You’ve probably seen the headlines by now. People are losing their minds over the latest red book drop. But if you’re looking for the Michelin Guide California 2025 new stars August 2025 update, you have to look past the glitzy June ceremony in Sacramento to see how the dust has actually settled.
Dining in California right now is… weird. In a good way.
We are seeing this massive shift where the "old guard" is finally getting the ultimate nod while the "new dreamers" are literally coming out of nowhere to snag three stars in one go. It's not just about white tablecloths anymore. Honestly, it’s about soul.
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For years, Los Angeles felt like the younger sibling to San Francisco’s fine-dining dominance. That changed this year.
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Providence finally did it. Michael Cimarusti has been at this for two decades. To see them move from two stars to three stars feels like a collective win for the Hollywood food scene. It wasn’t some flashy new opening; it was twenty years of perfecting sustainable seafood. If you haven’t had the salt-roasted Santa Barbara spot prawns there, you’re basically missing out on a piece of L.A. history.
Then you have Somni.
Aitor Zabala basically pulled a "phoenix from the ashes" move. After the original spot closed, the new West Hollywood location didn't just walk back into the guide—it sprinted. Earning three stars immediately is almost unheard of. It’s a 20-plus course "dream" (literally, Somni is Catalan for dream) that feels more like an art gallery than a restaurant.
The Michelin Guide California 2025 New Stars August 2025 Breakdown
While the big ceremony happened in late June, August is when the reservations actually become impossible to get. If you’re trying to book now, you’re looking at months of refreshing Tock or Resy at midnight.
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Here is the "real" list of who moved the needle:
- Enclos (Sonoma): This place is a vibe. It’s an 1880 Victorian house where Brian Limoges is doing this wild New England-meets-California thing. They didn't just get two stars; they snagged a Green Star too.
- Kiln (San Francisco): John Wesley and Julianna Yang got promoted to two stars. It’s very Nordic—lots of curing and drying. Very "Industrial SF" but with heart.
- Restaurant Ki (Los Angeles): Ki Kim is the Young Chef Award winner, and his 10-seat spot in Little Tokyo got its first star. It’s Korean-inflected and incredibly personal.
- Silvers Omakase (Santa Barbara): Finally, Santa Barbara gets some serious sushi love.
Honestly, the biggest surprise might be Sun Moon Studio in Oakland. It’s tucked away, almost inconspicuous, but Alan Hsu and Sarah Cooper are doing things with wild mushrooms and Dungeness crab that make you realize why Oakland is the coolest food city in the North.
The Green Star Obsession
Michelin is leaning hard into sustainability. It’s not a "pity prize" anymore. Sons & Daughters in SF picked one up this year alongside their existing star status.
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Why does this matter for you? Because these places are usually the ones with the best ingredients. When a chef is obsessed with where their geoduck or bone marrow comes from—like Eric Bost at Lilo in Carlsbad—the flavor is just... deeper. Lilo is another new one-star winner that people are driving hours for right now.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 List
Everyone focuses on the stars. But the Bib Gourmands are where the locals actually eat.
There were six new ones added this year, including Atelier Manna in Encinitas and Eylan in Menlo Park. If you want a paratha filled with Dungeness crab without spending $500, that’s your move. Also, Pho Momma in Sacramento is proof that the Guide is looking at strip malls now, not just penthouses.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Meal
- The "Cancellation" Strategy: Don't even try to book a Saturday night at Providence or Somni right now. Instead, use the "Notify" feature on Resy for Tuesday or Wednesday nights. Cancellations happen 24-48 hours out because of the strict deposit policies.
- Go for the Young Stars: Restaurant Ki only has 10 seats. If you can’t get in there, check out the other new one-stars like Mori Nozomi. They are still "undiscovered" by the mass tourist crowd.
- Watch the Wine: Christopher Barnum-Dann at Localis won the Sommelier Award. If you go there, let him pick the wine. Don’t be that person who orders a Napa Cab just because it’s familiar.
California’s dining scene in 2025 is less about "luxury" as a concept and more about "precision" as a practice. Whether it's a 10-seat counter in Little Tokyo or a Victorian house in Sonoma, the common thread is a refusal to play it safe.