10 Must-Try Michelin Star Restaurants in California

10 Must-Try Michelin Star Restaurants in California

California is a city known for offering a good time all around from the food to the drinks and even tourist experiences. It is also home to some of the best restaurants in the United States, many of which have been awarded Michelin stars. These restaurants are sure to offer a memorable dining experience, great service and a beautiful ambience for guests to enjoy as they savour their meals.

From American cuisine to French cuisine, Italian cuisine and even innovative Californian cuisines, your taste buds are in for a treat in these restaurants. Whether you want to have a fine dining experience or a casual lunch or dinner, we have you covered.  In this list, there’s something for everyone. The fact that they’re also Michelin-starred means that you’re assured of a grand time while here. So let’s delve into our list of 10 Must-Try Michelin Star Restaurants in California.

1. Cento Pasta Bar

This pasta and wine bar in West Adams is from Chef Avner Levi. The courtyard, capped off by a large tree set with twinkling lights, is an absolute stunner.  

The menu leans Italian-contemporary, with selections including antipasti, mole-braised ossobuco made with yogurt-marinated lamb, but as the name suggests, pasta takes center stage. A gorgeous twirl of beet pasta in a beet and brown butter sauce with poppy seeds is finished with a quenelle of whipped ricotta for a dish that is both beautiful and delicious. Desserts are equally tempting. Try the Key lime pavlova, with a round meringue of lime curd and lime sorbet, for a refreshingly sweet-tart finish. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 4921 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016, United States

CALL: +1 323-998-0404

OPEN: Tue – Sun 5-10pm Mon Closed

RESERVATIONS: OPENTABLE.COM

2. Artifact at Mingei

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Artifact at Mingei features craft cooking inspired by ancient methods, spices, and botanicals. Located on the Commons level of the Museum, enjoy indoor or outdoor seating options surrounded by inspiring art.

Artifact’s Chef de Cuisine, and is a nod to Mingei’s changing international exhibitions in an environment filled with functional, innovative art and design. Like the museum itself, the culinary offerings are proudly eclectic and international. As if to drive home the kitchen’s far-ranging sensibilities, an exclusive dinner series highlights a different global cuisine every month.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, United States

CALL:  +1 619-331-3569 

OPEN: Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun 11:30 am – 2:30 pm Thur, Fri 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5 – 8:30pm

RESERVATIONS: OPENTABLE.COM

3. Cobi’s

Cobi’s is a restaurant offering South Asian dishes as imagined by Cobi Marsh. Cobi realized a space that combined her passion for food, design and music into a singular hospitality experience. 

Discover Thai and Malaysian delights along with other influences on this broad Southeast Asian menu. Prix fixe options include a smattering of dishes selected by the chef. Their brunch is worth waking up for, and dessert, especially the Thai tea pudding, is a must-try.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 2104 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States

CALL:  +1 424-238-5195

OPEN: Mon-Wed 5-10 pm Thur, Fri 5-11 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5-11 pm

RESERVATIONS:  RESY.COM

4. Dear Jane’s

Image by Wow Phochiangrak from Pixabay

Dear Jane’s celebrates life aquatic with its focus on seafood and Continental cuisine. Taking advantage of the stunning Marina view, the focus is on classic American seafood dishes prepared with the highest quality ingredients by seasoned chefs. The menu pays homage to the most legendary seafood restaurants of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

This spot pours it on with large portions and over-the-top flourishes while keeping things grounded with strong cooking. Shrimp Louie, done tableside, is sized to share, as is the wedge, which brilliantly subs in vinaigrette in place of creamy dressing. Blackened salmon with a rich parsley and caper sauce is perfectly cooked, and lemony potatoes are a nice accompaniment. Reservations are highly encouraged.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 13950 Panay Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, United States

CALL:  +1 310-301-6442

OPEN: Wed, Thur 5:30 – 9 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 – 10 pm Sun 11 am – 2:30pm 5:30 pm – 9 pm

RESERVATIONS: RESY.COM

5. Dunsmoor

Dunsmoor is a restaurant that offers American heritage cooking from Chef Brian Dunsmoor, located in the heart of Los Angeles. Much of the Southern-inspired menu must pass through them from oysters, cornbread, rib eyes and pork chops. Nearly everything here offers some kind of hearty, no-nonsense kind of comfort. 

Highlights include the excellent pork and green chilli stew; grilled quail with pepper jelly; and braised greens that bubble away by the coals all evening. Long communal tables set with flickering wax candles hold the centre of the room while prized counter seats offer front-row views of a kitchen in constant motion. In the far back, find a calm, intimate wine bar serving a lighter, more limited slice of the dinner menu.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 3501 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065, United States

OPEN: Mon-Sun 5:30 – 10 pm 

RESERVATIONS:  OPENTABLE.COM

6. Juliet 

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Juliet is a new Modern Parisian restaurant in LA. Bright, thoughtfully composed dishes with a seafood focus and a wine program featuring hundreds of hand-selected wines from regions across France. This gorgeous space has a contemporary French aesthetic with as much seating outdoors on the posh patio as indoors. 

The open kitchen buzzes all day through to dinner offering menu favourites including, oysters, tartare or tuna carpaccio, the mousse au foie de volaille, with its delicate tart filled with chicken liver mousse, toasted hazelnuts and an apple gelee, is an auspicious beginning. Sea bream with ratatouille and pistou is simple but well executed and pairs well with one of their many wines available by the glass. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 8888 Washington Blvd Suite 102, Culver City, CA 90232, United States

CALL: +1 310-643-5853

OPEN: Mon – Fri 11 am – 12am Sat, Sun 10am – 12am 

RESERVATIONS:  RESY.COM

7. Kaori Sushi

Kaori Sushi is an intimate storefront turning out traditional sushi and sashimi, plus signature rolls. Inside, they have lanterns of all shapes and sizes that brighten this space where traditional izakaya vibes reign.

The menu includes a list of daily dish selections, cooked dishes, such as mara udon or gyu tongue, and more unusual choices like kani blue crab “risotto.” An entire menu is dedicated to the restaurant’s well-regarded rolls, but stick to the classic sashimi and nigiri to savour slices of fish like golden eye snapper; thick saba sitting over shiso and rice; beautiful toro sided by wasabi; or a delicious duo of ika topped with yuzu kosho.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 133 W Chapman Ave #103, Fullerton, CA 92832, United States

CALL:  +1 714-871-9395

OPEN: Tue – Fri 11:30 am – 2 pm, 5 – 9:30 pm Sat 5-9:30 pm Sun, Mon Closed

RESERVATIONS: KAORISUSHIOC.COM

8. Poppy & Seed

Image by Robert Owen-Wahl from Pixabay

Poppy & Seed epitomizes the social California lifestyle with a lounge and bar nestled inside a greenhouse and outdoor dining surrounded by citrus trees, herbs and flowers. As the setting hints, the focus is on organic, sustainable and locally grown ingredients. 

Settle in at sunset or under the stars to enjoy dishes such as creamy Anson Mills grits topped with gravy and plump tail-on shrimp. Charred eggplant puree and pickled sea beans lend a bite to steak tartare, while fried Brussels sprouts are sweet and salty thanks to bacon jam and pomegranate. Juicy strawberries and roasted beets make an earthy-sweet combination that could pull double duty as dessert. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 350 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805, United States

CALL: +1 714-603-7130

OPEN: Tue – Fri 5:30 – 10 pm Sat 10 am – 3 pm, 5:30 – 10 pm Sun 10am – 3 pm Mon Closed

RESERVATIONS: OPENTABLE.COM

9. Taira Sushi & Sake

Taira Sushi & Sake’s owners duo Chef Ben and Ayako Sato have penned a love letter to Japan here, where great care is paid to details from their menu which is written by hand nightly and warm hospitality makes everyone feel welcome. 

Guests are invited to enjoy omakase or order à la carte. Standouts include kanpachi slightly seared and served with a sprinkle of rock salt, lemon and yuzu, or tender firefly squid topped with scallions and laced with nori. Seared spicy cod roe and hearty stewed fish cheeks are inventive starters, and a smattering of rolls are on offer.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 8851 Garden Grove Blvd #113, Garden Grove, CA 92844, United States

CALL: +1 714-591-5225

OPEN: Tue – Sat 5 – 10:30 pm Sun, Mon Closed

10. Villa’s Tacos

Image by Gioele Fazzeri from Pixabay

Villa’s Tacos marks a milestone for a chef who first started serving out of his grandmother’s house. The signature queso taco is instantly recognizable, built on a blue corn masa tortilla stacked with refried beans, onion, cilantro, guacamole, cotija cheese, crema and a melted skirt of Monterey Jack. 

Variations with asada and chorizo are favourites, with vegan options on offer as well. Colourful, messy and filling, these tacos thrive on their own but also sing with the homemade salsas, some of which are ferociously spicy. Seating is limited to a few picnic tables outside.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 5455 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042, United States

OPEN: Mon-Sun 12 – 10 pm

The next time you visit California, make sure to try any of these restaurants we have recommended. With their impeccable food, service, and atmosphere, these Michelin-star restaurants in California will leave you wanting more.