Unearth The Voyage
California has always been a leader in food culture, and right now its restaurant scene is capturing attention across the country. From tiny sushi counters to grand tasting rooms, these 15 spots are earning Michelin stars, winning James Beard Awards, going viral on social media, and landing on prestigious best-restaurant lists nationwide. Whether you love seafood, soul food, burgers, or fine dining, these California eateries prove that great food comes in many forms and that the Golden State continues to set the standard for culinary excellence.
1. Holbox in Historic South Central Los Angeles
Chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. turned a small stall inside Mercado La Paloma into one of America’s most talked-about restaurants. Holbox earned a Michelin star in 2025 and claimed the top spot on Yelp’s list of the best 100 places to eat in the entire United States. National food writers are calling it a must-visit destination.
The menu celebrates Yucatán-inspired seafood with dishes like uni-crowned tostadas, scallop ceviches, smoky octopus tacos, and vibrant aguachiles. Lines can stretch long, especially during peak hours, but the wait is worth it for food this fresh and flavorful. Despite its Michelin recognition, the vibe remains refreshingly casual and prices stay surprisingly affordable.
This combination of world-class cooking and approachable atmosphere is exactly why Holbox has become a national sensation and a true neighborhood treasure.
2. Somni in West Hollywood
June 2025 marked a historic moment for Los Angeles dining when Somni became one of only three restaurants in the city to earn three Michelin stars. National media covered the achievement extensively, cementing Somni’s place among America’s finest dining experiences. Chef Aitor Zabala leads the kitchen with precision and creativity.
Only 14 guests can dine here at a time, seated at a sleek counter or in a serene courtyard setting. The modernist Spanish tasting menu unfolds like theater, with meticulously plated courses such as dashi meringue topped with caviar and other inventive bites. Every dish showcases technical mastery and artistic vision.
Expect a multi-hour journey through flavor and texture, where each course surprises and delights. Somni represents the pinnacle of fine dining in Southern California, and reservations are understandably hard to secure.
3. Providence in Hollywood
For years, Providence has been a seafood lover’s dream, but in 2025 it reached new heights. The restaurant was elevated to three Michelin stars, making it only the second restaurant in Los Angeles to achieve this honor. This put LA on the map alongside the world’s most celebrated fine-dining cities.
Chef Michael Cimarusti has built his reputation on sustainable seafood sourcing and impeccable technique. The elegant, quietly sophisticated dining room sets the stage for multi-course tasting menus that might include red abalone with egg sabayon, delicate uni eggs, or other ocean treasures. Wine pairings are expertly chosen to complement each course.
Dining at Providence is a splurge-worthy experience that showcases California’s incredible seafood in ways that feel both luxurious and respectful of the ocean. It’s a restaurant that truly deserves every accolade.
4. Restaurant Ki in Little Tokyo
Restaurant Ki made history in 2025 as the first Korean restaurant in Los Angeles to earn a Michelin star. Chef Ki Kim also received the Michelin Young Chef Award, bringing national and Korean-American media attention to this intimate Little Tokyo gem. The recognition feels long overdue for Korean fine dining in LA.
Only 10 to 12 guests can sit at the counter each night, making reservations fiercely competitive. The Korean-inflected tasting menu features dishes like barbecue-roasted squab with foie gras sauce, dry-aged beef served with Korean bone broth, and a surprising mushroom ice cream sandwich for dessert. Each course honors Korean flavors while embracing modern techniques.
The experience feels personal and warm, with Chef Kim often cooking right in front of diners. Restaurant Ki proves that Korean cuisine belongs in the highest tier of fine dining.
5. Seline in Santa Monica
Chef Dave Beran, known for his work at Dialogue and Pasjoli, opened Seline as his most ambitious project yet. This Santa Monica tasting-menu restaurant quickly caught the attention of national food critics and earned a place in the Michelin Guide’s California selection. Beran’s reputation for precision and creativity precedes him.
Seline offers between 15 and 18 courses inspired by Southern California’s diverse landscapes and ingredients. Expect intricate seafood preparations, luxurious touches like golden osetra caviar served over hazelnuts with coffee anglaise, and highly choreographed service. The minimalist dining room lets the food take center stage.
Every detail is carefully considered, from the plate composition to the pacing of courses. Dining at Seline feels like taking a culinary journey through California itself, with each bite telling a story of place and season.
6. Rasarumah in Koreatown
Rasarumah has become one of LA’s hottest dining destinations by offering something rare: serious Malaysian cooking in a fun, accessible atmosphere. The restaurant earned a Bib Gourmand in the 2025 Michelin Guide, which recognizes great food at good value. It landed on multiple lists of restaurants that defined LA dining this year.
The menu pulls from Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian influences, reflecting Malaysia’s rich culinary diversity. Shareable plates include satay skewers with peanut sauce, coconut-rich curries bursting with flavor, and a playful pandan-and-coconut cendol sundae for dessert. Prices remain relatively accessible compared to tasting-menu restaurants.
Rasarumah proves that fine dining doesn’t always mean formal or expensive. Sometimes the best food experiences are the ones you can share with friends over lively conversation and bold, exciting flavors.
7. Kato in Downtown Los Angeles
Chef Jon Yao made headlines in 2025 when he won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California, the only California winner that year. His restaurant Kato also holds a Michelin star and has appeared on global lists of restaurants to watch. The recognition is well-earned for a chef who brings Taiwanese flavors to California fine dining.
Kato serves a tasting menu that weaves Taiwanese culinary traditions into modern California cuisine. Expect seafood-focused courses with precise plating and flavors that honor Chef Yao’s heritage while embracing local ingredients. The sleek downtown LA setting feels polished yet approachable, with service that’s professional without being stuffy.
Dining at Kato offers a chance to experience a unique culinary perspective that blends two food cultures seamlessly. It’s personal, delicious, and represents the future of California’s diverse dining landscape.
8. The Original Tamale Company in Pacoima
Sometimes viral fame comes to the most unexpected places. This family-run tamale shop in Pacoima released a 46-second TikTok ad in 2025 that racked up over 22 million views worldwide. The AI-assisted video boosted sales by roughly 40 percent and earned coverage from Business Insider to international newspapers.
Despite the sudden internet celebrity, The Original Tamale Company remains a humble, deeply local operation. They specialize in handmade tamales with fillings like green chile and cheese, pork, and chicken. Everything is made the traditional way, with care and family recipes passed down through generations.
You can still visit for in-store pickup at their San Fernando Valley location or find their tamales at retail spots around LA. The viral moment brought them attention, but the quality and authenticity keep customers coming back for more.
9. Easy Street Burgers in Studio City
TikTok food critic Keith Lee can make or break a restaurant, and his review of Easy Street Burgers sent this Studio City spot into the stratosphere. He called the smashburger one of the best he’d ever tasted, and suddenly lines wrapped around the block. Food Republic and other national outlets followed with their own coverage.
Easy Street is a walk-up burger stand that keeps things simple and does them exceptionally well. The smashburgers have perfectly crisp edges, oozy melted cheese, and a signature wild sauce that ties everything together. Fries and shakes round out the menu, giving you everything you need for a satisfying meal.
The atmosphere is casual and the prices are reasonable, which makes the hype even more exciting. This is the kind of neighborhood spot that can change a whole area’s food reputation overnight.
10. Mandalay in San Francisco’s Richmond District
Mandalay has been serving San Francisco’s Richmond District since the 1980s, making it the oldest Burmese restaurant in the city. In 2024, it received a James Beard America’s Classics Award, recognizing it as one of the country’s great longstanding neighborhood restaurants. The national honor brought well-deserved attention to Burmese cuisine.
The menu features Burmese staples that many diners may not have tried before. Tea leaf salad offers a unique mix of textures and tangy flavors, while mohinga, a fish chowder, provides comforting warmth. Samusa soup and other dishes showcase the blend of influences from neighboring countries like India, China, and Thailand.
The colorful, unfussy dining room on California Street feels welcoming and lived-in. Mandalay remains open and active, continuing to introduce new generations to the flavors of Burma with the same recipes that have delighted diners for decades.
11. Sun Moon Studio in West Oakland
Sun Moon Studio earned a Michelin star in 2025 and was named one of the best new restaurants in America by both the New York Times and Bon Appétit. National food writers have used it as a case study for how tiny and exclusive great dining has become. With only four tables and around 12 seats, it’s one of the most intimate dining experiences in the Bay Area.
The highly seasonal, Asian-inflected tasting menu changes regularly based on what’s available. Dishes might include Dungeness crab with yuzu-kosho butter over tofu or brioche buns filled with Taiwanese sausage. Each course balances creativity with respect for ingredients.
Reservations are extremely difficult to secure, but recent reviews confirm the restaurant is actively operating. Sun Moon Studio represents a new model of fine dining: small, personal, and deeply connected to the seasons.
12. Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement in San Francisco’s Fillmore District
Chef Fernay McPherson’s Minnie Bell’s finally opened its own brick-and-mortar location in San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District, and the recognition came quickly. Bon Appétit named it one of the 20 best new restaurants in America for 2025, with Bay Area media celebrating its arrival. The restaurant intentionally reconnects the neighborhood with its Black cultural roots.
The menu features soul-food staples executed with care and flavor. Rosemary fried chicken arrives crispy and juicy, brown-butter cornbread is rich and tender, and mac and cheese delivers creamy comfort. Every dish feels like a hug from someone who knows how to cook with love.
Minnie Bell’s remains open with regular service and continues to expand its menu as of fall 2025. It’s more than just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of community, history, and the power of good food.
13. Enclos in Sonoma
Opened in late 2024, Enclos stunned the restaurant industry by earning two Michelin stars and a Green Star within roughly six months. This gave Sonoma its first-ever Michelin-starred restaurant and drew national attention to the wine country town. Chef Brian Limoges’ vision combines luxury with sustainability.
Located in a beautifully restored Victorian building in downtown Sonoma, the restaurant offers a hyper-seasonal tasting menu. Dishes like venison tartare tartlets and intensely seasonal vegetables showcase the region’s incredible ingredients. The Green Star recognizes the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability, including repurposed materials, preservation techniques, and minimal food waste.
Wine pairings are finely tuned to complement each course, making sense given Sonoma’s world-class vineyards. Enclos proves that fine dining can be both indulgent and environmentally conscious, setting a new standard for the region and beyond.
14. Silvers Omakase in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone
Silvers Omakase opened in Santa Barbara’s trendy Funk Zone and earned a Michelin star in 2025, just about a year after opening its doors. The 10-seat sushi counter has been profiled repeatedly as an example of tiny, craft-driven omakase done right. Chef Lennon Silvers Lee brings precision and passion to every piece of fish.
The intimate omakase experience unfolds in a minimalist room where every detail matters. Courses often include impeccably seasoned nigiri, uni rice topped with crunchy masago arare, and a small dessert like house-made sorbet to finish. Each bite showcases the quality of the fish and the skill of the chef.
Reservations are limited given the tiny size, and recent press confirms the restaurant is currently operating. Silvers Omakase brings world-class sushi to Santa Barbara in a setting that feels both special and unpretentious.
15. Lilo in Carlsbad
Lilo opened in April 2025 and earned San Diego County’s only Michelin star just two months later in June. The speed of recognition made national waves, positioning Lilo as one of the fastest new restaurants to gain a star. The New York Times also included it on their 2025 Restaurant List, cementing its reputation.
Hidden behind the more casual Wildland restaurant, Lilo offers an intimate seven-course tasting menu for around 22 guests. The experience includes theatrical touches and desserts woven throughout the meal rather than saved for the end. One signature dish features orgeat ice cream with celery root bushi and caviar, a surprising combination that somehow works beautifully.
Lilo is already being positioned as a long-term fine-dining destination for San Diego County. It proves that great restaurants can thrive outside major cities when the vision and execution are strong enough.
