What is a Michelin star? What it means for restaurants
Here is a brief introduction to the Michelin star, the highest award for culinary excellence a restaurant can ever receive.
Kara VanDooijeweert and Michael V. Pettigano, NorthJersey.com
Seven restaurants in California recently received a Michelin star, joining nearly 70 others that have received this distinction.
However, browsing the Michelin Guide for California can be overwhelming, as there are hundreds of restaurants listed with varying ratings.
If you’re looking for your next delicious meal or want to have a great dining experience, here’s what you need to know about California and its Michelin-starred restaurants.
Which seven restaurants will receive a Michelin star in 2024?
These seven restaurants, most of them in San Francisco or Los Angeles, received a Michelin star, the Michelin Guide announced in early August. A star is considered the highest honor in the restaurant industry. If you are interested in a restaurant, you should visit its website to learn more about the establishment. The prices included in this list were collected by the restaurant or a third-party reservation service in August.
Hilda and Jesse
Hilda and Jesse, which describes itself as a “queer-owned brunch, dinner and event venue,” offers “arguably the most creative and ambitious take on brunch in the Bay Area,” according to the Michelin Guide. Kristina Liedags Compton, the chef at Hilda and Jesse, was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in California earlier this year. The James Beard Award Foundation’s awards are among the country’s highest honors for the culinary industry.
Where: 701 Union St., San Francisco
Price: Chef’s Adventure Menu, $85; Saturday and Sunday brunch, $49 three-course menu and $85 Chef’s Adventure Menu and a la carte.
Website: www.hildaandjessesf.com
Holbox
Chef Gilbert Cetina, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist, is behind this Mexican seafood restaurant in Los Angeles. The Michelin Guide praises the restaurant for its “spectacular quality of seafood” and a “frequently changing menu offers plenty of deliciousness.” Holbox was named Restaurant of the Year by the Los Angeles Times last year.
Where: 3655 S. Grand Ave. #C9, Los Angeles
Price: Menu items start at $5
Website: holboxla.com
Oven
Expect “artful creations” from Kiln and a tasting menu that has a “Nordic twist,” according to the Michelin Guide. Kiln, which opened last year and was named a semifinalist for Best New Restaurants in 2024 at the James Beard Awards, is led by chef and co-owner John Wesley, who, according to the restaurant, has worked at two-Michelin-starred restaurants Commis in Oakland and Sons & Daughters in San Francisco, among others, in his career. Kiln is co-owned by Juliana Yang, also of Sons & Daughters.
Where: 149 Fell St., San Francisco
Price: $295 per person for the Kiln Tasting Menu
Website: www.kilnsf.com
Meteora
Meteora describes itself as a restaurant experience “that takes guests on a multisensory journey through nature, creativity and discovery.” Meteora has been praised by the Michelin Guide for its “zero-waste ethos” and its “treasure trove of sustainably sourced wild and organic ingredients.”
Where: 6703 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
Price: Weekday Tasting Menu: Four-course tasting menu, $95 per person and seven-course tasting menu, $150 per person; Weekend Tasting Menu: $150 per person for a seven-course tasting menu
Website: meteora.la
Rebel Omakase
Omakase is a form of Japanese cuisine that literally translates to “I leave it to you,” according to the Michelin Guide. Guests at Rebel Omakase entrust their dining experience to chef Jordan Nakasone—one where the food is “rooted in tradition” but “has a contemporary twist, with an emphasis on seasonality and product quality,” according to the Michelin Guide.
Where: 361 Forest Ave., Suite 103, Laguna Beach
Price: The two-hour Omakase Experience dinner costs USD 300 per person
Website: rebel-omakase.com
Uka
Experience a multi-course meal of small plates or kaiseki at Uka, which boasts “stunning views” from Hollywood to Downtown LA. According to the Michelin Guide, kaiseki is “often considered the best cuisine in Japan.” Fish is “sourced from Japan” and produce at Uka is “locally sourced to ensure the best quality.”
Where: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
Price: Introduction to Kaiseki, $200; Kaiseki Experience, $300; Shabu Shabu x Kaiseki Experience, $400
Website: www.ukarestaurant.com
7 Adams
At 7 Adams you will find “uncomplicated California cuisine with simple cooking, solid technique and thoughtful flavor combinations,” according to the restaurant. The restaurant is named after the address of Chef David Fisher’s childhood home. Fisher and Chef Serena Chow Fisher are both members of the StarChef Class of Rising Star Chefs.
Where: 1963 Sutter St., San Francisco
Price: Five-course tasting menu, $87 per person; Chef’s Counter, $157 per person
Website: 7adamsrestaurant.com
How many Michelin-starred restaurants are there in California?
In California, there will be 66 one-star Michelin restaurants, 13 two-star restaurants, and six three-star restaurants in 2024—three stars is the most Michelin stars a restaurant can receive.
Here is just a selection of other Michelin-starred restaurants in California:
- Bell’s, Los Alamos
- Citrine, Santa Monica
- Heritage, Long Beach
- Kenzo, Napa
- Osito, San Francisco
- Feathered Horse, Saratoga
- Sushi Inaba, Torrance
- Valle, Oceania
The difference between the stars is described by an inspector from the Michelin Guide as follows:
- One star: High-quality ingredients, dishes with distinctive taste and consistently high quality
- Two stars: The chef’s personality and talent are evident in the dishes and the food is “sophisticated and inspired”
- Three stars: Awarded for the “outstanding culinary art of chefs at the peak of their profession” which is “elevated to an art form”.
But in addition to the restaurants in California with one or more stars, there are also some with other awards that can be found in the California Michelin Guide. These include the Michelin Bib Gourmand, which “recognizes restaurants that offer exceptionally good food at moderate prices,” and the Michelin Green Star, which is awarded to restaurants “that are at the forefront of the industry in terms of their sustainable practices.”
How do I find a Michelin-starred restaurant near me?
Visit the Michelin Guide to California online and browse hundreds of featured restaurants, from recommended restaurants to restaurants with a Michelin star or other Michelin designation.
Paris Barraza is a trends reporter covering California for The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ParisBarraza.
