Philadelphia's Jesse Ito and Kalaya Win 2026 James Beard Awards: "This Is for the City of Philly"

Kalaya wins James Beard Award for outstanding restaurant

The Fishtown Thai restaurant Kalaya and Royal Sushi & Izakaya chef Jesse Ito won James Beard Awards on Monday night. They were among seven semifinalists from Philadelphia.

Philly Establishment Named Nation's Most Outstanding Restaurant At James Beard Awards

A Philly restaurant and a local chef each earned prestigious honors at the 'Oscars of the food world.'

Two Philly favorites took home James Beard Awards last night

Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. Two big Philly wins are coming home from Chicago after last night’s James Beard Awards, AKA America’s culinary Oscars. Kalaya won outstanding restaurant and Chef Jesse Ito won the best chef award from the Mid-Atlantic region. Kalaya wins Outstanding Restaurant Kalaya from Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon received the outstanding restaurant award for its “consiste…

Two Philadelphia restaurants win prestigious awards

Two Philadelphia restaurants earned top honors in the 2026 James Beard Awards.

Philadelphia restaurant and chef score big at 2026 James Beard Awards

Kalaya won Outstanding Restaurant, and Top Chef Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya won Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic, at the 2026 James Beard Awards.

Philadelphia's Jesse Ito and Kalaya win 2026 James Beard Awards: "This is for the city of Philly"

Jesse Ito won the Best Chef Award for the Mid-Atlantic region, and Kalaya won the Outstanding Restaurant Award at the 2026 James Beard Awards.