It’s one of the most anticipated times of year for the culinary industry. The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2026 semifinalists, and diners are scrambling for reservations. The foundation is a nonprofit that honors culinary excellence in U.S. food and beverage each year, and its awards are regarded as among the highest honors in American dining.
Georgia earned 10 semifinalist nominations this year, nine of which are chefs and restaurants in the Atlanta area. Among those recognized, Claudia Martinez, pastry chef at Bar ANA, was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category, and Freddy Money of Atlas and J. Trent Harris of Mujō were both nominated in the Best Chef: Southeast category.
Atlantans are lining up to sample their food, but where do these chefs eat when they’re off the line? Martinez, Money, and Harris share the restaurants that inspire and comfort them, from industry favorites, under-the-radar gems, casual comfort spots, and reliable destinations for the best food and drink across Atlanta.
Claudia Martinez
When Claudia Martinez isn’t making desserts at Bar ANA, she seeks out restaurants and bars that feel neighborly and down to earth. One of her favorite spots is Kindred in Decatur, which she describes as her “neighborhood spot,” whether she’s dining solo or with friends and family. She specifically mentions their creative cocktail program as being a highlight.
For an affordable industry favorite, she heads to Poor Hendrix, where she recommends the wings, noodles, and daiquiris. On workday lunch breaks she often visits Tio Lucho’s, a Peruvian restaurant whose owner, Arnaldo Castillo, was a 2024 James Beard semifinalist. She mentions the salad as her current favorite and suggests taking advantage of happy hour, which features oysters, noting the restaurant’s lively energy and large menu.
Freddy Money
Freddy Money has wide-ranging tastes that inspire his own approach to cooking. Money recommends Umi for sushi in Buckhead, saying that the clean and precise cuts of fish are a reminder that simple food, executed flawlessly, is hard to beat. For another upscale spot, he enjoys Lazy Betty in Midtown, describing the cooking as having “real confidence.”
Le Bon Nosh is his top pick for breakfast. He says their brioche breakfast sandwich made with local eggs, bacon, cheddar, chipotle aioli, and greens is a favorite way to start the day before service. When he’s craving pizza he goes to Mr. O1 Pizza in Buckhead for their no nonsense, honest approach to food.
For something off the beaten path, he recommends Heirloom BBQ, where classic Southern barbecue meets Korean-inspired ingredients, reflected in dishes like their kimchi coleslaw and gochujang-rubbed spare ribs. He also recommends Gunshow, self-described by the restaurant as a “dinner and show all at once.” Chefs present dishes directly to diners and cocktails are prepared tableside from a rolling bar cart.
J. Trent Harris
J. Trent Harris gravitates towards places that are unfussy and satisfying when he’s not working. Spring, located in Marietta, is one place he recommends that exemplifies craft without pretense, mentioning that the Korean-inspired cooking feels “human and generous.” Midtown’s Ginya Izakaya is where Harris goes for Japanese food, saying the restaurant is a reminder why he fell in love with the cuisine in the first place. It’s also where he meets to discuss the direction of Mujō over beers.
When he wants something outstanding without a lot of decision making, he heads to Pollo Primo in East Atlanta Village. He speaks highly of the modest menu and the combination of char, smoke, citrus, and salt as “simple food done right.” The concise menu at Pollo Primo is a relief for the busy chef. The only choice, he says, is how much chicken to order.
