James Beard Foundation Announces 2026 Classics
The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2026 America’s Classics® Award winners. The awards honor long-standing, community-focused restaurants for their timeless appeal and quality food. This year's honorees are seen as reinforcing Chicago's reputation for culinary heritage and innovation.
- The 2026 America's Classics Award is given to six locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that are beloved by their communities. This year's honorees are located in California, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, New York, West Virginia, and Nevada. - The Midwest honoree for 2026 is Johnny's Cafe in Omaha, Nebraska, a 103-year-old steakhouse founded by a Polish immigrant and now run by the third generation of the Kawa family. - To be eligible for the America's Classics Award, a restaurant must have been in operation for at least a decade. The award has been given to over 100 restaurants since its inception in 1998. - The James Beard Awards ceremony, where the winners will be celebrated, will take place on June 15, 2026, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. - While no Chicago restaurant received the America's Classics designation in 2026, the city has a number of semifinalists in other James Beard Award categories, including Outstanding Restaurateur and Best Chef: Great Lakes. - Past Chicago-area restaurants that have received the America's Classics award include Lem's Bar-B-Q, The Berghoff, Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, Calumet Fisheries, and Sun Wah BBQ. - The award is known for significantly boosting a restaurant's profile and business, an effect often called the "Beard Bump." - The selection process for the America's Classics award involves recommendations from the public and the James Beard Foundation's voting body, with final selections made by a subcommittee.
