For the first time in its history, the Michelin Guide awarded three stars to a Mexican restaurant.
Michelin currently lists 340 restaurants serving Mexican cuisine in the U.S., and at an awards ceremony Wednesday night, one of them received three stars, the highest rating possible on the world-famous dining guide.
Michelin recognition, often considered one of the most prestigious benchmarks in the restaurant industry, can consist of stars, which are rated on a scale of one to three; value-minded gourmand bib denotation; green stars with a sustainable mindset; or inclusion in the guide as a recommended restaurant or bar. On Wednesday, at a ceremony in San Diego, Michelin announced its California Guide 2026.
Last year's state roundup proved momentous for Los Angeles: The city received its first three-star ratings, for Providence and Somni. While no Los Angeles restaurants earned that ranking this year, San Francisco Mexican restaurant Californios did. Sonoma's Enclos also earned three stars for the first time.
In Los Angeles, Kato received his second star and several restaurants achieved one-star status for the first time. Little Fish owners Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle also won the Michelin Young Chef Award.
According to a company representative, Michelin's team of anonymous inspectors follows five criteria when visiting and evaluating a restaurant: “the quality of the product; the mastery of culinary techniques; the harmony of flavors; the personality of the chef reflected in the kitchen; and consistency over time and throughout the menu.”
Three star designations
Californio owner and executive chef Val Cantú, photographed at the restaurant in 2024.
(Carolyn Fong/For The Times)
Sonoma Contemporary Fine Dining Restaurant attachments and from san francisco Californians were the only restaurants to earn three stars in California this year.
“California has very few fine-dining temples dedicated to Mexican cuisine, which makes Val Cantú's excellent tasting menu restaurant even more special,” LA Times food critic Bill Additon wrote last year. “The restaurant, named after a term for Californians of Spanish and Mexican colonial descent, has grown markedly in scope and ambition.”
The eight restaurants that had three stars in 2025 kept them, including the one in Hollywood. Providence and West Hollywood somni.
“I think what we think about most today is just the responsibility of earning that third star, keeping it,” said Providence chef and co-owner Michael Cimarusti, “and trying to excel every day, every service in every way possible to keep our guests happy. I think that's the most important thing.”
The restaurant just celebrated its 13th birthday and last week also won the James Beard Foundation award for outstanding hospitality.
Two-star designations
Kato's chef and co-owner Jon Yao, photographed in 2019.
(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Only one restaurant in the state earned two stars this year: The Arts District's kato.
“We have a huge network of producers, farmers, artisans, captains, somms, cooks, so it is [the win is] really for everyone,” chef and co-owner Jon Yao said from the stage. “It takes a lot of people, a lot of diligent work and perseverance to make our guests happy.”
Last week, Kato also won the James Beard Foundation award for excellent wine and other beverages; Last year, Yao took home the Beard Foundation award for best chef in the state.
In Los Angeles, the Arts District HayatoSanta Monica Melisse and from Culver City evening all maintained their two-star rating. No Los Angeles restaurant lost its two stars.
One Star Designations
Santa Monica Selina earned his first star on Wednesday night. Its founding chef, Dave Beran, won the James Beard Foundation award for best chef in California earlier this month. Other first-time star honorees in Los Angeles include Beverly Hills miuraSawtelle KojimaMelrose Hill's Corridor 109 and Pico-Robertson Lielle.
A plate decorated with smoked sturgeon pie (front left and rear center), fried maitake mushroom (right and rear left), and pumpkin and chestnut puree with truffle (center and rear right) at Seline in Santa Monica.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
In La Jolla, lucien also earned its first star, as did Healdsburg. Troubadour and San Francisco restaurants aconite and Naides.
citrine, Inheritance, Holbox, Kali, Meteora, Mori Nozomi, n/naka, Nozawa Bar, Orsa and Winston, Osteria Mozza, Pasta bar, Ki Restaurant, Shin Sushi, Inaba Sushi and Kaneyoshi Sushi all maintained their one-star ratings.
Los Angeles restaurants that did not maintain one-star ratings include 715, Camphor, Gwen and Morihiro. Some that had a star in 2025 have since closed, such as Shibumi, Uka and Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura.
Wednesday night's awards ceremony also celebrated other achievements.
Los Angeles Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle from Melrose Hill Restaurant little fish He won the Michelin young chef award.
Little Fish owners Niki Vahle, left, and Anna Sonenshein in the dining room of their Melrose Hill restaurant on Friday, June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Shelby Moore / For The Times)
(Shelby Moore / For The Times)
The San Francisco Bar Team. Maria Isabel took home the award for outstanding cocktail, while Carlsbad's Savannah Riedler de Lilo received the sommelier award. Frida Blomdahl Hay from Sons & Daughters of San Francisco won Michelin Service of the Year.
In 2026, Michelin also announced expansions to the Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah) and the Great Lakes (spanning Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh), and overseas to South Australia and beyond.
The complete 2026 California Guide can be found online here.
