Michelin California 2024 results: Which restaurants won stars, which lost stars? (2024)

HALF MOON BAY — In a culinary-star-studded ceremony Monday evening, the Michelin Guide International solidified California’s reputation as a dining mecca, reaffirming all six of the state’s “exceptional” three-star restaurants (two more than New York), honoring 13 restaurants for their two-star cuisine and handing out seven new one-star awards — for a total of 85 starred restaurants statewide.

The event was held on the Bay Area coast for the first time, at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.

Three restaurants joined the ranks of two-star honorees at the event. Aubergine in Carmel and Sons & Daughters in San Francisco were elevated from their previous one-star level, while Vespertine, a newly reopened Culver City restaurant, vaulted onto the list at two stars.

“This is an amazing achievement for the Central Coast, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said an emotional Justin Cogley, the executive chef and culinary director at Aubergine, as his industry colleagues cheered. His tenure at Aubergine started in 2011.

The town is also home to Chez Noir, whose owners, Johnny and Monique Black, retained the Michelin star they were first awarded last year.

Seven restaurants joined at the one-star level, including three in San Francisco. Hilda and Jesse is a North Beach restaurant whose owners, Kristina Compton and Rachel Sillco*cks, first launched with a brunch tasting menu. At Kiln, chef John Wesley, who also won Young Chef honors, offers a menu that blends Californian and Nordic influences. And at 7 Adams, chefs Serena and David Fisher specialize in seasonal California cuisine.

Southern California’s new one-star restaurants are Holbox, Meteora and Uka, all in Los Angeles, and R/O Rebel Omakase in Laguna Beach.

”California continues to shine bright as we see the culinary scene evolve and highlight
emerging talent and cuisines,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guides, in a statement issued before the event.

Monday’s repeat three-star awardees were Dominique Crenn’s Atelier Crenn, Corey Lee’s Benu and Michael Tusk’s Quince, all in San Francisco; Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, in Yountville; SingleThread in Healdsburg, from chef Kyle Connaughton and farmer Katina Connaughton; and Addison, in San Diego. Crenn and Katina Connaughton are the only women in the U.S. with three stars.

Two-star Bay Area honorees retaining that award included chef James Syhabout’s Commis in Oakland, which has long been honored at that level, and Acquerello, Birdsong, Californios, Lazy Bear and Saison in San Francisco.

In the South Bay/Peninsula, George Aviet’s Chez TJ of Mountain View was again awarded with a star; the restaurant has been honored by Michelin for 17 years under a succession of chefs, including current top toque Stan Michalski.

Both the Plumed Horse in Saratoga, with chef Peter Armellino at the helm, and the Village Pub in Woodside, under the direction of chef Mark Sullivan and the Bacchus group, retained the one-star status they have held since 2009.

The other one-star honorees from this region include Protégé in Palo Alto from executive chef Anthony Secviar and master sommelier Dennis Kelly; Wakuriya, the contemporary Japanese restaurant in San Mateo from executive chef and owner Katsuhiro Yamasaki; and another Sullivan/Bacchus restaurant, Selby’s dinner house in Atherton.

Michelin again awarded a star to both San Francisco restaurants owned by chef-spouses Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski — State Bird Provisions and The Progress. Cupertino native Brioza (who grew up in Danville) and Los Gatos native Krasinski met at De Anza College in Cupertino.

SoCal’s Kahn was the big winner of the night. Besides the two-star award, his Vespertine received Michelin’s newest Green Star for sustainability practices, and another one of his restaurants, Meteora, snagged its first one-star honor. Michelin inspectors who visited Vespertine raved about Kahn’s “daringly inventive” cuisine and concept that takes diners from floor to floor as the meal progresses.

While 10 California restaurants gained stars, several lost theirs including San Francisco’s venerable Restaurant Gary Danko. Chef Danko’s eponymous restaurant, which opened in 1999, had held a star since 2007.

The others that have fallen off Michelin’s star list include Barndiva (Healdsburg), Sushi Shin (Redwood City) and Sushi Yoshizumi (San Mateo); and SoCal’s Maude (Beverly Hills), Q Sushi (Los Angeles) and Sushi Tadokoro (San Diego).

Three restaurants were removed from the selection because they closed: Avery (San Francisco), Manzke (Los Angeles) and Taco Maria (Costa Mesa).

Also, two Southern California restaurants that received two stars in 2023, Sushi Ginza Onodera of West Hollywood and N/Naka of Los Angeles, dropped to one-star status this year.

As with all changes in star levels, Michelin inspectors — who review anonymously — make no comment regarding deletions or changes in star levels. As per Michelin protocol, they revisit all previous winners and new prospects with five criteria in mind: meal quality; harmony of flavors; mastery of technique; personality of the chef and cuisine; and consistency between each visit.

This year, a total of 85 restaurants representing 17 cuisines earned the coveted stars, down two from last year’s 87 starred honorees. Three stars denotes “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”; two stars signifies “excellent cuisine, worth a detour”; and one star “high-quality cooking, worth a stop.”

When other categories such as good value and sustainability efforts are added, the 2024 Michelin Guide features praise for a total of 577 California restaurants.

Originally Published: August 5, 2024 at 8:32 p.m.