CA Has More Michelin-Starred Restaurants Than Any Other State

CALIFORNIA — With its giant cities, temperate climate, and diverse population from around the world, it’s no surprise that California has long had more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other U.S. state, including New York. As of 2023, the Golden State boasts a total of 87 Michelin-starred restaurants, well above New York’s 71. Illinois trails behind at 27, followed by Florida with 19. It’s not a totally fair fight, however - Michelin doesn’t rate all cities.

Six California restaurants have obtained the coveted three stars (“exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”, 12 have obtained two stars (“excellent cooking, worth a detour”), and a full 70 have obtained one star (“very good in its category.”)

Unsurprisingly, California also contains two of the five most expensive Michelin-starred restaurants in the country, based on standard tasting menu price per person. Healdsburg’s Single Thread, a three-star Japanese restaurant from Chef Kyle Connaugton, ranks third at $495. San Francisco’s Korean-Cantonese fusion restaurant Benu ranks fourth at $420, and West Hollywood’s Sushi Ginza Onodera ranks fifth at $400 per person. The top spot is Masa in New York City, which costs a whopping $720 per person. But Oakland’s seafood restaurant Commis is the third least expensive two or three-starred restaurant, at a comparatively reasonable $225.

Below is the full list of California Michelin-starred restaurants, listed alphabetically:

3 stars:

• Addison (San Diego)
• Atelier Crenn (San Francisco)
• Benu (San Francisco)
• Quince (San Francisco)
• Single Thread (Healdsburg)
• The French Laundry (Yountville)

2 stars:

• Acquerello (San Francisco)
• Birdsong (San Francisco)
• Californios (San Francisco)
• Commis (Oakland)
• Harbor House (Elk)
• Hayato (Los Angeles)
• Lazy Bear (San Francisco)
• Mélisse (Santa Monica)
• n/naka (Los Angeles)
• Providence (Hollywood)
• Saison (San Francisco)
• Sushi Ginza Onodera (West Hollywood)

1 star:

• Auro (Calistoga)
• Aphotic (San Francisco)
• Chez Noir (Monterey)
• Heritage (Los Angeles)
• Nari (San Francisco)
• Valle (San Diego)
• 715 (Los Angeles)
• Angler SF (San Francisco)
• Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford)
• Aubergine (Carmel-by-the-Sea)
• Avery (San Francisco)
• Barndiva (Healdsburg)
• Bell's (Los Alamos)
• Camphor (Los Angeles)
• Caruso's (Montecito)
• Chez TJ (Mountain View)
• Citrin (Santa Monica)
• Cyrus (Geyserville)
• Gary Danko (San Francisco)
• Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura (Beverly Hills)
• Gwen (Los Angeles)
• Hana re (Costa Mesa)
• Jeune et Jolie (Carlsbad)
• Kali (Hollywood)
• Kato (Los Angeles)
• Kenzo (Napa)
• Kin Khao (San Francisco)
• Knife Pleat (Costa Mesa)
• Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn (San Francisco)
• Localis (Sacramaneto)
• Madcap (San Anselmo)
• Manzke (Los Angeles)
• Maude (Beverly Hills)
• Mister Jiu’s (San Francisco)
• Morihiro (Los Angeles)
• Niku Steakhouse (San Francisco)
• Nisei (San Francisco)
• Nozawa Bar (Beverly Hills)
• O’ by Claude Le Tohic (San Francisco)
• Orsa & Winston (Los Angeles)
• Osito (San Francisco)
• Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles)
• Pasta | Bar (Encino)
• Plumed Horse (Saratoga)
• Press (Saint Helena)
• Protégé (Palo Alto)
• Q Sushi (Los Angeles)
• San Ho Won (San Francisco)
• Selby’s (Atherton)
• Shibumi (Los Angeles)
• Shin Sushi (Encino)
• Six Test Kitchen (Paso Robles)
• Soichi (San Diego)
• Sons & Daughters (San Francisco)
• Sorrel (San Francisco)
• Ssal (San Francisco)
• State Bird Provisions (San Francisco)
• Sushi I-NABA (Torrance)
• Sushi Kaneyoshi (Los Angeles)
• Sushi Shin (Redwood City)
• Sushi Tadokoro (San Diego)
• Sushi Yoshizumi (San Mateo)
• Taco María (Costa Mesa)
• The Kitchen (Sacramento)
• The Progress (San Francisco)
• The Restaurant at JUSTIN (Paso Robles)
• The Shota (San Francisco)
• The Village Pub (Woodside)
• Wakuriya (San Mateo)