10 CA Restaurants Snag Michelin Guide Stars

CALIFORNIA — Ten California restaurants are shining brighter this week after earning stars in the coveted Michelin California Guide.

Four of the restaurants are in Los Angeles County and four are in San Francisco. Another is on the Central Coast and one is in Orange County.

"California continues to shine bright as we see the culinary scene evolve and highlight emerging talent and cuisines," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides. "This year we are thrilled to welcome 10 new restaurants to the family of Michelin-starred restaurants, in addition to one new green star."

The 2024 guide spotlights 577 restaurants across the state and lists 85 California restaurants with stars.

Earning a Michelin star is the gold standard for restaurants. Only six Golden State restaurants have attained three stars, which means "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey," according to the guide. Thirteen have obtained two stars, denoting "excellent cooking, worth a detour," and 66 have secured one star, meaning "high-quality cooking, worth a stop."

Although there were no new three-star restaurants this year, the latest guide added three new two stars and and seven new one stars, as well as a green star and 10 new Bib Gourmands, which recognize eateries for great food at a great value.

Here's a look at the 10 new Michelin-starred restaurants in California, along with Michelin Guide inspector notes for each establishment:

Culver City: Vespertine

This contemporary restaurant received two stars as well as a green star, which is awarded to restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to sustainable practices.

"Beginning a new chapter, Chef Jordan Kahn's singular operation emerges from a lengthy hiatus with a renewed creative vision. Situated inside a strikingly futuristic edifice of red steel ("the Waffle"), diners enjoy a tasting menu that is likewise out of the ordinary, moving between floors as the meal progresses."

Carmel-by-the-Sea: Aubergine

This contemporary restaurant also received two stars.

"Easygoing luxury and refinement strike a harmonious note within L’Auberge Carmel, where every element seems designed to delight. Chef Justin Cogley balances classic technique with a sleek, modern aesthetic, and his cooking captures a sense of place that feels wholly his own."

Laguna Beach: R|O-Rebel Omakase

This Japanese restaurant received one star.

"Tucked away in a modest little shopping center, this serene and striking spot feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle. As its name suggests, omakase is indeed the name of the game here, where two seatings per night are available by reservation and overseen by Chef Jordan Nakasone. Rooted in tradition, the meal skews contemporary with a focus on seasonality and product quality."

Los Angeles: Holbox

This Mexican eatery earned one star.

"Its namesake is a Caribbean island just off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, but this beloved counter, located inside the Mercado La Paloma, is a distinctively Angelino phenomenon. Chef Gilbert Cetina, who previously cooked with his father at neighboring stall Chichen Itza, draws from Mexican coastal cuisines in dishes whose simplicity belies remarkable flavor."

Los Angeles: Meteora

This establishment, which serves "creative" cuisine, earned one star.

"This whimsical, immersive space is a touch otherworldly, with its tangled greenery, moody lighting, and trance-y soundtrack, but guests will be happy to fall under its spell when they taste Chef Jordan Kahn’s singular cuisine. Primal live-fire cooking combines with a zero-waste ethos and a treasure trove of sustainably sourced wild and organic ingredients to create dishes that are as memorable as they are delicious."

Los Angeles: Uka

This Japanese restaurant obtained one star.

"Chef Yoshitaka Mitsue and Chef Shingo Kato (both formerly of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations) and two waiters take great care with the details at this sleek hideaway nestled within Japan House at the Ovation Hollywood. Here, the fish is sourced from Japan and flown in twice weekly, then cured or aged in-house. Products are sourced locally for the best quality."

San Francisco: 7 Adams

This Californian establishment received one star.

"In this city, finding a five-course menu for under a hundred dollars is a tall order. Chefs Serena and David Fisher make it seem effortless, though, bringing their signature magic to this second act in a sleek new space. The cuisine keeps an unfussy Californian simplicity, featuring solid technique and thoughtful flavor combinations that allow quality seasonal ingredients to shine."

San Francisco: Hilda and Jesse

This American eatery earned one star.

"Offering what may well be the Bay Area's most creative and ambitious take on brunch, this disarming passion project from co-owners Kristina Compton and Rachel Sillcocks gets its extra shine from the pair's extensive fine dining experience — each also contributed a grandparent for the restaurant's name. The hospitality is cheery and warm, matched by a winsome space that calls to mind a modernist diner, and happily the cuisine is every bit as finely tuned."

San Francisco: Kiln

This contemporary restaurant earned one star.

"Industry veterans Chef John Wesley and general manager Julianna Yang have combined their talents at Kiln, where the warehouse space is warmed by personable service and the kitchen delivers artful creations."

San Francisco: Sons & Daughter

This contemporary restaurant received two stars.

"Offering an abundance of poise, polish, and charm, this cozy Nob Hill jewel box remains quietly impressive. Chef Harrison Cheney's cleanly minimalist new Nordic style is clearer than ever in an elegant tasting menu that deftly weaves together a variety of preserved fruits and vegetables, flawless seafood, and aged meats."

See the full list of Michelin-starred restaurants in California.