Michelin Guide 2024: 15 SoCal Restaurants Earn Recognition

LOS ANGELES, CA — In the last year, Michelin added a total of 15 restaurants in Southern California to its esteemed Guide, a selection of world-class eateries worth going out of your way for.

Michelin's famous star ranking system identifies establishments that serve exceptional cuisine. This year, one Southern California restaurant earned two stars: Vespertine in Culver City.

Vespertine was also the only restauraunt in the Golden State to be awarded a Michelin Green Star. The Green Star honors restaurants that are pioneers in sustainable gastronomy

Four Southern California restaurants were honered with one Michelin star this year: Holbox, Meteora and Uka in Los Angeles as well as R|O-Rebel Omakase in Laguna Beach.

Michelin Guide Inspectors also added nine Southern California restaurants to the Bib Gourmand list this year, which recognized eateries for great food at a great value. Inspectors recognized Cedro Italian Restaurant, Grá, Little Fish, Liu’s Cafe, Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles, Manohar's Deli Palace, Pollo a la Brasa and Quarter Sheets, all in Los Angeles. Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana was also recognized.

"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. "Our Inspectors continue to be impressed with this year’s selection and we toast and celebrate the excellent chef and restaurant teams being recognized."

Check out the complete list of Southern California restaurants added to the Michelin Guide in 2024 below, with excerpts from the guide:

New Two-Star Rated Restaurants

Vespertine (Culver City)

Cuisine: Contemporary

"Beginning a new chapter, Chef Jordan Kahn's singular operation emerges from a lengthy hiatus with a renewed creative vision. 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, 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.

New One-Star Rated Restaurants

Holbox (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Mexican

"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)

Cuisine: Creative

"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."

R|O-Rebel Omakase (Laguna Beach)

Cuisine: Japanese

"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)

Cuisine: Japanese

"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. 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."

New Green Star Rated Restaurants

Vespertine (Culver City)

Cuisine: Contemporary

Aside from being Southern California's only two-star rated restaurant in 2024, Vespertine was also recognized with a Green Star. The Michelin Guide recognized the restaurant's following initiatives:

"Sourcing ingredients ethically from biodynamic, organic or wild origins; partnership with two local farms practicing biodynamic farming; locally foraged herbs; sustainably sourced seafood from indigenous fishing communities or local fisherman; utilizing open pasture grass-fed beef;

sustainable commitment to dining room decor including wool carpeting, recycled glassware and wild-harvested ceramic serving pieces."

New Bib Gourmand Picks

Cedro Italian Restaurant (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Italian

"Three Italian friends banded together to open this welcoming spot, named for their grandparents' love for cedro, or citron, plants. Don't let the strip mall location fool you—this place is especially inviting, and the food is authentic Italian in both technique and flavor. Skillfully

made by hand, pasta dishes rank high. Tagliatelle topped with a ragu sauce, grated parmesan, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil is proof positive that good ingredients and extra care always deliver the best results. Ossobuco served over a bed of saffron risotto is wonderfully tender and flavorful, and sized for sharing. End on a sweet note with their tiramisu or panna cotta—neither will disappoint."

Grá (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Pizza

"There's a welcoming vibe at this hip spot where the focus is on natural fermentation with sourdough pizza, seasonal pickled vegetables, and fermented drinks such as tepache. Grá has indoor and covered patio seating, but all eyes will be on the cooks preparing pizzas in their wood-fired oven. It's all about the thin and crispy sourdough crust with high quality toppings. Classics like pepperoni will always rule, but hard hitters like stracciatella and prosciutto with basil and a drizzle of coffee-infused honey are worth noting. While pizza is certainly the scene stealer, don't ignore their salads or appetizers, including grilled maitake with pickled green peppercorn and agretti in a flavor-packed broth. For dessert, go for the soy-sauce caramel sundae or chocolate tart."

Little Fish (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: American

"Once itinerant, Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle now welcome guests to their Echo Park location where they share space with a mini market. Come for breakfast or lunch—both are delicious. As their name suggests, the menu is seafood-focused, but steak and vegetarian offerings are also on

offer. Mornings are met with items like fish tartines and fish and mushroom congee, while lunch features heartier sandwiches like their signature fried fish. The beer-battered Pacific striped bass is tender and sweet, then topped with American cheese, kewpie mayo and dill pickles on a potato bun for a midday meal that is as satisfying as they come. Not a fan of fish? The broccoli rabe melt with kabocha squash spread, provolone piccante cheese, and chili garlic is a standout."

Liu's Cafe (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Chinese

"Liu's Cafe is just the sort of casual spot you'll come to again and again. Arrive early, as seats fill quickly, then order at the wood counter, where you'll get a sneak peek into the bustling kitchen. You'll also spy their selection of pastries, which definitely shouldn't be overlooked. Order the house-made pork wontons for a tender, tasty treat, and be sure to get the extra egg noodles to soak up that wonderfully kicky chili oil. Braised pork belly rice is another dish of pure comfort, and no matter what you have, everything is complemented by a pot of tea, such as the milk oolong. Finally, the pastries grab attention from the very beginning and closing out with a dessert like the citrus curd tart with shaved fennel salad is everything you want it to be."

Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Thai

"Just a short walk from their original food stall, this restaurant's strip mall digs are simple but it's a comfortable, welcoming spot with a tempting menu to boot. As the name suggests, their specialty is noodles, particularly boat noodles with a thick, intense broth and your choice of pork or beef, noodle type, and spice level. Fret not if you can't decide, as the bowls are small and ordering two or more varieties might just be the perfect compromise. Don't skip out on their stir-fried dishes, such as the boldly spiced chili holy basil with ground pork, bell peppers, and green beans. For dessert, choose from coconut ice cream or kanom tuay, a two-layer custard featuring a green layer infused with fresh pandan leaf, and a white layer with coconut."

Manohar’s Delhi Palace (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Indian

"Manohar's Delhi Palace is a mainstay thanks to their delicious Punjabi cuisine, and there's a welcoming vibe about this place, where the waitstaff is especially friendly and attentive. Indicative of its north Indian focus, the food here leans on the milder side, so don't expect an onslaught of spices. Order à la carte or go all in on the tandoori dinner but be sure to get an order of the samosas, fried to a perfect crisp with that comforting filling of potatoes and peas. Chicken tikka

masala features a generous amount of tender and juicy chicken that's skewered and seared before being added to the vibrant sauce. For dessert, the gulab jamun is a clear winner."

Pollo a la Brasa (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Peruvian

"Peruvian in Koreatown? You bet, at least at this family-owned and run spot that has been at it for more than thirty years. Expect a casual neighborhood restaurant that's a touch warm on the inside from the heat of the live-fire cooking. All of the chicken is cooked over a wood fire that you can smell a block away and delivers smoky meat with a crispy skin that's marinated with their family secret. While there are a few options on the menu, make sure that you order the chicken by itself, or choose from their sides, but don't skip their twice-fried French fries and consider ordering a second container of their spicy green aji sauce."

Quarter Sheets (Los Angeles)

Cuisine: Pizza

"Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin's Quarter Sheets Pizza has nailed that haute hipster vibe with its casual styling and vinyl and cassette collection. The word is out on this Echo Park spot, so expect a wait, but one bite of their inch-thick, pan-style pizzas makes it all worth your while. Baked to order, they're prepared with flavorful sauce and quality ingredients. Pepperoni is a classic choice, or opt for the pimento grove, a vodka sauced pizza topped with olives, 'nduja and

cheese. And, while you might not expect to get serious pastries at a pizza shop, don't leave without trying at least one of Hannah Ziskin's pastries. There are a few offerings that rotate often but the signature Princess cake is a staple that's worth every bite."

Lola Gaspar (Santa Ana)

Cuisine: Mexican

"This gastropub in downtown Santa Ana isn't new but a post-pandemic reset and a trip to Mexico changed Chef Luis Perez's mindset—and menu. It's all about quality over quantity here, so expect a tightly edited menu featuring tacos, quekas, and churros, but it's all very good. Happy hour discounts make sampling it all a tempting proposition.

Tacos are made with handmade flour tortillas topped with a grilled tomato and dried chili salsa and filled with everything from sauteed shrimp to pork shank carnitas and suadero. Quekas feature hand-pressed masa and are served with a habanero salsa. While the vegan mushroom queka is worth ordering by itself with nicely sauteed mushrooms, confit potatoes, and guacamole, you can also opt to add cheese for a wonderful addition."