Kansas City’s Anjin nominated

Anjin, a 20-seat Japanese-style pub in Kansas City’s Crossroads district, is a finalist for the 2026 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. (jamesbeard.org) (kcur.org) The James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 restaurant and chef nominees on March 31, and winners are scheduled to be named on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) Anjin opened in July 2025 at 1708 Oak Street, and chef-owner Nick Goellner and sommelier Leslie Newsam Goellner built the restaurant around the Japanese izakaya model of small dishes and drinks in an intimate room. (kcur.org) (aol.com) The nomination narrowed a larger field: Anjin first made the James Beard semifinalist list on January 21, when 30 restaurants were recognized in the Best New Restaurant category. (jamesbeard.org) (kmbc.com) KCUR reported on April 11 that the restaurant is chasing national attention while also trying to persuade more Kansas City diners to be, in Goellner’s words, “adventurous” about Japanese food beyond familiar staples. (kcur.org) Kansas City had several James Beard semifinalists in January, but local coverage last week described Anjin as the city’s lone finalist after the March 31 nominee list came out. (visitkc.com) (kansascitymag.com) The James Beard Awards are among the restaurant industry’s highest-profile honors, and the foundation says the awards recognize excellence in food, drink, and hospitality as well as commitments to equity, community, and sustainability. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) For Anjin, the next date that matters is June 15, when a restaurant that opened less than a year earlier will find out whether its Kansas City debut turns into a national win. (jamesbeard.org) (kcur.org)