Cincinnati’s food scene is wasting zero time in 2026. Five local chefs and cocktail pros just landed spots as James Beard Award semi-finalists, one of the highest honors in American food and drink. From soulful Southern cooking to Eastern European comfort dishes and next-level cocktails, this group proves Cincy’s dining moment is very real.
Best Chef: Great Lakes
Sarah Dworak, Sudova
At Sudova, chef-owner Sarah Dworak channels her Eastern European roots into deeply comforting, dishes: brisket stroganoff, borsch, khachapuri cheese bread, and a dreamy medovik apple cardamom cake. Locals already know her dumplings thanks to the cult-favorite Babushka Pierogi stand at Findlay Market, as well as her cocktails made with house-infused spirits — her now-shuttered Wodka Bar was named one of America’s best by Esquire.
Hideki Harada, Kiki
Chef Hideki Harada and wife Yuko are behind some of the city’s most beloved Japanese spots: Roji, Daruma, Sen by Kiki, and Clifton’s Kiki ramen bar. Expect soulful bowls of shio ramen, craveable chicken karaage, curry pan, and seasonal pickles that keep regulars coming back. It’s casual, precise, and endlessly satisfying.
Jeffrey Harris, Nolia Kitchen
Nolia Kitchen brings the heart of New Orleans to Cincy with Southern classics and Creole-inspired dishes that change with the seasons — bold flavors, warm hospitality, and serious comfort food energy.
Best Chef: Southeast
David Willocks, The Baker’s Table
Across the river in Newport, chef David Willocks crafts a thoughtful, farm-to-table-driven tasting menu. The monthly six-course experience feels both refined and deeply nourishing, with a more casual à la carte option at the bar.
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Mike Stankovich, Longfellow
A familiar name in this category, Mike Stankovich is celebrated for excellence, mentorship, and top-tier hospitality. His OTR neighborhood bar, Longfellow, is known for impeccably balanced cocktails — like the spruce-forward Spruce Goose — and an inviting menu of small plates that makes lingering inevitable.
Learn more about Cincy’s food scene and book your trip to enjoy it for yourself in the Cincy Region.
