California Michelin roundup
The Michelin Guide added 12 “new discoveries” in California this spring — six in Los Angeles, five in the Bay Area and a new Montecito entry, signaling major restaurants to watch ahead of the June awards ( ). Bay Area highlights include Yeobo and Darling in downtown Menlo Park — Darling brings Korean‑Taiwanese fine dining to the Peninsula — and Lielle was named among the six LA additions to watch ( ).
Los Angeles’s six newcomers named in Michelin’s March update are Corridor 109, Firstborn, Lapaba, Little Fish Melrose Hill, Lugya’h by Poncho’s Tlayudas and Zira Uzbek Kitchen, with Michelin’s inspector notes highlighting small-counter formats and market‑stall concepts among them (guide.michelin.com)). The Bay Area additions include four San Francisco spots — Dingles Public House, La Cigale, Naides and Wolfsbane — plus Menlo Park’s Yeobo, Darling, each singled out by inspectors as “recommended” entries that have been open only months in most cases. (sfgate.com)) Yeobo, Darling is a 50‑seat Menlo Park restaurant from Meichih and Michael Kim that opened in June 2025 and presents a Korean‑Taiwanese à‑la‑carte menu; the pair previously led Michelin‑recognized Maum and the more casual Bao Bei. (guide.michelin.com)) Lielle in Los Angeles is the Marcus Jernmark debut that opened Feb. 12, 2026 as a 42‑seat restaurant offering a four‑course seasonal menu at about $150 per person, and Jernmark’s résumé includes senior roles at Stockholm’s three‑Michelin‑starred Frantzén. (news-usa.today)) Montecito’s Little Mountain — helmed by Chilean‑born chef Diego Moya — opened in November 2025 at 516 San Ysidro Road as a wood‑fired, live‑fire concept with a custom hearth, private dining and a focus on Central Coast produce. (littlemountainsb.com)) Michelin flags these listings on its site as “New” selections that join the Guide’s roster twice yearly but are not instant stars; the formal star and Bib Gourmand distinctions are typically announced at the Guide’s annual ceremony later in the season. (guide.michelin.com))
