One star signifies \u201chigh-quality cooking, worth a stop,\u201d two stars recognize \u201cexcellent cuisine, worth a detour,\u201d and three stars translate to \u201cexceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Multiple restaurants in Los Angeles have been awarded two stars, but this year previous star holders Providence and Somni crossed the threshold into three-star status \u2014 the only two restaurants in California to newly earn the accolade in 2025.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles chef Ki Kim of Little Tokyo\u2019s Restaurant Ki won the Michelin Young Chef Award, in addition to his restaurant earning a single star. Kim battled mental health difficulties<\/a> during the closure of his first restaurant, Kinn, but returned with a new modern Korean tasting menu last year. At the ceremony, held in Sacramento at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, Kim was praised for his \u201cexhibited leadership and dedication to the craft.\u201d<\/p>\n Kim pictured in 2021.<\/p>\n (Mariah Tauger \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n The 2025 statewide guide also recognized 123 restaurants with its \u201cbib gourmand\u201d awards, indicating \u201cgood food at a moderate price.\u201d It also awarded green stars, denoting sustainability practices.<\/p>\n Providence owners Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto appeared stunned as they headed to the stage to accept their award, hugging the puffy white mascot Michelin Man. Somni chef Aitor Zabala removed his suit jacket onstage, immediately changing into chef\u2019s whites. He promptly hugged every three-star chef standing on stage, then posed for a photo revealing his shirt: \u201cImmigrants feed America.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the Michelin website, restaurants are rated by \u201cquality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors, and consistency between visits.\u201d<\/p>\n Providence chef and co-owner Michael Cimarusti photographed in the restaurant\u2019s dining room in 2022.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Providence, in Hollywood, has a long history in the Michelin Guide. The restaurant \u2014 a destination for sustainable seafood by way of an artful tasting menu<\/a> \u2014 turned 20 this month. In its third year in operation, it earned one Michelin star. The following year, it gained a second. Michelin Guide would leave L.A. for a decade, but when it returned in 2019, Providence again earned two stars.<\/p>\n Notwithstanding Michelin Guide\u2019s 2020 pause in ratings due to the pandemic and wildfires, Providence held two stars every year since the guide\u2019s return to L.A. In 2023 the restaurant also earned the green star, commending its sustainability practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cProvidence is a wonderful example of consistency and evolution,\u201d Michelin Guide\u2019s anonymous chief inspector of North America told The Times via email.<\/p>\n Cimarusti \u201cis 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,\u201d they continued. \u201cWhen you get to the three stars level, it\u2019s about a distinct personality and level of technical expertise that makes it one of the best restaurants in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Somni also previously held Michelin stars; but the original restaurant \u2014 a collaboration between chefs Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s and Aitor Zabala \u2014 closed in 2020 after two years inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Grove. It earned two stars in 2019. <\/p>\n Then, in late November, Zabala \u2014 with Andr\u00e9s\u2019 blessing but not his business partnership \u2014 reopened Somni in a new West Hollywood home<\/a>. The new tasting menu includes new dishes, 14 seats overlooking a chefs counter, and a progressive, multi-structure experience that involves a patio reception.<\/p>\n Somni chef-owner Aitor Zabala, right, plates a dessert course at Somni in West Hollywood in November 2024.<\/p>\n (Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had plenty of experience at Somni in its first iteration and were sad to see that it closed,\u201d the anonymous chief inspector of North America told The Times. \u201cWe\u2019re very excited that it has re-emerged in such an impressive state. 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 representation of the original.\u201d<\/p>\n There are now eight three-star restaurants in the state of California: Providence, Somni, San Diego\u2019s Addison, and Northern California\u2019s Atelier Crenn, the French Laundry, Benu, Quince and Single Thread.<\/p>\n Two restaurants freshly earned two stars in the 2025 guide \u2014 San Francisco\u2019s Kiln and Sonoma\u2019s Enclos \u2014 while five restaurants newly earned one-star ratings, including two in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Ki Kim\u2019s modern Korean tasting menu in Little Tokyo, Ki, now holds a star, as does Nozomi Mori\u2019s Sawtelle sushi omakase, Mori Nozomi, which is helmed by an all-female staff. Other new one-star awardees are Carlsbad\u2019s Lilo, Santa Barbara\u2019s Silvers Omakase and Oakland\u2019s Sun Moon Studio.<\/p>\n Other new L.A.-area accolades include most of the year\u2019s new bib gourmand additions: Komal in Historic South-Central<\/a>, Rasarumah in Historic Filipinotown<\/a> and Vin Folk in Hermosa Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n