San Diego set for Michelin awards

San Diego will host California’s Michelin Guide awards on June 24, putting the state’s annual star ceremony on the city’s waterfront for the first time. (sandiegouniontribune.com) The Michelin Guide is the restaurant rating system that gives one, two or three stars to top dining rooms, and California’s 2026 winners will be announced at an invitation-only event in San Diego. Michelin’s 2019 statewide launch was the first California edition of the guide. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiegouniontribune.com) San Diego County was not part of Michelin’s California coverage until 2019, when the company expanded from earlier city guides and published its first statewide list. That first California edition gave San Diego one starred restaurant: Addison. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiego.eater.com) The ceremony arrives after a steady build in local recognition. By the 2025 California guide, San Diego County had five starred restaurants: Addison, Jeune et Jolie, Soichi, Valle and Lilo. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiegoville.com) Addison in Del Mar holds three stars, Michelin’s highest rating, while Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad, Soichi in San Diego, Valle in Oceanside and Lilo in Carlsbad each hold one star. Michelin’s San Diego listings also include Bib Gourmand and recommended restaurants beyond the starred group. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) That makes the June 24 event a test of whether the county adds to a list that barely existed six years ago. The Union-Tribune reported San Diego only became eligible for Michelin consideration in 2019. (sandiegouniontribune.com) Michelin’s stars can shift year to year, and the ceremony is where restaurants learn whether they kept, gained or lost them. California’s 2025 awards were announced on June 25, 2025, in Sacramento. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiego.eater.com) On June 24, the spotlight moves south. For San Diego chefs, the home-field advantage is attention; the stars themselves will still be decided by Michelin’s inspectors. (sandiegouniontribune.com) (guide.michelin.com)