California Michelin bump
The California Michelin Guide just added 12 new restaurants — six in Los Angeles and five in the Bay Area — positioning several chef‑driven spots as 'new discoveries' ahead of the June star awards. Newcomers range from Korean‑Taiwanese fine dining in Menlo Park to Italian‑Korean fusion trends in L.A., marking notable openings for food‑forward diners ( ).
Michelin’s official March 25 update names Corridor 109, Firstborn, Lapaba, Little Fish Melrose Hill, Lugya’h and Zira Uzbek Kitchen among the Los Angeles entries in its California Selection. (guide.michelin.com) San Francisco additions listed on Michelin’s site include Dingles Public House, La Cigale, Naides and Wolfsbane, while the guide separately added Yeobo, Darling in Menlo Park and Little Mountain in Montecito. (guide.michelin.com) Yeobo, Darling is run by chef‑owners Meichih and Michael Kim, who opened the 50‑seat Menlo Park spot in June 2025 after previously leading the Michelin‑recognized Maum and Bao Bei. (almanacnews.com) Wolfsbane in Dogpatch is the project of Rupert and Carrie Blease, whose previous San Francisco venture earned a Michelin star and whose new tasting‑menu format debuted late last year. (guide.michelin.com) Corridor 109 operates as an intimate chef’s counter with roughly 11 seats under Brian Baik and focuses on Japan‑sourced fish in an 11‑course tasting format. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin’s blurb on Lapaba highlights its Italian‑Korean mashups — dishes cited on the guide include bulgogi meatballs in truffle tomato sauce and a radiatore pasta with short‑rib ragu. (guide.michelin.com) The Guide says these entries will appear on its website and mobile app with a “New” symbol (new restaurants are added twice a year), and notes that formal distinctions like Stars and Bib Gourmands are revealed only at the Guide’s annual ceremony. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin has not yet announced the date for the 2026 California star ceremony; last year’s California ceremony took place on June 25, 2025, establishing the June window as the usual timeframe for star revelations. (newsbreak.com)
