By Joseph Steele
Chef Hat Awards 2026 List Here
There are meals that fill you. Then there are meals that stay with you - etched in memory, whispered over late-night wine, referenced like gospel among those who care deeply about food. The kind of meals that turn a Chef into a storyteller and restaurants into landmarks.
Today, we launch the Chef Hat Awards to celebrate precisely that.
This is more than just a nod to good food. The Chef Hat Awards are a curated, considered recognition of the Chefs, kitchens and venues pushing the boundaries of the Australian dining scene. From fire-fuelled coastal kitchens to the precise, quietly confident plates of fine dining rooms, these awards aim to spotlight talent elevating our culinary culture.
Plate by plate, service by service, moment by meticulously-crafted moment.
As the only independent and nationally recognising award, our system is designed to recognise technical execution, innovation, provenance and that-all important element: soul. Our judging process is rigorous and involves many anonymous reviews by industry veterans, hospitality professionals and members of the general public with palates as sharp as their pens, but this isn’t a critic’s game. We also listen to diners, Chefs, sommeliers and the broader food community to understand not just who’s cooking well, but who’s making a mark.
Whether you're a Chef, a diner, a grower or a gourmand who is passionate about exploring the ever-growing Australian dining scene, the bar has just been raised.
Now it’s over to you, the diner, check out the list here, go try them and let us know what you think!
