Often hailed as the “Oscars of the Food World,” the James Beard Awards have rivaled the Michelin Guide in prestige since their 1991 debut. After 30 years of championing U.S. food culture through advocacy and events, the Foundation’s medals remain the industry’s most coveted badge of honor.
Ahead of its Restaurant and Chef nominees this late March, and ultimate James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards this June, the 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists have been announced, including 8 DFW concepts. From “Tex-Ethiopian” BBQ to better-than-New York bagels – here are the Dallas-area bars, restaurants, bakeries, and more getting their shine as James Beard Award semifinalists.
Best New Restaurant
Far-Out, Dallas
The Fair Park-based restaurant and bar is what the name suggests. Housed inside a Quonset hut, the indoor-outdoor venue appears like a West Texas mirage. The Marfa-esque restaurant, head by Chef Misti Norris and Christopher Jeffers, features a creative menu comprised of local farmer and garden-sourced ingredients. Its cocktails deliver on the name, featuring adventurous infusions like its Thai basil and cucumber-infused mezcal.
1906 S Haskell Ave
Outstanding Bakery
Starship Bagel, Dallas
Fresh off of taking gold at New York BagelFest for the second time, Starship Bagel continues its victory lap as a James Beard Award semifinalist. While it isn’t Starship Bagel owner’s Oren Salamon‘s first rodeo, Salomon was a 2025 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bakery, it does vindicate his “no-egg, no-bacon” policy at Starship, revealing that he truly has perfected the bagel craft.
1520 Elm S. #107
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Maggie Huff, Lucia, Dallas
The cozy, yet sophisticated Italian restaurant has been a coveted reservation for years. Owned by husband-and-wife team, David and Jennifer Uygur, the 50-seat fine dining establishment excels with made-from-scratch pastas, house-cured meats, and ever-changing, ever-delighting menus.
What’s not to be missed at the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant are the desserts. Since Maggie Huff began at Lucia, the restaurant’s desserts have made it a destination in of itself.
287 N. Bishop Ave
Outstanding Bar
Ayahuasca Cantina, Dallas
Tucked away behind Xamán Café in Oak Cliff, Ayahuasca Cantina is a moody, candelabra-lit speakeasy and mezcaleria that Esquire previously named one of the best bars in America. It’s a dedicated temple to Oaxacan spirits, where the cocktails are treated like rituals and the atmosphere is pure, dimly lit magic.
334 Jefferson Blvd
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Gabe Sanchez, Midnight Rambler, Dallas
Tucked beneath the neon glow of The Joule, Midnight Rambler is a subterranean sanctuary that trades the dusty tropes of speakeasies for edgy, mid-century glamour.
The experience is defined by its “sonic mood” and a cocktail program that is as much about chemistry as it is culture. Headed by Gabe Sanchez—a Dallas legend and 2026 James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service—the menu is a revolving door of high-concept themes, ranging from 90s mall nostalgia to hand-illustrated Pokémon cards that describe each drink’s profile.
1530 Main St STE 100
Best Chef: Texas
Scott Girling, Osteria II Muro, Denton
There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal – which is literally the case at Osteria II Muro. The Denton house-turned-restaurant complete with a small open kitchen seats only 24, offering a deeply personal element to its regional-focused Italian cuisine.
The menu here changes regularly. While a reservation at Osteria II Muro is good fortune in and of itself, doing so while the restaurant serves its Creste di Gallo with Calabrian sausage and light polenta-stuffed Tortelli is a blessing.
311 W Congress St., Denton, TX
Patrick Hicks and Fasicka Hicks, Smoke’N Ash BBQ, Arlington
Founded by husband-and-wife team, Patrick and Fasicka Hicks, Smoke N’Ash is a Michelin-recommended and stand-out barbecue hotspot famed for its “Tex-Ethiopian” BBQ. Its secret sauce – so to speak – it awaze, a special sauce blended with Ethiopian spices. Beloved dishes include the Awaze Pork Ribs and Awaze Brisket. Be sure to try some of its other Ethiopian options like its Loaded Injera Nachos and/or the Berbere Mac n’Cheese.
5904 S Cooper St Suite 110, Arlington, TX 76017
Masayuki Otaka, Mabo, Dallas
This is high-stakes dining at its finest. With only eight seats, Mabo offers an ultra-exclusive yakitori omakase experience in Preston Center. Chef Otaka uses traditional charcoal to transform premium cuts into a theatrical, multi-course journey that’s as much a performance as it is a meal.
6109 Berkshire Ln B, Dallas TX 75225