5 SoCal Restaurants Snag Michelin Guide Stars

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Five Southern California restaurants are shining brighter this week after earning stars in the coveted Michelin California Guide.

Four of the restaurants are in Los Angeles County and one is in Orange County.

Statewide, 10 new restaurants made the cut, including one on the Central Coast and four in San Francisco.

"California continues to shine bright as we see the culinary scene evolve and highlight emerging talent and cuisines," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides. "This year we are thrilled to welcome 10 new restaurants to the family of Michelin-starred restaurants, in addition to one new green star."

The 2024 guide spotlights 577 restaurants across the state and lists 85 California restaurants with stars.

Earning a Michelin star is the gold standard for restaurants. Only one Southern California restaurant has attained three stars, which means "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey," according to the guide. Four have obtained two stars, denoting "excellent cooking, worth a detour," and 30 have secured one star, meaning "high-quality cooking, worth a stop."

Here's a look at the five new Michelin-starred restaurants in Southern California, along with Michelin Guide inspector notes for each establishment:

Vespertine (Culver City)

This contemporary restaurant received two stars as well as a green star, which is awarded to restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to sustainable practices.

"Beginning a new chapter, Chef Jordan Kahn's singular operation emerges from a lengthy hiatus with a renewed creative vision. Situated inside a strikingly futuristic edifice of red steel ("the Waffle"), diners enjoy a tasting menu that is likewise out of the ordinary, moving between floors as the meal progresses. Each dish is visually stunning, with cuisine that is not only daringly inventive (at times downright whimsical), but also marshals finely honed technique and impeccably balanced flavors. as in an artful dish of scallop with passionfruit, ají amarillo, and petals of horseradish tuile, or an "obsidian mirror" of smoked mussel cream with salted plum. The meal ends as strong as it begins, with a mesmerizing dessert that features kaleidoscopic flavors. Together with their sister restaurants, Vespertine works to ensure all ingredients are used in their entirety."

Holbox (Los Angeles)

This Mexican eatery earned one star.

"Its namesake is a Caribbean island just off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, but this beloved counter, located inside the Mercado La Paloma, is a distinctively Angelino phenomenon. Chef Gilbert Cetina, who previously cooked with his father at neighboring stall Chichen Itza, draws from Mexican coastal cuisines in dishes whose simplicity belies remarkable flavor. Spectacular quality seafood of unassailable freshness leaves an impression, whether in electrifyingly vibrant aguachiles and ceviches, excellent tacos served on house-made heirloom corn tortillas, or skillfully grilled lobster—a panoply of exceptional house salsas gilds the lily. The frequently changing menu offers no shortage of delights, and a tasting menu, offered by reservation only on Thursdays and Fridays, is hotly sought-after."

Meteora (Los Angeles)

This establishment, which serves "creative" cuisine, earned one star.

"This whimsical, immersive space is a touch otherworldly, with its tangled greenery, moody lighting, and trance-y soundtrack, but guests will be happy to fall under its spell when they taste Chef Jordan Kahn’s singular cuisine. Primal live-fire cooking combines with a zero-waste ethos and a treasure trove of sustainably sourced wild and organic ingredients to create dishes that are as memorable as they are delicious. Charred yam with a buttery sauce accented with smoked trout roe and grilled hazelnuts is more than the sum of its parts, and a dish of raw scallops with a vivid macadamia nut leche de tigre, banana, and crunchy kombu manages to both surprise and delight. Drinks, from cocktails made without refined sugars, to wild-harvested herb teas and single-origin coffees, follow the same compelling ethos."

R|O-Rebel Omakase (Laguna Beach)

This Japanese restaurant received one star.

"Tucked away in a modest little shopping center, this serene and striking spot feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle. As its name suggests, omakase is indeed the name of the game here, where two seatings per night are available by reservation and overseen by Chef Jordan Nakasone. Rooted in tradition, the meal skews contemporary with a focus on seasonality and product quality. In addition to standout sushi such as Japanese white salmon and shima aji, there are a surprising number of kitchen dishes, including gindara, a rectangle of cod set in a memorable cauliflower dashi and garnished with tonburi and a delicious, comforting chawanmushi topped with firefly squid and shaved bottarga."

Uka (Los Angeles)

This Japanese restaurant obtained one star.

"Chef Yoshitaka Mitsue and Chef Shingo Kato (both formerly of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations) and two waiters take great care with the details at this sleek hideaway nestled within Japan House at the Ovation Hollywood. Here, the fish is sourced from Japan and flown in twice weekly, then cured or aged in-house. Products are sourced locally for the best quality. It's all part of the kaiseki dining experience at Uka, where guests are invited to savor six or nine courses. Most of the menu leans traditional, as in the kabutamushi, a dumpling made with shredded turnip and filled with Japanese sea bream, while French influences make their way into dishes like grilled abalone with a butter ponzu sauce and wagyu with a red wine jus and miso butter sauce."

Here is the full list of Michelin-starred restaurants in Southern California:

Three Stars

• Addison (San Diego)

Two Stars

• Hayato (Los Angeles)
• Mélisse (Santa Monica)
• Providence (Hollywood)
• Vespertine (Culver City)

One Star

• 715 (Los Angeles)
• Bell's (Los Alamos)
• Camphor (Los Angeles)
• Caruso's (Montecito)
• Citrin (Santa Monica)
• Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura (Beverly Hills)
• Gwen (Los Angeles)
• Hana re (Costa Mesa)
• Heritage (Long Beach)
• Holbox (Los Angeles)
• Jeune et Jolie (Carlsbad)
• Kali (Hollywood)
• Kato (Los Angeles)
• Knife Pleat (Costa Mesa)
• Meteora (Los Angeles)
• Morihiro (Los Angeles)
• n/naka (Los Angeles)
• Nozawa Bar (Beverly Hills)
• Orsa & Winston (Los Angeles)
• Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles)
• Pasta | Bar (Encino)
• R|O-Rebel Omakase (Laguna Beach)
• Shibumi (Los Angeles)
• Shin Sushi (Encino)
• Soichi (San Diego)
• Sushi Ginza Onodera (West Hollywood)
• Sushi Inaba (Torrance)
• Sushi Kaneyoshi (Los Angeles)
• Uka (Los Angeles)
• Valle (Oceanside)