Los Angeles Makes Michelin Guide History with first Three-Star Restaurants
Los Angeles achieved a monumental culinary milestone earlier this week, as the 2025 Michelin Guide California awarded the city its inaugural two three-star ratings. This historic declaration elevates the Los Angeles Michelin Stars landscape, signaling a new era for dining excellence in the region.
On Wednesday evening, the global dining compendium broke from tradition by bestowing its highest honour – three stars – upon two Los Angeles establishments: Providence restaurant in Hollywood and Somni restaurant, recently reopened in West Hollywood. This marks the first time in the guide’s history that any Los Angeles restaurant has earned a three-star designation, signifying “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”
A New Era for Los Angeles Dining
The annual michelin Guide California,meticulously compiled by a team of anonymous inspectors,serves as a definitive arbiter of culinary quality. Michelin stars, awarded on a scale from one to three, are globally recognized as among the most coveted accolades in the restaurant world. One star denotes “high-quality cooking, worth a stop,” while two stars recognize “excellent cuisine, worth a detour.”
For years,Los Angeles has boasted numerous two-star restaurants,but the pinnacle of three stars remained elusive until now. Providence and Somni are the only two restaurants in california to newly achieve this distinction for the 2025 guide, joining an elite group of the state’s best.
The Journey to Three Stars: Providence and Somni
The ascent of Providence and Somni reflects years of dedication,innovation,and unwavering commitment to the highest standards of culinary artistry.
Providence’s Enduring Excellence
Providence restaurant, led by chef and co-owner Michael Cimarusti, celebrated its 20th anniversary in December, marking two decades as a beacon for sustainable seafood crafted into an artful tasting menu. The Hollywood institution quickly earned a Michelin star in its third year of operation, followed by a second the subsequent year. When the Michelin Guide returned to Los Angeles in 2019 after a decade-long hiatus, Providence promptly regained its two stars.
Despite a pause in ratings in 2020 due to the pandemic and wildfires, Providence consistently maintained its two-star rating every year since the guide’s return.In 2023, it also earned a Green Star, acknowledging its robust sustainability practices.
“Providence is a splendid example of consistency and evolution,” an anonymous chief inspector for the Michelin Guide North America told The Times. They added that cimarusti “is very passionate, serious and focused as he has been doing wonderful work over the years, recently reaching an inflection point which was made evident in our meals this year.” The inspector noted, “When you get to the three stars level, it’s about a distinct personality and level of technical expertise that makes it one of the best restaurants in the world.”
Did you know?-Michelin stars are not awarded to the chef, but to the restaurant. If a chef leaves, the restaurant’s star rating could be affected in subsequent evaluations.
Somni’s Resurgence and Vision
Somni restaurant, under the singular vision of chef Aitor Zabala, has also navigated a unique path to three-star status. The original Somni, a collaboration with chef José Andrés, earned two stars in 2019 but closed in 2020. However,in late November 2024,Zabala triumphantly reopened Somni in a new West Hollywood location.The reimagined experience features a new tasting menu, an intimate 14-seat chef’s counter, and a progressive, multi-structure dining journey that begins with a patio reception.
“We’re very excited that it has re-emerged in such an notable state,” the anonymous chief inspector stated. “chef Zabala has a singular vision and has guided his team to produce a culinary experience that is hands down stunning. the new restaurant iteration is an even more impactful depiction of the original.”
At the Sacramento ceremony, Zabala dramatically changed into chef’s whites on stage, instantly hugging every three-star chef present. His powerful statement, revealed on his shirt during a photo possibility, declared: “immigrants feed America.”
Reader question:-What do you think is the most important factor in a restaurant achieving a Michelin star: innovative cuisine, impeccable service, or a unique dining experience?
Celebrating Culinary Talent and Diversity
Beyond the three-star accolades, the 2025 guide highlighted other notable achievements within California’s dynamic culinary scene. Chef Ki Kim of little Tokyo’s Restaurant Ki not only earned a single Michelin star for his modern Korean tasting menu but also received the prestigious Michelin Young Chef Award. Kim,who candidly battled mental health difficulties after the closure of his first restaurant,Kinn,was praised for his “exhibited leadership and dedication to the craft” at the ceremony.
The 2025 guide also recognized 123 restaurants with its Bib Gourmand awards, a distinction for “good food at a moderate price.” Green Stars, denoting sustainability practices, were also awarded. Michelin’s rigorous evaluation criteria include “quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors, and consistency between visits.”
New Los Angeles-area Bib Gourmand additions include Komal in Historic South-Central, Rasarumarah in Historic Filipino, and Vin Folk in Hermosa Beach.
“This is huge for us,” Komal chef and co-founder Fátima Juárez stated in November, expressing her gratitude for the recognition. “I’m grateful. I never say, ‘Oh, I’m cooking for [awards] or I’m cooking for this.’ You know, I’m cooking because I love cooking, and I love my kitchen.”
California’s Elite: The Full Three-Star Roster
With the addition of Providence and Somni, the state of California now proudly hosts eight three-star Michelin restaurants:
- Providence (Los Angeles)
- Somni (Los Angeles)
- Addison (San Diego)
- Atelier Crenn (Northern California)
- The French Laundry (Northern California)
- Benu (Northern california)
- Quince (Northern California)
- Single Thread (Northern California)
Honoring Continued Excellence: Retained Stars
The 2025 guide also recognized ongoing excellence across California. Two restaurants freshly earned two stars: San Francisco’s Kiln and Sonoma’s Enclos. Five restaurants newly earned one-star ratings, including two more in Los Angeles: Ki Kim’s Restaurant Ki and Nozomi Mori’s Sawtelle sushi omakase, Mori Nozomi, which is notably helmed by an all-female staff. Other new one-star awardees include Carlsbad’s Lilo, santa Barbara’s Silvers Omakase, and Oakland’s sun Moon Studio.
Several Los Angeles-area establishments maintained their esteemed two-star ratings from 2024, including Hayato, Mélisse, and Vespertine.Additionally, a significant number of LA-area restaurants successfully retained their one-star ratings from 2024: 715, Camphor, Citrin, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Gwen, Holbox, Kali, Kato, Meteora, Morihiro, N/ka, REBAR, REVIT, Orsa Bar, Shibumi, Shin Sushi, Sushi I-NABA, Sushi Kaneyoshi, and UKA.
Beyond Los Angeles, Bell’s in Los Alamos, Caruso’s in Montecito, Valle in Oceanside, Knife Pleat in Costa Mesa, Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad, and Soichi in San Diego also retained their stars. However, Hanare Sushi in costa Mesa did not retain its star.
This historic Michelin Guide California announcement underscores Los Angeles’ definitive emergence as a global culinary powerhouse, firmly establishing its place among the world’s most distinguished dining destinations.
