The James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 finalists this morning, and Atlanta picked up two nominations this year. Chef J. Trent Harris of Mujō has been nominated for Best Chef: Southeast, and Buckhead’s fine-dining restaurant Aria was among the finalists in the Outstanding Hospitality category. The finalists were announced at a ceremony hosted by the Wellsley in Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation celebrates excellence across the food and beverage industry, honoring chefs, restaurateurs, beverage professionals, and hospitality leaders, as well as those involved in humanitarian work. The annual awards are among the industry’s most prestigious honors.
Harris advanced from the semifinals to finals in the Best Chef: Southeast award for his work at Mujō, an omakase restaurant in West Midtown that has become one of Atlanta’s most coveted reservations. The multi-course tasting menu features fresh fish flown in from Japan and other Japanese-inspired small plates. With its one Michelin star and now a James Beard Award-nominated chef at the helm, reservations are likely to become even harder to secure. The restaurant releases its reservations one month in advance at 10 a.m. on the first day of each month.
The Best Chef: Southeast category includes chefs from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
Aria, in Buckhead, was appointed for its outstanding service, led by chef and owner Andres Loaiza. The restaurant was nominated in the Outstanding Hospitality category, which recognizes establishments with exceptional service and a superlative dining environment.
Since opening in 2000, Aria has established itself as one of Atlanta’s most exemplary fine-dining institutions with hospitality at its heart. The restaurant is known for its polished yet welcoming dining room and seasonal American menu and has built a loyal following over the past two decades. Aria prides itself not only on its food but also its service, describing staff as “attuned to each table’s rhythm,” according to its website.The two nominations add to Atlanta’s growing list of food and beverage accolades, showcasing the city’s culinary variety and talent. Winners will be announced at the Lyric Opera in Chicago on June 15. Visit jamesbeard.org to view the complete list of nominations.
