Chicago, Illinois, USA: Indian restaurants and culinary professionals have earned prominent recognition in the 2026 edition of the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the United States food industry.
The winners are scheduled to be announced on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Among the nominees for the National Outstanding Restaurateur category are Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar of Cal-India Collective, along with Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group.
Gopinathan and Thapar have been acknowledged for their leadership of Cal-India Collective, a hospitality group that operates multiple restaurant concepts, including Ettan, Copra, Eylan, and Little Blue Door, across California cities such as Palo Alto, San Francisco, Menlo Park, and Los Altos.
Chef Srijith Gopinathan, known for his background in luxury hospitality, has gained recognition for blending traditional Indian flavors with locally sourced California ingredients and contemporary presentation styles. Ayesha Thapar has played a key role in shaping the group’s strategic expansion and brand identity.
Meanwhile, Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani have been nominated for their work with the Chai Pani Restaurant Group. Their flagship restaurant, Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina, previously won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022 and is widely known for its Indian street food offerings.
Chef Meherwan Irani has been instrumental in redefining perceptions of Indian cuisine in the United States, while Molly Irani has focused on organizational culture and operational excellence within the company.
Additionally, Tamba, a contemporary Indian restaurant located in Town Square Las Vegas, has been named a finalist in the Best New Restaurant category. Originally launched in 2004 on the Las Vegas Strip, the restaurant has been reintroduced with a modern concept led by Chef Anand Singh.
Tamba’s menu combines traditional Indian cooking methods with live-fire techniques and global influences, utilizing equipment such as tandoors, charcoal ovens, mangal grills, and woks. Its beverage program features Indian-inspired cocktails.
The James Beard Foundation stated that this year’s nominees reflect exceptional talent and leadership within the independent restaurant industry.
Often referred to as the “Oscars of the food world,” the James Beard Awards were established in 1990, with the first awards ceremony held in 1991.
In addition to the Restaurant and Chef Awards, the foundation has also announced recipients for the Impact Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Humanitarian of the Year Award. The Impact Awards, introduced in 2025, recognize contributions toward building a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable food system. These honorees will be celebrated in Chicago on June 14, ahead of the main ceremony.
