From Eater · Eater Staff · · 1m 40s
2026 Chefs of the Year
Five chefs win 2026 Eater Awards for innovative dining in cities across the US.
In brief
Five chefs win 2026 Eater Awards for innovative dining in cities across the US. Five chefs win 2026 Eater Awards for innovative dining in cities across the US. Originally reported by Eater.
2026 Eater Awards
Five chefs win 2026 Eater Awards for innovative dining in cities across the US.
Laura Ozyilmaz
Laura Ozyilmaz’s Maria Isabel restaurant in San Francisco celebrates Mexican heritage with dishes like ceviche Acapulqueño and duck enmoladas.
Maria Isabel
Maria Isabel, named after Laura’s sister Maria and mother Isabel, highlights female winemakers and indigenous Mexican ingredients.
Mexican matriarchy
The restaurant channels Laura’s upbringing in Guerrero and family’s Sinaloan roots through mariscos and maiz, moles and salsa macha.
Carlos Delgado
Carlos Delgado’s Maru San in Washington, D.C. serves Nikkei-style hand rolls and sashimi with a 25-seat black marble counter.
Maru San
Maru San opened in February 2026 with a 15-course tasting menu featuring high-end uni and dry-aged fish.
Amir Hajimaleki
Amir Hajimaleki’s Roya restaurant in Austin celebrates Persian hospitality with a $85 sofreh menu.
Roya
Roya features shirin polo, ghormeh sabzi, and kebabs with tea service and a take-home box of cookies.
Phila Lorn
Phila Lorn’s Sao restaurant in Philadelphia combines Cambodian and South Asian flavors with oyster bars.
Sao
Sao serves tuna carpaccio with crispy shallots and jalapeños, and beef pho on Washington Avenue.
Aaron Lopez
Aaron Lopez’s Ursa restaurant in Tucson focuses on Sonoran Desert ingredients with Indigenous cooking techniques.
Ursa
Ursa’s $150 tasting menu includes barrel fruit, quail breast, and goat roasted in agave.
The one thing
Five chefs win 2026 Eater Awards for innovative dining in cities across the US.
