We’re lucky to enjoy a thriving culinary scene courtesy of the best Los Angeles restaurants, a fact that is not lost on the Michelin Guide. L.A. currently has a total of 19 restaurants earning one Michelin star and 5 earning two stars… plus another four that the Guide is eyeing for 2024. We examined the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Los Angeles and identified some favorites, either for their popularity among Angelenos or stellar reputation. Here’s where to go if you want to taste a Michelin meal that measures up to its star.
1. Providence
Los Angeles has five restaurants that have earned two Michelin stars, and Providence is one of the most highly-coveted. The creative tasting menu showcases the best of sustainable and seasonal seafood courtesy of Chef Michael Cimarusti. Michelin called out their Pacific oyster and lobster canapés as must-tries, but it’s hard to pass up the delicate uni egg topped with champagne beurre blanc.
📍5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles
2. Osteria Mozza
Chef Nancy Silverton helms this darling of the L.A. culinary scene, known for expertly-prepared Italian fare and delicious fresh-baked bread. If you can get a seat in front of the mozzarella bar, you’ll have a front-row view as they plate up all the varieties from burrata to bufala. Pasta lovers will want to take a close look at the crowd-favorite ricotta and egg raviolo or the fennel sausage orecchiette.
📍 6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles
3. n/naka
Chef Niki Nakayama hosts an intimate kaiseki dining experience at this two-Michelin-star restaurant in L.A.’s Palms neighborhood. Enjoy a multi-course meal with carefully-balanced aromatic broths, crispy grilled fish, and house-infused sake. The menu always showcases the best of California produce, much of which comes from n/naka’s own organic garden.
📍 3455 Overland Ave, Los Angeles
4. Sushi Ginza Onodera
Sushi restaurants abound in L.A.’s Michelin-star restaurant scene, but Sushi Ginza Onodera stands out for its delightful environment and adherence to traditional Edomae-style preparation. Chef Yohei Matsuki sources fish from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market, using various aging methods to preserve it including marinating in soy sauce, curing in salt or kombu, and simmering in broth. Pull up a chair at the bustling sushi counter and watch the experts get to work.
📍609 La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood
5. Kali
Discover a thoughtful menu from Chef Kevin Meehan at this approachable-yet-upscale Californian restaurant in Hollywood. From the first bite it’s clear that Meehan prioritizes sustainability, as most of the ingredients are sourced directly from California farms. Many guests will want to spring for the Kali Chef’s Menu, but individual items from the first- and second-course menus offer a more affordable alternative.
📍 5722 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles
6. Gwen
Step into Gwen’s tranquil and sleek dining room for an elegant fine dining experience by Chef Curtis Stone and his brother Luke. The restaurant takes inspiration from the style of an old-fashioned European butcher shop, beautifully juxtaposed with lavish chandelier lighting and Art Deco sofas. Both the á la carte menu and the five-course tasting menu showcase the same premium cuts of locally-sourced meat.
📍 6600 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
7. Sushi Inaba
A secret wooden door at I-naba Japanese Restaurant leads to an intimate six-seat sushi counter run by Chef Yasuhiro Hirano. This hidden gem is Sushi Inaba, offering a reverential presentation of expertly-prepared fresh sushi delicacies. You can’t do better than the in-person omakase, but the to-go “jewelry boxes” offer a magnificent alternative if you’re just dying to have a taste.
📍 20920 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance
8. Kato
Dig into a Taiwanese omakase-style feast from Chef Jonathan Yao, all prepared in an open kitchen viewable from the dining room. Take a seat in the minimal light-wood space and dine on generously-seasoned Dungeness crab, crispy duck breast, fiery pig ears, and more punchy flavors. The accompanying cocktail program pays equal attention to both alcohol-free and traditional options.
📍777 Alameda St., Los Angeles
9. Mélisse
A side entrance to the celebrated Citrin restaurant will take you to Mélisse, a private 14-seat dining room hosted by Chef Josiah Citrin and Chef/Partner Ken Takayama. Experience a symphony of exquisite modern French cuisine using ingredients from the finest local suppliers between San Diego and Napa Valley. From the carefully-balanced rosemary sunchoke soup, to the hay-baked golden chicken doused in albufera sauce, you’ll appreciate the bounty of Californian ingredients as they collide with traditional French culinary techniques.
📍1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
10. Orsa & Winston
Chef Josef Centeno presents a harmonious five-course tasting menu inspired by Japanese and Italian culinary traditions. The pescatarian dishes change daily, but always incorporate fresh peak-season seafood and vegetables and are supplemented with “gifts from the kitchen.” Michelin called out the Binchotan-grilled sea bream and pasta with porcini “bolognese” as standouts, while Yelpers have hailed the satsuki rice with uni as a crowd favorite.
📍122 4th St, Los Angeles