As California approaches the annual release date for the Michelin Guide’s best restaurants across the state, fans and followers of the global restaurant rating system can add some new businesses and star contenders to their “to visit” lists. This week, Michelin added six new Los Angeles-area restaurants to its statewide guide ahead of the announcement ceremony scheduled for next month.
The global taste guide is most recognizable for its awarding of stars, widely recognized as one of the highest honors in restaurants, especially when it comes to fine dining in the U.S. One star signifies “a very good restaurant in its category,” while two stars mark “excellent cuisine, worth a detour,” and a three-star rating translates to “exceptional cuisine, worth a special trip.”
Michelin also rewards businesses with awards for value and affordability (Bib Gourmands), as well as for notable openings. Whether this week's new additions will earn stars or Bib Gourmand status in the 2024 state guide will be revealed at a ceremony on August 5 in Half Moon Bay.
On Wednesday, the guide welcomed 13 California restaurants to the 2024 guide, including six in Los Angeles. Mike Santos, owner and namesake of Portuguese restaurant Barra Santos, said the consideration was “really unexpected” and “an honor.”
The cozy, sherry-focused Cypress Park restaurant opened last spring under the auspices of the hotel group behind Found Oyster, Queen St. and Nossa Caipirinha Bar. Dishes, often inspired by family recipes, include cod fritters, langoustines in vinho verde, piri piri chicken and spiced almond cake.
“I’m a small-town girl from Arizona, so I never expected something like this to happen to us,” said Executive Chef Melissa Lopez. “It just goes to show that hard work and having people who really believe in what you do, what you serve, and how you treat people makes all the difference in this industry. I’m so proud to do it with Mike, who’s like my brother, and everyone who’s been here from the beginning. It’s a big deal.”
Barra Santos chef Melissa Lopez is in the kitchen at Cypress Park restaurant, now listed in the Michelin Guide to California.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The year has been fruitful in praise for Barra Santos, who also received a semi-finalist nomination from the James Beard Foundation in January in the category of best new restaurant; it was the only Southern California restaurant in the running this year.
Santos hopes to leverage the newfound attention the restaurant and bar have received to spotlight other local chefs through collaborations and hosting pop-up events.
“Because we have a lot of eyes on us, the focus is on working with people like Drew [Ponce] and his [pop-up, A Tí] “And smaller brands and chefs who are trying to make it,” Santos said. “We’re trying to help them grow within the city and also give them the opportunity to showcase their products.”
Chef Joshua Skenes' new project also made the guide this week. Leopardo, on the border of Mid-Wilshire and Hancock Park, offers a pared-down menu of pizzas featuring carefully selected flours and homemade cheeses from the former chef and founder of Saison and Angler. It also offers creative cocktails, wood-fired seafood and seasonal vegetables.
Another new Michelin addition was Koreatown's Danbi, a modern Korean restaurant from the hotel group that owns and operates the nearby Liu's Cafe, which was added to California guide in March.Danbi Open in springA twist on a previous restaurant concept from the same group, this week the Michelin Guide highlighted Danbi executive chef Lareine Ko’s scallop pancake, mushroom bibimbap and wagyu zabuton, as well as pastry chef Isabell Manibusan’s desserts.
The galbi-inspired charcoal-grilled wagyu zabuton with bone marrow and kimchi at Koreatown restaurant Danbi received attention in the Michelin Guide this week.
(Stephanie Breijo/Los Angeles Times)
Instant noodle specialist Mae Malai House of Noodles is another Michelin-starred restaurant. Inspectors have called the new restaurant from the team behind Thai Town street stall Mae Malai “a comfortable and welcoming venue with a tempting menu”.
Grá, an Echo Park pizzeria that opened in 2019, focuses on sourdough pizzas and seasonal fermented products. It was also added to the guide on Wednesday. “All eyes will be on the cooks preparing pizzas in their wood-fired oven,” the anonymous Michelin inspectors wrote. “It’s all about the thin, crispy sourdough crust with high-quality toppings.”
An Italian restaurant across town has also been added to the guide. Stella, in West Hollywood, serves pastas, crudites, pizzas, grilled meats and seafood from former Toronto chef Rob Gentile. Michelin noted, among its California ingredient influences, the view of the live-fire kitchen from the chef's counter.
Acquerello's Ambrogio Italian Restaurant in La Jolla was the only restaurant south of Los Angeles added to the California Guide this week, though several were added north of the city as well.
In Santa Barbara, new sushi omakase Silvers Omakase from Sushi by Scratch Restaurants veteran Lennon Silvers Lee has been added to the guide.
Healdsburg's Italian restaurant Molti Amici joined the list, as did Oakland's Southern contemporary restaurant Burdell. In San Francisco, Malaysian destination Azalina's, Thai restaurant Hed 11 and Indian restaurant Tiya also made the list.
The 2024 Michelin Guide California awards ceremony will take place on August 5 at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, where these new additions will learn whether they have also earned stars or Bib Gourmand awards.
