The James Beard Foundation named 23 Chicago restaurants, chefs and bars Wednesday as semifinalists for this year’s coveted awards. The so-called “Oscars of the food world” annually recognize the best in America’s culinary scene.The eateries on the list for the coveted Outstanding Restaurant award are the Near West Side eatery EL Ideas, featuring eclectic American fare from chef Phillip Foss, and the Ukrainian Village Filipino restaurant Kasama, which recently earned its second Michelin star. Green Room Newsletter You’re subscribed!Please check your inbox for your confirmation. Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts culture newsletter! Sorry, there was an error registering your email. Email Sign Up By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Diana Dávila of Logan Square’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria and Zachary Engel of Lincoln Park’s Galit both earned spots on the list for Outstanding Chef. Chicago also has nine chefs on the semifinalist list for best regional chef, including Thai Dang of HaiSous and Christopher Jung and Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwells Trading, who were finalists in the category last year.These Chicago eateries vie to join the lengthy list of local restaurants that have won a Beard over the years. Last year, West Loop dining bar Kumiko and chef Noah Sandoval of fine dining restaurant Oriole were Chicago’s two Beard winners.This list is just the first in this year’s Beard process. This year’s finalists will be announced on March 31 and the awards will be given out on June 15 in a ceremony at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House.Here is the full list of Chicago-area 2026 James Beard Award semifinalistsOutstanding RestaurateurFrank Callero, Joe Flamm, and Steven Zaleski, Day Off Group (Rose Mary, il Carciofo, and BLVD Steakhouse)Outstanding ChefDiana Dávila, Mi Tocaya AntojeriaZachary Engel, Galit Diana Dávila of Logan Square’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in the 2026 James Beard Awards.Zubaer Khan/Chicago Sun-Times Outstanding RestaurantEL Ideas KasamaEmerging Chef Nicolai Mlodinow, Class ActBailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant PastificioBest New RestaurantNaduNic Junior'sOutstanding Pastry Chef or BakerCourtney Kenyon-Snider, ObélixOutstanding HospitalityDaisiesOutstanding Wine and Other Beverages ProgramBraseroOutstanding BarHopleaf Nick Kleutsch and James Sanders of Sanders BBQ Supply Co. in Beverly are nominated for Best Chef: Great Lakes in the 2026 James Beard Awards. Manuel Martinez/WBEZ Outstanding Professional in Cocktail ServiceChristopher Marty, Best IntentionsBest Chef: Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio)Thai Dang, HaiSousDanny Espinoza, Santa Masa TamaleriaNorman Fenton, CariñoChristopher Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, Maxwells TradingMari Katsumura and Adam Sindler, SHŌNick Kleutsch and James Sanders, Sanders BBQ Supply Co.Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir, MirraBen Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel, Loaf LoungeJacob Potashnick, FeldCourtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ. ...read more read less