90 CA Restaurants Named Among State’s Best: Michelin List

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The 2021 Michelin Guide California includes one-to-three stars awarded to 90 restaurants that it deems the best in the state.

Michelin stars are considered the top culinary award for restaurants around the world, introduced nearly a century ago. The original guide, without the stars, has been published since 1900.

A three star rating is reserved for restaurants with "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey." Two stars are bestowed on restaurants that have "excellent cooking that is worth a detour." One star restaurants offer “high quality cooking, worth a stop.”

Michelin stars are awarded by undercover food experts who dine anonymously at the restaurant multiple times, and then confer with other judges about the awarding of stars. All judges focus on taste, the quality of ingredients, and cooking techniques.

Fine Dining Lovers reports that ambience, service and other factors are not considered in the awarding of stars.

And now, straight to the California list:

3-Star Michelin Restaurants

• Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
• Benu, San Francisco
• The French Laundry, Yountville
• Manresa, Los Gatos
• Quince, San Francisco
• Single Thread, Healdsburg

2-Star Michelin Restaurants

• Acquerello, San Francisco
• Addison, San Diego
• Birdsong, San Francisco
• Californios, San Francisco
• Campton Place, San Francisco
• Coi, San Francisco
• Commis, Oakland
• Harbor House, Elk
• Hayato, Los Angeles
• Lazy Bear, San Francisco
• Melisse, Santa Monica
• N/naka, Los Angeles
• Providence, Los Angeles
• Saison, San Francisco
• Sushi Ginza Onodera, West Hollywood
• Vespertine, Culver City

1-Star Michelin Restaurants

• Adega, San Jose
• Al’s Place, San Francisco
• Angler SF, San Francisco
• Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford
• Aubergine, Carmel-By-The-Sea
• Avery, San Francisco
• Bar Crenn, San Francisco
• Barndiva, Healdsburg
• Bell’s, Los Alamos
• Bistro Na’s, Temple City
• Chez TJ, Mountain View
• CUT, Beverly Hills
• Gary Danko, San Francisco
• Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Beverly Hills
• Hana Re, Costa Mesa
• Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad
• Ju-ni, San Francisco
• Kali, Los Angeles
• Kato, Los Angeles
• Kenzo, Napa
• Kin Khao, San Francisco
• The Kitchen, Sacramento
• Knife Pleat, Costa Mesa
• La Toque, Napa
• Le Comptoir, Los Angeles
• Madcap, San Anselmo
• Madera, Menlo Park
• Marlena, San Francisco
• Maude, Beverly Hills
• Mister Jiu’s, San Francisco
• Mori Sushi, Los Angeles
• Morihiro, Los Angeles
• Mourad, San Francisco
• Niku Steakhouse, San Francisco
• Nozawa Bar, Beverly Hills
• O’ by Claude le Tohic, San Francisco
• Omakase, San Francisco
• Orsa & Winston, Los Angeles
• Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
• Pasjoli, Santa Monica
• Pasta | Bar, Los Angeles
• Phenakite, Los Angeles
• Plumed Horse, Saratoga
• The Progress, San Francisco
• Protégé, Palo Alto
• Q Sushi, Los Angeles
• Rasa, Burlingame
• Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica
• Selby’s, Redwood City
• Shibumi, Los Angeles
• Shin Sushi, Encino
• The Shota, San Francisco
• Six Test Kitchen, Paso Robles
• Soichi, San Diego
• Sons & Daughters, San Francisco
• Sorrel, San Francisco
• SPQR, San Francisco
• Spruce, San Francisco
• State Bird Provisions, San Francisco
• Sushi | Bar Montecito, Santa Barbara
• Sushi l-Naba, Manhattan Beach
• Sushi Shin, Redwood City
• Sushi Takodoro, San Diego
• Sushi Yoshizumi, San Mateo
• Taco Maria, Costa Mesa
• The Village Pub, Woodside
• Wako, San Francisco
• Wakuriya, San Mateo

The treasured list is carefully scrutinized. Bloomberg pointed out that Los Angeles gained more restaurants on the list, while San Francisco lost a dozen establishments.

One three star eatery, Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley, was destroyed by the Glass Fire in 2020.

Forbes notes the importance of these stars after restaurants have struggled to stay afloat through the pandemic. “Since the beginning of the global pandemic, inspectors have been sensitive to each market in the U.S. and are in close contact with restaurants to stay informed on openings and closures, new menu changes, etcetera,” Michelin’s anonymous chief inspector said of this year’s judging process. “Restaurants are still opening, and there are new establishments to be discovered. The landscape is still interesting and dynamic.”

California is the only state that has its own Michelin Guide.

One week before the Michelin stars were announced, Michelin released its Bib Gourmand list of top affordable eateries.