At last!
After 15 years, Vegas has a James Beard Award winner. Sarah Thompson, executive chef of Casa Playa in Wynn Las Vegas, won the Best Chef: Southwest category on Monday at the 2026 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The awards rank among the most prestigious culinary recognitions in the U.S.
“Wow, it’s been a while since Vegas has been up here, and it feels great to be representing the city. Vegas has been one of the most unique and incredible experiences of my life. None of this is possible without the people I work with every day. This award is for the team at Casa Playa,” Thompson said in accepting the Beard.
Chef Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf in Chinatown Vegas was also a finalist in the category.
Thompson’s award marks the first win for Las Vegas since 2011, when Saipin Chutima of Lotus of Siam tied for best chef honors in the Southwest region. The last outright winner before Monday was Claude Le Tohic, then of Joël Robuchon in MGM Grand, for Best Chef: Southwest in 2010 .
The wins follow a record-breaking 14 semifinalist nominations for Vegas in this year’s competition. The semifinalists were announced in January.
As of posting time, the winner of the Best New Restaurant category, in which Tamba in Town Square is a finalist, had not been announced.
Dining destination
The Beard breakthrough follows a constellation of culinary recognition for Vegas in recent years, including World’s 50 Best and North America’s 50 Best awards ceremonies, the return of the Michelin Guide, national media attention for Vegas steakhouses and Hawaiian food, the Strip restaurant debut by one of the most lauded young chefs of his generation, and a 2026 class of Rising Stars from StarChefs, the national restaurant industry publication that identifies and celebrates hospitality talent. This recognition confirms the city as a global dining destination.
Visit jamesbeard.org for a list of the 2026 winners.
Contact Johnathan L. Wright at [email protected]. Follow @JLWTaste on Instagram.