Restaurants & Bars
21 Restaurants Added To CA Michelin Guide: See List
Michelin added 21 new restaurants to its California Guide this month.
Michelin added 21 new restaurants to its California Guide this week, with picks stretching from Silicon Valley to San Diego.
New restaurants are added to the Michelin Guide twice a year. That's different from Michelin's Stars and Gourmand awards, which will be revealed at a ceremony next month.
"Michelin Guide Inspectors spend the entire year on the road seeking out the best restaurants to recommend — and what they've found is too good to keep a secret," reads an announcement from Michelin.
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Here's a look at the California restaurants added to the Michelin Guide in May, with descriptions from the publication:
Southern California
Miura — Beverly Hills
Sushi
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"Miura ushers in a reinvention and a fresh start for an address long revered as a destination for outstanding sushi. Its second floor perch set among the pedestrian-only Two Rodeo Drive shopping galleria, is a soothing and serene room with a satin-smooth wood counter."
Lucien — La Jolla
Californian
"Chef Elijah Arizmendi cut his teeth in New York kitchens before returning home to open this sophisticated tasting menu concept on the third story of La Plaza La Jolla. Whether it's California-raised Iberico pork or locally caught fish, the region's bounty is celebrated on a menu that reflects French and Japanese influences."
ALTO — Studio City, Los Angeles
South American
"Experience the flavors of Argentina and Uruguay at ALTO, a live-fire restaurant in Studio City led by Juana Castellanos Lagemann and Esteban Klenzi. Both chefs have impressive fine dining resumes, and here they focus on the fire, delivering hearty, comforting dishes with an elevated, modern take."
Casa Leo — Los Feliz, Los Angeles
Spanish Contemporary
"Casa Leo, from Chef/owner Joshua Whigham, is a Spanish-inspired restaurant offering a variety of tapas-style plates, easy to order alone or as a variety to share with the table. Start with "shots" of bay scallop ceviche with tender scallops in a vibrant leche de tigre, served atop halved lime wedges."
Electric Bleu — Mar Vista, Los Angeles
French Contemporary, Californian
"Chef/owner Craig Hopson's Electric Bleu is indeed buzzy; this California-meets-French bistro in Mar Vista draws a crowd for its likeable plates. Seating at the bar, counter and tables is tight and a hot ticket, so make reservations (especially on weekends) to savor starters like sauteed, foraged chanterelles with parmesan, parsnips and Treviso tardivo, or entrees such as duck breast with dates, saffron and green olives."
Kojima — Sawtelle, Los Angeles
Japanese
"Kojima, set on the second story of a mini mall in Sawtelle, is a hidden gem. The intimate space has room for just eight diners, with an L-shaped counter wrapping around the open kitchen where Chef Hayato Kojima prepares everything himself. There is no fixed or printed menu and chef doesn't speak English, though the warm staff explain every dish."
Lielle — Pico-Robertson, Los Angeles
Californian, European Contemporary
"Some reservations feel like a victory, and scoring a table at Chef Marcus Jernmark's white-hot Lielle is exactly that. Everyone is here for a taste of his California-meets-Nordic cuisine, where the concise product-focused tasting menu may be supplemented by the likes of agnolotti del plin with Gruyère cheese custard, black truffles and beurre noisette."
Lynx — Arts District, Los Angeles
Pizza
"Lynx may be a newcomer, but fans of Joshua Skenes' pizza will recognize this spot's focus. The streamlined menu pulls no punches, focusing on well-crafted pizza with thin, crisp centers and puffy, skillfully cooked edges. Toppings are plentiful but carefully balanced and refined, including options like grilled and thinly shaved raw mushrooms set with stracciatella, mascarpone and buffalo mozzarella."
The Mulberry — Sawtelle, Los Angeles
Korean Contemporary
"The Mulberry hasn't been open long, but this Korean American restaurant in Sawtelle is a hit. It could be the trendy look, with dark wood floors and tables. It might be the full-service bar with a terrific wine list and cocktail program. Or maybe it's the approachable but spot-on menu."
Sonoratown — Downtown Los Angeles
Mexican
"Look for the line that is likely stretching down the block, and you'll known you've arrived at Sonoratown. This spot has become a local favorite, and while the long queue may mean finding a seat indoors or out requires a stroke of luck, it's worth standing up for the food here."
SORA Craft Kitchen — Downtown Los Angeles
Mediterranean
"SORA Craft Kitchen is a labor of love, a one-man show run by Chef Okay Inak. This Turkish-born chef has a fine dining pedigree but runs this DTLA spot entirely on his own, turning out hearty, honest Anatolian/Turkish dishes with modern techniques. With just over a dozen seats, the space is bright and inviting thanks to wood floors and ceilings, white wood tables set with stools and plenty of greenery."
Good Alley — Rosemead
Chinese
"This Rosemead restaurant may be slightly short on fuss, with a well-lit dining room with booths and banquette seating and ordering conducted via a tablet, but the Chinese menu with a variety of offerings is the real reason you're here anyway."
Alice B. — Palm Springs
American Contemporary, Mediterranean
"Alice B., from Chefs Sue Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, is an inviting restaurant located within the Living Out community in Palm Springs. The dining room, tucked away from the bar serving its own bites, is a warm and inviting space set with flickering candles, stone tables and comfortably cushioned seating."
Monte's — Santa Barbara
Californian, Korean Contemporary
"Chef Daniel Kim, a veteran of fine dining restaurants, now leads this California-minded kitchen that infuses a Korean flair. Monte's embodies the farm-to-table ethos, sourcing the majority of their produce from their own regenerative organic farm and local farmers' markets."
Northern California
Vicinity— Los Gatos
Creative, Californian
"Located in an intimate room at the back of Tasting House, a relaxed wine bar, diners at Vicinity will find themselves in an exclusive realm of invention and storytelling. Chef Julian Silvera oversees an intricate modern tasting menu that draws from his life, from a Lower East Side upbringing to foraging in the coastal wilds of California, brought together with vivid creativity and visual flair."
Joodooboo — Oakland
Korean, Californian
"House-made tofu paired with seasonal banchan is the winningly simple formula behind this humble shop, which has established itself as a beloved neighborhood staple. Excellent produce from an array of local farms is transformed into an appealing variety of pickles and kimchi, while their pillowy soft tofu is laboriously crafted from bean to curd, then served either fresh or lightly fried, with a tangy, savory sauce."
Popoca — Downtown Oakland
Latin American, Californian
"At this bustling spot in the thick of downtown Oakland, Chef/owner Anthony Salguero serves what he terms 'progressive Salvadoran' cuisine, a blend of traditional flavors with a freewheeling Californian sensibility, highlighting local ingredients with creative touches."
Kitchen Istanbul — Inner Richmond, San Francisco
Turkish, Californian
"Here in this boisterous, cozy wine bar, you'll find some of the city's best Turkish cuisine, lovingly prepared with bold traditional flavors and a bit of Californian flair. Start with an ideally silky hummus, enriched with crunchy chickpeas and a pool of toasty chili oil, or the ultra-flaky börek, featuring golden phyllo dusted with sesame seeds and filled with a creamy mixture of goat cheese and leek."
Maria Isabel — Presidio Heights, San Francisco
Mexican, Contemporary
"This fashionable hotspot is the latest coup for culinary power couple Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz. Named after Chef Laura’s sister and mother, the cooking draws upon Californian ingredients and the flavors of Guerrero (a nod to her upbringing) laced through with heirloom corn from Oaxaca and other regional specialties."
Via Aurelia — Mission Rock, San Francisco
Italian, Contemporary
"Named after the ancient road connecting Rome to Pisa, guests here can expect contemporary Italian cuisine that draws inspiration from the flavors of Tuscany. The sunny, elegant space boasts a striking backdrop of Oracle Park, located just a stone's (or baseball's) throw away, and adroit service underscores the upscale ambiance."
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