May Michelin update: 21 new restaurants added to California Guide

Just a month before Michelin’s annual ceremony on June 24, Michelin Guide Inspectors added 21 California restaurants to the Michelin Guide Wednesday morning.

The new additions are currently listed as recommended but could earn Bib Gourmand or star distinctions at the ceremony. Michelin previously added 12 new restaurants to the California Guide in March, and those restaurants are also waiting in earnest for the final distinction verdict. A place on the Michelin Guide is a significant achievement in the culinary world, representing high-quality ingredients, masterful flavors and techniques, consistency, value and more.

These 21 California restaurants are now on the Michelin Guide

Miura, Beverly Hills

This Edomae-style omakase restaurant opened in January on Rodeo Drive, offering 18-course omakase for $320 per person. Helmed by Chef Derek Wilcox, who is the first and only Westerner to complete a full seven-year apprenticeship at a traditional Japanese kaiseki restaurant

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Charcoal-grilled snow crab
Rice straw-smoked wild bluefin tuna
Nigiri, including cuttlefish from Kagoshima and needlefish from Miyagi

Miura, 218 N. Rodeo Dr. #2f, Beverly Hills; Instagram: @miura.beverlyhills. Open Wednesday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 5-9 p.m.

Lucien, La Jolla

Located on the third story of La Plaza La Jolla, Lucien offers a $260 12+ course tasting menu by Chef Elijah Arizmendi featuring Californian cuisine with French and Japanese influences. A la carte options are available at the bar for walk-ins, and a $180 six-course “Essence” tasting menu is available on Tuesday to Thursday.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Capanes: tempura-fried sweet potato topped with caviar; yellowtail in a crispy nori tube; rose meringue with beets and green yogurt
Entree: Crisp-skinned ocean tilefish with petite fennel and pomegranate; poussin with chicken mousse and truffle stuffing
Desserts: cinnamon, caramel-braised pineapple roasted over live-fire hearth

Lucien, 7863 Girard ve. #308, La Jolla; 619-786-3082, Instagram: @lucienlajolla. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

Alto, Los Angeles

This South American restaurant utilizes open-fire cooking techniques from the Pampas region of South America. Led by Juana Castellanos Lagemann and Esteban Klenzi, Alto has offered cuisine from Uruguay and Argentina with a contemporary twist since its August opening.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Breads: chipa (cheesy yuca bread) with tomato butter; criollo (buttery layered bread) with herb butter
The OG empanada with hand-cut braised beef, housemade dough and llajua sauce
Applewood-smoked pork chop roasted in kombu seaweed
Dulce de leche souffle with housemade dulce de leche ice cream

Alto, 12969 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; 747-202-1661, Instagram: @altolosangeles. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

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Casa Leo, Los Angeles

Casa Leo, which opened in August, specializes in seasonal Spanish tapas and offers an exclusive paella drop once a month. Chef-owner Joshua Whigham has extensive experience working at the Jose Andres Group.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Bay scallop ceviche shots
Lardons coca (Iberian flatbread) with caramelized onion puree, queso pinto and fresh passionfruit
Rabo de toro (wine-braised oxtail stew topped with housemade potato chips)
Helen’s Basque-style cheesecake

Casa Leo, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd. Suite C, Los Angeles; 323-284-8990, Instagram: @casaleo.la. Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Friday from 5:30-10:30 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30-10:30 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Electric Bleu, Los Angeles

Chef-owner Craig Hopson grew up wanting to be a pro surfer but found his real passion in the kitchen. In August, he opened Electric Bleu, offering Californian French cuisine. An a la carte menu offers appetizers for $16-$26, mains for $38-$47 and desserts for $15-$18, while a $79 five-course tasting menu is also available.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Sauteed, foraged chanterelles with Parmesan, parsnips and Treviso tardivo
Duck breast with dates, saffron and green olives
Local lime tart with whipped creme fraiche

Electric Bleu, 3523 S. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles; 424-316-9416, Instagram: @electricbleula. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 5-10 p.m. and Sunday from 5-9 p.m.

Kojima, Los Angeles

This eight-seat omakase opened in August on the second story of a mini mall. Chef Hayato Kojima offers a $200 omakase experience twice a night, with one seating at 5 p.m. and the other at 7:45 p.m.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Tempura firefly squid and bamboo shoots
Charcoal-grilled chicken hearts with grated ginger
Sliced clam over asparagus
Charcoal-grilled wagyu
Rice with sakura shrimp

Kojima, 2130 Sawtelle Blvd. Suite 211, Los Angeles; 424-248-0116, Instagram: @kojima_wla. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5-11 p.m.

Lielle, Los Angeles

Lielle, which opened in February, offers a $150 four-course set menu of Californian cuisine with Nordic influences from Chef Marcus Jernmark. Jermark is the former executive chef of three-Michelin-starred Frantzen in Stockholm.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Agnolotti del plin with Gruyere cheese custard, black truffles and beurre noisette
Aged California squab grilled over pine with black truffle jus and salad with miso vinaigrette

Lielle, 9575 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles; 213-376-6374, Instagram: @lielle.la. Open daily from 3:30-9 p.m.

Lynx, Los Angeles

Joshua Skenes, the co-founder of two-Michelin-starred Saison, recently opened bar and pizzeria Lynx. The website lists no menu, instead just a description: “A product bar. And pizza.”

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Hello Satan V8 pizza with guanciale, soppressata, pepperoni, firebird tomatoes, basil, fermented chili and black and white truffle honey
Soft serve ice cream
Tiramisu

Lynx, 427 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles; 213-245-6134, Instagram: @thelynxlosangeles. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

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The Mulberry, Los Angeles

Named after a tree that symbolizes creation, connection and renewal and Korean culture, The Mulberry offers contemporary Korean dishes. Created by owners Jennifer Chon and David Lee and chef Curtis Park, The Mulberry debuted in November.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Steamed pork and chive dumplings ($16)
Kimchi pancake topped with bean sprouts and herbs ($17)
Charcoal-grilled pork ($36)
Beef short ribs ($49)
Hotteok a la mode (caramelized cinnamon crepe with vanilla ice cream)

The Mulberry, 1800 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles; 310-598-5191, Instagram: @themulberryla. Open Wednesday and Sunday from 5:30-10 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sonoratown, Los Angeles

Created by Teodoro Diaz-Rodriguez, Jr. and Jennifer Feltham in 2016, Sonoratown specializes in traditional Sonora-style tacos. Senora is a part of Northern Mexico known for carne asada and handmade flour tortillas. The menu is succinct, with tacos going for $3.50 and burritos for $13.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dish:

Chivichanga ($5.75)

Sonoratown, 208 E. 8th St., Los Angeles; 213-222-5071, Instagram: @sonoratownla. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

SORA Craft Kitchen, Los Angeles

Chef Okay Inak runs a one-man show at SORA. The Anatolian Turkish restaurant opened in 2024 and has just over a dozen seats. Service is casual, with guests ordering from a kiosk.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Spanish octopus with Turkish white bean salad
Sumac-cured tenderloin shish kebab over smoked pepper sauce and housemade yogurt
Cheese halva with crushed pistachio and housemade ice cream

SORA Craft Kitchen, 1109 E. 12th St. Los Angeles; 213-537-0654, Instagram: @soracraftkitchen. Open Thursday to Sunday from 5-10 p.m.

Vicinity, Los Gatos

With just 16 guests per seating, Vicinity offers a $250 13-course tasting menu inspired by California. Created by chef Julian Silvera, the intimate restaurant opened in February at the back of Tasting House.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Tiny everything bagel filled with salmon and cream cheese rillettes
Californian lamb with spring vegetables and jus accented with mole and black garlic

Vicinity, 368 Village Ln., Los Gatos; 669-649-4200, Instagram: @vicinity.california. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

Joodooboo, Oakland

Since 2022 Joodooboo has been making tofu (or dooboo in Korean) with domestic organic soybeans and reconstituted seawater. The casual restaurant also specializes in banchan made with seasonal vegetables.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Fried dooboo set ($22.50)
Nori acorn noodle bowl ($19.50)
Farmer’s bowl with rice, seasonal vegetables, banchan and fried egg ($19)

Joodooboo, 4201 Market St., Oakland; 510-500-1001, Instagram: @joodooboo. Open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 8 p.m.

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Popoca, Oakland

Chef-owner Anthony Salguero started Popoca as a Salvadoran food pop-up in 2020, opening his Oakland brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2023. Popoca, meaning “to emit smoke” in Nawat (the native language of El Salvador), pays homage to the use of live wood-fire cooking.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Pupusa de pipian y lorocco with summer squash, loroco and queso ($9)
Pupusa de lenga with beef tongue, queso and recaudo ($11)
Campero chicken wings, served with house hot sauce and vegetable escabeche ($17)

Popoca, 906 Washington St., Oakland; 510-457-1724, Instagram: @popoca.oakland. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5- 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

Alice B., Palm Springs

Located within an LGBTQ+ senior community, Alice B. offers Californian cuisine with Mediterranean influences. The restaurant was created by James Beard and Julia Child award-winning chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue MIlliken in 2024 and draws inspiration from the life of Alice B. Toklas.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Grilled black tiger prawns with saffron red pepper aioli and Italian salsa verde ($33)
Ricotta cavatelli with kale pesto ($32)
Brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, salted caramel and crushed walnuts ($12)

Alice B., 1122 El. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-537-4311, Instagram: @aliceb_ps. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5-9 p.m.

Good Alley, Rosemead

Good Alley, a sister restaurant to Ji Rong Peking Duck, has been serving casual Chinese dishes such as soup dumplings and noodles since 2024.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Rou jia mo with Kurobuta pork (street food-style Chinese hamburger)
Xiao long bao (soup dumplings)
Braised beef noodles

Good Alley, 8450 E. Valley Blvd. #108, Rosemead, 626-280-2800, Instagram: @good_alley. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kitchen Istanbul, San Francisco

This wine bar offers some of San Francisco’s best Turkish cuisine, according to the Michelin Guide. Kitchen Istanbul is led by owner Emrah Kilicoglu, and the menu is created by chef Busra Ayvaz.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Hummus with crunchy chickpeas and chili oil ($14)
Borek with goat cheese and leek ($18)
Browned chicken legs over creamy pearl couscous ($42)
Kunefe kadayif ($15)

Kitchen Istanbul, 349 Clement St., San Francisco, 415-753-9479, Instagram: @kitchenistanbulsf. Open Thursday to Monday from 5-9:30 p.m.

Maria Isabel, San Francisco

Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz, the chef couple behind Mediterranean restaurant Dalida, debuted their latest project Maria Isabel in March. Named after Laura Ozyilmaz’s sister and mother, Maria Isabel offers contemporary Mexican cuisine with influences from Guerrero and California.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Aguachile negro of Pacific yellowtail and Monterey Bay squid with chicharrones, daikon and charred chile sauce
Masa bunuelo with guacamole and Kaluga caviar

Maria Isabel, 500 Presidio Ave., San Francisco; 415-275-0075, Instagram: @mariaisabelsf_. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5-9:30 p.m.

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Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement, San Francisco

Chef-owner Fernay McPherson is bringing classic Southern dishes to San Francisco with Minnie Bell’s. The casual restaurant, since 2024, offers fried chicken combos and is named after McPherson’s great-aunt Minnie and grandmother Lillie Bell.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Rosemary fried chicken
Brown butter cornbread
Baked mac and cheese made with cheddar, fontina and Parmesan
Housemade hot sauce

Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement, 1375 Fillmore St., San Francisco; 415-829-3498, Instagram: @minnie_bells. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 4-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m.

Via Aurelia, San Francisco

The creators of popular Che Fico, David Nayfeld and Matt Brewer, opened Via Aurelia in September. Their newest restaurant, named after the road connecting Rome to Pisa, is a love letter to Tuscany. Choose from a $185 five-course tasting menu or order a la carte.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes:

Tortelli Mugellani filled with potato puree and topped with ragu Toscana and Parmigiano espuma ($32)
Toasted almond gelato and blood orange sorbetto soft serve swirl topped with anise seed pizzella ($20)

Via Aurelia, 300 Toni Stone Xing, San Francisco; 415-875-9781, Instagram: @viaaureliasf. Open Sunday to Thursday from 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

Monte’s, Santa Barbara

Monte’s, which opened in March, specializes in farm-to-table Californian Korean cuisine. Led by Chef Daniel Kim, starters go for $8-$26, shareables are $18-$26 and mains are $28-$63.

The Michelin Guide’s standout dishes: