Often considered one of the highest honors in the culinary world, the James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent and achievement across the food and beverage industry, including chefs, bakers, bartenders and hospitality professionals. Presented by the James Beard Foundation annually, the awards celebrate not only the technical excellence, but also creativity, leadership and a commitment to shaping the future of American dining.
This year, Kansas City’s culinary community earned six nominations. From intimate Japanese dining to innovative cocktails and refined Midwestern cooking, meet the 2026 James Beard nominees that showcase the diverse and unique culinary talent in Kansas City.
Anjin
Tucked in the Crossroads, Anjin delivers a dining experience that feels both intentional and intimate. With only a handful of seats, the restaurant embraces the spirit of Japanese izakaya – encouraging conversation, curiosity, and shared plates – while allowing guests a front-row view of the culinary process.
Touted for unique and well-crafted menu items, like their Fried Sakura Pork Collar Sandwich, Anjin offers handcrafted signature dishes and rotating seasonal specials rounded out by a thoughtfully curated selection of sake and beverages. Each plate is designed to stand alone while contributing to a larger, communal experience.
The Town Company
At The Town Company (located inside of historic Hotel Kansas City) culinary excellence is a collaborative effort, earning recognition in two major James Beard categories.
Johnny Leach, nominated for Best Chef: Midwest, leads the kitchen with a menu shaped by seasonality, local sourcing and live-fire cooking. Taking in influence from the Pacific Northwest, Johnny’s approach highlights the agricultural richness of the Midwest through refined, modern dishes. Cooking over a wood-fired hearth, the menu evolves, always reflecting what’s fresh, local and at its peak.
Complementing that vision is Helen Jo Leach, nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker. Helen’s approach to desserts is thoughtful, precise and quietly inventive – often drawing on familiar flavors while elevating them through technique and texture. Whether
finishing off a multi-course meal or as a standalone treat, her desserts help define an experience that continues to put Kansas City’s dining scene in the national spotlight.
Together, the Leaches have helped position The Town Company as one of Kansas City’s most celebrated dining destinations.
Drastic Measures
Nominated for Outstanding Bar, Drastic Measures in downtown Shawnee, Kansas, has built a reputation as a destination for inventive, boundary-pushing cocktails. The bar’s approach blends well-crafted experimentation with approachability, inviting guests to explore new flavor combinations without being too intimidating.
Drastic Measures has built its reputation on drinks that are as memorable as they are well made. Cocktails like Heavy Bag Night — a bright, alpine-inspired herbal drink served in a trash-bin-style cup — capture the bar’s playful spirit without sacrificing balance or technique. The space itself offers an atmosphere that feels relaxed while still showing a deep reverence and respect for the craft of bartending. The nomination reflects years of consistency and creativity that have made the bar a standout in the Kansas City area.
Fern Bar
At Fern Bar, cocktails are more than just drinks – they’re expressions of culture, technique and storytelling. Opened in early 2024 in a historic Broadway Bank building in the Crossroads District, this stylish yet inviting bar has quickly become a go-to destination for Kansas Citians and visitors alike.
Diana Condori, nominated for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service, plays a key role in shaping Fern Bar’s identity through an inventive beverage program that spotlights agave and sugarcane spirits like rum, tequila and mezcal while celebrating global influences. Condori’s work emphasizes hospitality as much as craftmanship, creating an experience that feels warm, welcoming and intentional.
Of Course
In South Overland Park, Of Course has quickly risen as one of the region’s new and intriguing dining destinations. Led by chef Swetha Newcomb, nominated as Best Chef: Midwest, Of Course seamlessly weaves together South Asian influences with
contemporary techniques that honor cultural heritage while engaging the broader culinary community. In an atmosphere that is warm and modern, its dining room includes an open kitchen that reflects the thoughtful care behind each plate. Built around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, the dishes balance familiar Midwestern favorites with bold spices and global flair that honor her cultural heritage.
