost two decades now, and honestly, this is super awesome.”
— Justine Macneil, Pastry Chef at Fiore Fine Foods
“I'm just a kid from New Jersey who really wanted to bake, and though this would be a cool career. This just kind of feels like goals can be met, but along the way is really what really matters.”
— Justine Macneil, Pastry Chef at Fiore Fine Foods
What’s next
The winners of the 2026 James Beard Awards will be announced at the ceremony in Chicago on June 15, 2026.
The takeaway
Philadelphia's strong representation among the 2026 James Beard Award finalists underscores the city's status as a premier culinary destination, with talented chefs and innovative restaurants continuing to earn national recognition for their contributions to the vibrant food scene.
