Los Angeles’ newest Michelin-recognized restaurants cater to a wide array of tastes and budgets. Nine L.A. restaurants were added to the California Michelin guide at the beginning of March 2024. Then in May, 5 more restaurants were added to the California list.
Now, 6 additional restaurants were added this week. However, this doesn’t mean they’ve been awarded Michelin stars or received a Bib Gourmand just yet. Right now, they are added to the guide and put in the running to possibly receive these accolades.
How are Michelin restaurants selected?
Michelin reviewers visit potential restaurants anonymously in order to ensure quality standards across the board. They then select restaurants to add to the Michelin guide. From there, the restaurants could possibly receive anywhere from one to three Michelin stars, with three stars meaning “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”
What’s a Bib Gourmand designation?
The second category awarded by Michelin is the Bib Gourmand. This category comprises a list of more budget friendly restaurants that are still beloved by reviewers. In order to be considered for a Bib Gourmand, the restaurant must offer a three course meal at a reasonable price. However, what’s considered a reasonable price varies from country to country. So these 9 restaurants could potentially be included in the 2024 Michelin summer ceremony as either starred restaurants or as Bib Gourmands. These restaurants are definitely ones to keep an eye on.
What are the 6 new Michelin Guide restaurants in L.A. from the July announcement?
1. Barra Santos
$$, Portuguese
📍Location: 1215 Cypress Ave., Los Angeles
2. Danbi
$$, Korean
📍Location: 3465 W. 6th St., Ste. 90-100, Los Angeles
3. Grá
$$, Pizza
📍Location: 1524 Pizarro St., Los Angeles
4. Leopardo
$$$$, Californian, Seafood
📍Location: 460 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
5. Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles
$, Thai
📍Location: 5445 Hollywood Blvd., Unit A, Los Angeles
6. Stella
$$$$, Italian
📍Location: 8899 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood
What are the 5 new Michelin Guide restaurants in L.A. from the May announcement?
1. Cedro Italian Restaurant, Newbury Park
$$, Italian
This Italian spot is located in a strip mall, but you’ll be transported to Italy with their delicious handmade pastas. Order their tiramisu for the ultimate sweet treat.
📍Location: 2385 Michael Dr, Newbury Park
2. Elf Cafe, Echo Park
$$, Mediterranean Cuisine
This Mediterranean restaurant boasts that it offers both natural wine and natural food. They have a beautiful seasonal menu. Plus, they have an Apéro Hour every day from 5-6 pm.
📍Location: 2135 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
3. Lola Gaspar, Santa Ana
$$, Mexican
This modern Mexican restaurant serves up more than just delicious tacos on homemade tortillas. They also offer high-quality mezcal and tequila cocktails. Plus, they have fantastic Taco Tuesday and happy hour offers.
📍Location: 211 W. 2nd St., Santa Ana
4. Lustig, Culver City
$$$, Austrian, European Contemporary
This casual neighborhood spot offers something a little unusual – all of their food comes with an Austrian twist. They offer unique menu items you won’t find anywhere else like schnitzel and chicken liver profiteroles. Plus, they offer a late night menu and even a “sausage hour.”
📍Location: 3273 Helms Ave., Culver City
5. Manohar’s Delhi Palace, La Puente
$$, Indian
This Punjabi cuisine restaurant offers milder spice levels but doesn’t skimp on the flavor. Order the samosas, chicken tikka masala, and gulab jamun for the perfect meal.
📍Location: 581 Azusa Way, La Puente
What are the 9 new Michelin Guide restaurants in L.A. from the March list?
1. Liu’s Cafe, Koreatown
$, Chinese
This Chinese-American diner, bakery, and cafe offers a specially curated selection of Chinese comfort dishes, like rich pork belly over rice and spicy wontons. Plus, they offer in-house baked pastries, like black sesame and coconut cake and unique blends of iced and hot teas, like Hong Kong-style milk tea. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 3915 1/2 W. 6th Street Koreatown, Los Angeles
2. Pollo a la Brasa, Koreatown
$, Peruvian
This Peruvian roasted chicken spot often has long lines waiting out into the street and barely has an online presence. But truly, they don’t need to. They’ve had a cult following for a while now, and this new Michelin recognition is just further proof that their Peruvian-style spit-roasted chicken can’t be beat. Learn more on their Facebook page here.
📍Location: 764 S Western Ave, Los Angeles
3. Quarter Sheets, Echo Park
$$, Pizza
This eclectic pizzeria is serving up slices with sass and style. They offer three different pan style pizzas and cracker thin bar pies. Plus, their pizzas have been known to be topped with everything from Funyuns to shrimp cocktail to oxtail curry. But that’s not all, they also feature gourmet pastry offerings just as fun and delicious as their pizzas. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 1305 Portia St., Los Angeles
4. Little Fish, Echo Park
$$, American
This fish-focused spot only offers breakfast and lunch, but that doesn’t stop it from being the true catch of the day. It started as a seafood pop-up but now has a permanent home in Echo Park. They prioritize sourcing high quality and sustainable seafood and try to use local California produce as much as possible. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 1606 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles
5. Amour, Hollywood
$$$$, French
This elevated French brasserie blends both French and Asian influences for a dining experience as unique as their gorgeous surroundings. Dine in a romantic 18th-century French-influenced setting, a plush lounge complete with a fireplace, or in Le Salon Privé for an even more intimate experience. Choose from their tasting menus or their menu a la carte. Either way you’ll be transported to Paris. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 8715 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles
6. sawa, DTLA
$$$$, Japanese
This contemporary edomae- style sushi and whisky bar only offers 8 seats and is hidden in the basement of a Downtown L.A. office building. The simplicity of their offerings allows the high quality of their ingredients to really shine. This traditional sushi and Japanese whisky experience is worth the month-long reservation wait list. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 111 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles
7. UKA, Hollywood
$$$$, Japanese
This restaurant run by two Japanese chefs introduced the kaiseki haute culinary tradition of a detail-oriented, multi-course Japanese dinner to Los Angeles diners. Their small plates, served over six or nine courses, seek to blend Japanese culinary traditions with California’s gorgeous local produce and seafood. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
8. Funke, Beverly Hills
$$$$, Italian
This not-so-traditional Italian restaurant pays tribute to more obscure pasta shapes and lesser-known regional cuisines. The three-story 1930s art deco building is worth a visit even without pasta being involved, but Chef Evan Funke’s pasta laboratorio, where you can watch handmade pasta being carefully crafted, makes it a perfect night out. Learn more on their website here.
📍Location: 9388 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
9. Sushi Sonagi, Gardena
$$$$, Japanese
This intimate omakase restaurant only seats 8 at a time and dinner service starts strictly on time with no exceptions. Plus, it’s only open on the weekends, and there’s a month-long wait list. But for those who’ve planned ahead, it’s well worth the wait. The multi course omakase is specially selected by second-generation sushi chef, Daniel Son, to highlight all of the freshest local California ingredients combined with traditional Japanese techniques. You can make a reservation here.
📍Location: 1425 W. Artesia Blvd., Los Angeles