The 12th Annual Foodist Awards presented by A-Z Air Duct takes place on Monday, Feb. 23 at Warehouse215 in Phoenix. In advance of this extravagant evening of celebration, the Arizona Restaurant Association has announced the 2026 Foodist Awards finalists.
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“The Foodist Awards serves as our official awards program, recognizing the best of the best including restaurants, bars, companies and individuals who demonstrate exceptional business acumen, leadership and creativity while shaping Arizona’s culinary landscape,” said Steve Chucri, Arizona Restaurant Association president and CEO. “We look forward to honoring the finalists with a celebration worthy of these talented and hardworking individuals. We’d also like to recognize our presenting sponsor, A-Z Air Duct, for its generous support this year.”
The nominations for the 2026 Foodist Awards included six new categories: Best Bread, Top Happy Hour Spot, Best Place to Watch a Game, Immersive Culinary Experience, Favorite Neighborhood Hangout, and Hotel Restaurant Hot Spot. The Foodist Awards finalists were determined by public votes and contributions from this year’s Foodist Awards panelists. Finalists are as follows:
Food and Beverage
Standout Signature Dish
Beef Wellington, Anhelo Restaurant
California Burrito, Chula’s Seafood
Veal Parmesan, DiMaggios Italian Restaurant
Best Bread
Andres Candough/Doughvine Bread
Barrio Bread, Tucson
Noble Bread
Grown Purveyors
Arizona Grass Raised Beef Co.
Bagelfeld’s
Sonoran Pasta Co.
Favorite Local Craft Beer
Beach Cruiser, Pedal Haus Brewery
Don’t F*@k It Up, Honey Blonde, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
Sluice Box Sour Series, Smelter Town Brewery
Most Creative Handcrafted Cocktail Program
Course Restaurant
Highball
Indibar
Experiences
Top Happy Hour Spot
Buck & Rider
Pizza to the Rescue
Uchi Scottsdale
Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
Boondocks Patio and Grill
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Harold’s Cave Creek Corral
Best Place to Watch a Game
DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale
Social Tap Scottsdale
Zipp’s Sports Grill
Exceptional Fine Dining Culinary Experience
Shibay Omakase Room by Tanaka Ken
The Ends
Virtu Honest Craft
Immersive Culinary Experience
Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion
Kauboi
Three Thirty Three
Restaurants
Favorite Neighborhood Hangout
Barcoa Agaveria
The Vig
Karsen’s Grill
Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
Bad Jimmy’s
Sushi Friend
Topo Arizona
Hotel Restaurant Hot Spot
Elements, The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
Lon’s, The Hermosa Inn
ZuZu, Hotel Valley Ho
Uniquely Arizona
Aunt Chilada’s
Bad Hambres
Rusty Spur Saloon
Emerging Restaurant of the Year
Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails
Filthy Animal
George & Gather
People
Team Member of the Year
Brandon Minta, Collins Brothers Public House
Nanci Harrington, JoJo Coffeehouse
Laura McBride, Lakeside Bar & Grill
Manager of the Year
Alex McGregor, Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails
Michael Kostov, The Maggiore Group/Mexicano
Natasha Hill, SanTan Spirit House/SanTan Brewing
Top Mixologist/Bartender
Joe Intiso, Bluehound Kitchen & Cocktails
Sam Olguin, Pour Bastards Hospitality
Tait Ludwick, Poppy’s Office
Top Chef
Bernie Kantak, In Good Spirits
Chris Collins, Common Ground Culinary
Dom Ruggiero, Fire at Will and Hush Public House
Finally, the Food Pioneer category serves as the Foodist Awards’ “lifetime achievement award.” This peer-voted award honors a lifetime of outstanding culinary excellence that continues to educate, inspire, entertain and foster a deeper understanding of the culinary culture in Arizona. The 2026 Food Pioneer is Gio Osso of Virtu Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtu.
For more about the Foodist Awards and to purchase tickets, visit https://foodistawards.com/. For more about the Arizona Restaurant Association, visit https://azrestaurant.org/.
