and the nominees are...

9 Austin restaurants score James Beard Award semifinalist nominations

Austin has a seat at the table among semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards. Overall, Houston received four nominations in national categories and five nominations for Best Chef: Texas.

The national nominees are:

Outstanding Bakery: Mercado Sin Nombre
Outstanding Hospitality: Barley Swine
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Kalimotxo
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Celia Pellegrini, Este

Austin's Best Chef: Texas nominees:

Thai Changthong, P Thai's Khao Man Gai & Noodles
Michael Che, Tsuke Edomae
Ali Clem, La Barbecue
Daniela Landaverde and Rosa Landaverde, La Santa Barbacha
Bob Somsith, Lao'd Bar

Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards recognize excellence by chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories ranging from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. The James Beard Foundation added three new categories last year to recognize the beverage side of hospitality: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service, and Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. An Austinite, Arjav Ezekiel of Birdie's, won the latter.

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston boasts 12 nominees, Dallas received eight, and San Antonio has seven. Notably, only two of last year’s Best Chef: Texas finalists — Emil Oliva and Michael Serva — return as semifinalists for 2026. Only one Austin restaurant has been represented in both 2025 and 2026: Loa'd Bar was up for Best New Restaurant last year.

Although Austin's growing food scene is certainly holding its own among Texas cities, it is still finding its footing in the winners circle. Arjav Ezekiel was last year's only Austin winner, and there were none in 2024. Joe's Bakery & Coffee Shop was the sole Austin winner (2023 America's Classics) in 2023. However, things were looking promising in 2022, when three Austin restaurants won, so hopefully Austin is coming out of this three-year lull.

“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s semifinalists as we mark another major milestone — 40 years of the James Beard Foundation,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “For four decades, the Foundation has recognized culinary excellence while championing the independent chefs and restaurants that are vital to our communities, economy, and culture. It is an honor to celebrate the 2026 semifinalists, whose work reflects the incredible dynamism, talent, and achievement defining our industry today.”

Finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards will be announced on March 31. Nominees for the Foundation’s Media Awards will be announced on May 6. The Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 15.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Mercado Sin Nombre is nominated for Outstanding Bakery.

news-you-can-eat awards james beard awards

TRUCK REFRESH

Austin taco trailer Con Madre Cocina returns with new setup

ConMadre Cocina/Instagram

A breakfast taco filled with seasoned eggs, held in front of the Con Madre Cocina food truck.

The Travis Heights Mexican food truck Con Madre Cocina is reopening this Friday, January 23, after spending the past month operating out of a North Austin ghost kitchen.

The family-owned operation temporarily relocated while replacing its longtime setup with a new 24-foot food trailer, which has now been delivered and inspected. In a statement provided to CultureMap Austin, CEO Alfredo Bustinza said Con Madre will resume on-site service at 628 East Oltorf St. this Friday at 7 am.

Con Madre Cocina has served customers at its East Oltorf location since 2009, becoming a familiar neighborhood stop, particularly for breakfast. The menu includes breakfast tacos and burritos, but also extends beyond morning fare.

Lunch and dinner options range from Madre’s Mole Plate — chicken in a signature mole sauce served with rice and refried beans — to enchiladas suizas and gorditas stuffed with beans and choice of meat. The menu has vegetarian taco options, birria and street tacos, as well as chicken flautas estilo a la Madre. Pozole rojo and other traditional Mexican soups also are on the menu.

Birria tacos folded in corn tortillas and topped with chopped white onion and fresh cilantro, served with lime wedges.Con Madre Cocina/Instagram

These cooking traditions are rooted in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, with recipes passed down across three generations of the same family.

The Travis Heights site, located along East Oltorf next to a Valero gas station, has anchored Con Madre's growth. During the last 16 years, Con Madre Cocina expanded beyond its original food truck setup to include a ghost kitchen operation, locations in Dallas and, more recently, catering, all while remaining under family ownership.

During the relocation period, Con Madre Cocina continued operating out of its ghost kitchen at 5610 N. Interstate 35, allowing the business to remain open while the new trailer was completed. The business notes it remains open most holidays. When service resumes, Con Madre Cocina plans to return to regular operations in Travis Heights while continuing its ghost kitchen and catering offerings.

Hours at the Oltorf location, as published on the business' website, are 7 am to 2 pm Mondays and Tuesdays, 7 am to 8 pm Wednesdays through Fridays, and 8 am to 8 pm Saturdays and Sundays.

openings tacos breakfast lunch dinner mexican cuisine