Toast Celebrates The 2026 James Beard Award Winners

The James Beard Awards, celebrating their 36th year in 2026, are among the most prestigious honors in the culinary and hospitality industry, recognizing honorees’ achievements and innovation. This week, chefs, bartenders, bakers, industry leaders, and restaurateurs of all kinds came together in Chicago to celebrate the 2026 honorees.

Toast is elated to call 15 of the 27 winning restaurants our customers. These operators trust Toast’s platform and technology to provide the tools they need to run their businesses, so they can focus on getting, staying, and running busy in service of their community. Congratulations to this year’s winners, all of whom push the culinary landscape in new directions every day. Join us in a “toast” to them by checking out the winners below!

Outstanding Restaurateur 

Dana Street, Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co., and others, Portland, ME

Outstanding Chef

Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco, CA

Outstanding Restaurant presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water

Kalaya*, Philadelphia, PA

Emerging Chef presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

Adrian Torres, Maximo*, West University Place, TX

Best New Restaurant

Lei*, New York, NY

Outstanding Bakery

Wild Crumb, Bozeman, MT

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit*, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Hospitality

Providence, Los Angeles, CA

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

Kato*, Los Angeles, CA

Outstanding Bar

Scotch Lodge*, Portland, OR

Best New Bar

Loma*, Providence, RI

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Lee Campbell, Borgo, New York, NY

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA

Best Chefs (by region)

Best Chef: California

Dave Beran, Seline*, Santa Monica, CA

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Jacob Potashnick, Feld*, Chicago, IL

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Jesse Ito, Royal Sushi & Izakaya*, Philadelphia, PA

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Loryn Nalic, Balkan Treat Box*, Webster Groves, MO

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton*, Denver, CO

Best Chef: New York State

Hooni Kim, Meju, Queens, NY

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Evan Hennessey, Stages*, Dover, NH

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland, OR

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA*, New Orleans, LA

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm, Leicester, NC

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

Sarah Thompson, Casa Playa, Las Vegas, NV

Best Chef: Texas

Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN*, Houston, TX

*Denotes a current Toast customer

Learn more about The James Beard Awards on its website.