Michelin adds 11 Los Angeles restaurants

Michelin added 11 Los Angeles-area restaurants to its California selection on May 20, a move that puts them in contention for stars, Bib Gourmands and other distinctions when the full 2026 California guide is unveiled next month. The additions were part of a 21-restaurant statewide update published by Michelin ahead of its annual California ceremony. Michelin says new restaurants are added to the selection twice a year, while stars and Bib Gourmands are held for the annual reveal. The Los Angeles-area group spans Beverly Hills, Studio City, Los Feliz, Mar Vista, Sawtelle, Pico-Robertson, the Arts District, downtown Los Angeles and Rosemead. Michelin’s official California additions page described Beverly Hills newcomer Miura as a “fresh start” for a sushi address and called chef Derek Wilcox’s omakase “highly tuned.” ### Which restaurants were added in the Los Angeles area? (guide.michelin.com) NBC Los Angeles listed the 11 additions as Miura in Beverly Hills; ALTO in Studio City; Casa Leo in Los Feliz; Electric Bleu in Mar Vista; Kojima in Sawtelle; Lielle in Pico-Robertson; Lynx in the Arts District; The Mulberry in Sawtelle; Sonoratown, with locations in downtown Los Angeles, Mid-City and Long Beach; SORA Craft Kitchen in downtown Los Angeles; and Good Alley in Rosemead. Michelin’s own update also named Miura, ALTO, Casa Leo, Electric Bleu, Kojima, Lielle and Lynx among the new California additions. (guide.michelin.com) Time Out reported that the March California update had already added six Los Angeles restaurants, making this the second Michelin expansion in the state this spring. Michelin’s official article says the restaurants appear on its website and mobile app with a “New” symbol before the annual ceremony. ### Does this mean any of them already have Michelin stars? (nbclosangeles.com) Michelin’s May 20 announcement did not award stars to these 11 restaurants. Instead, the additions place them inside the California selection, which makes them eligible for later recognition including stars, Bib Gourmands and other distinctions at the June 24 ceremony. The Michelin Guide says stars are based on factors including ingredient quality, harmony of flavors, mastery of technique, the chef’s personality in the cuisine and consistency over time. (timeout.com) The guide also awards Green Stars for environmental practices and Bib Gourmands for good-value dining. ### Why did Sonoratown stand out in this round? Sonoratown was one of the most notable inclusions because it is a long-running taqueria rather than a tasting-menu counter. (guide.michelin.com) The Los Angeles Times said the restaurant entered the guide after a decade in operation, with co-owner Jennifer Feltham saying she hoped the recognition signaled broader attention to taquerias and regional Mexican cooking in Los Angeles. “I want to see them get street taquerias on there because that’s a huge part of what it means to eat in Los Angeles,” Feltham told the Times. (yahoo.com) The same Times report highlighted Miura, Kojima and Electric Bleu as examples of the range in the class, from omakase to a California-French bistro with an affordable tasting menu. Michelin’s own descriptions also emphasized ALTO’s live-fire cooking, Kojima’s eight-seat counter and Lielle’s California-focused tasting menu from chef Marcus Jernmark. ### How big was the statewide update beyond Los Angeles? (yahoo.com) Michelin’s May update covered 21 California restaurants in total. NBC Los Angeles said the Southern California additions included the 11 Los Angeles-area restaurants plus Lucien in La Jolla and a Santa Barbara pick, while Michelin’s official page also included Bay Area additions. (yahoo.com) The Los Angeles Times reported that the 21-restaurant round included nine in Los Angeles proper and one each in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara. That accounting is why local coverage has described the haul as both 11 Los Angeles-area restaurants and nine Los Angeles restaurants plus nearby additions. ### What happens on June 24? Michelin said the full 2026 Michelin Guide California will be revealed on June 24 at a ceremony in San Diego. (nbclosangeles.com) That event is where Michelin will announce which restaurants receive stars, Bib Gourmands, Green Stars and other guide distinctions for California. (guide.michelin.com) (yahoo.com)