and the nominees are...

San Antonio restaurants score 7 James Beard semifinalist nominations

The Magpie's Sue Kim was one of three Best Chef: Texas semifinalists

The Magpie/ Facebook

San Antonio is well represented on the list of semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards. Overall, the Alamo City received four nominations in national categories and three nominations for Best Chef: Texas.

The national nominees are:

Outstanding Chef: David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin)
Outstanding Restaurant: Mixtli
Best New Restaurant: Anacacho Coffee & Cantina
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi

Best Chef: Texas nominees:

Francisco Estrada and Lizzeth Martinez, Naco Mexican
Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre
Sue Kim, The Magpie

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 Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston and Dallas boast eight nominees and Austin received nine. Notably, only two of last year’s Best Chef: Texas finalists — Emil Oliva and Michael Serva — return as semifinalists for 2026.

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.

Here’s how the rest of Texas' metros fared:

National nominations:

Austin

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

Dallas

Best New Restaurant: Far-Out
Outstanding Bakery: Starship Bagel
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Maggie Huff, Lucia
Outstanding Bar: Ayahuasca Cantina
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Gabe Sanchez, Midnight Rambler

Houston

Outstanding Restaurateur: Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group
Outstanding Chef: Manabu Horiuchi, Katami
Emerging Chef: Max Lappé and Jacques Varon, Baso
Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres, Maximo
Best New Restaurant: Agnes and Sherman
Best New Bar: Lee's
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: June Rodil, March
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Kristine Nguyen, Bludorn

Best Chef: Texas

Austin

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

Dallas

Scott Girling, Osteria Il Muro (Denton)
Patrick Hicks, Smoke'N Ash BBQ (Arlington)
Masayuki Otaka, Mabo

Houston

Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
Kent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner, Milton's
Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN
Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie

james beard awards awards

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Sunny Boerne brunch spot expands to San Antonio's Rim

Sunny's/ Facebook

Sunny's is opening a second location at The Rim.

A Boerne all-day brunch restaurant will soon light up San Antonio’s dining scene. Sunny’s, from the owner of San Antonio’s Albi’s Vite Italian Kitchen, is opening a second restaurant at The Rim this spring.

The restaurant first teased the debut in a series of clever Instagram videos featuring iconic San Antonio sites like the Alamo, La Antorcha de la Amistad, Pearl, and the North Star Mall boots. The last Reel, a charming homage to classic Italian cinema, lands on The Rim but does not reveal the specific space.

Sunny’s debuted at Boerne’s 518 River Rd. on June 16, 2025. The concept is similar to national chains like First Watch and Snooze, but the offerings go far beyond the pancakes and Benedicts offered at like-minded restaurants.

Sunny's Boerne Sunny's opened its first Boerne location in June 2025.Sunny's/ Facebook

At the original location, several dishes have a Tex-Mex influence, like birria Benedicts with hollandaise and pico de gallo. Sunny’s also offers bowls with veggies, proteins, and sauces ranging from a zippy citrus glaze to spicy sriracha. Flapjacks are on the menu, but customers may want to opt for one of the signature sweet and savory crepes.

Sunny’s also doesn’t neglect nighttime crowds. The small entree menu features mains like burgers, seared salmon with a corn salad, and various sandwiches. Kids can choose from plates like a short stack, chicken fingers, and a brioche grilled cheese.

Sunny’s founder, Albi Zogaj, confirmed the upcoming debut, saying he was aiming for March or April. CultureMap will continue to follow the story as more details are revealed.

brunch chains boerne the rim openings