Los Angeles added another crop of Michelin stars this year, and the results were, in many ways, entirely predictable. The guide once again showered love on lavish tasting menus and meticulously choreographed omakase counters, aka meals that can routinely run diners hundreds of dollars before wine pairings, service charges and tax.
There's nothing inherently wrong with celebrating ambition or luxury. But Michelin's Los Angeles selections continue to reveal the guide's longstanding blind spot regarding a city whose culinary identity was built in strip malls, taco stands, family-run restaurants and immigrant communities.
Michelin's relationship with Los Angeles has always been complicated. After publishing Southern California guides from 2008 to 2009, the company abruptly withdrew from the market, citing economic reasons and leaving L.A. without Michelin coverage for nearly a decade. The guide didn't return until 2019 (then sitting out 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19). For many local diners and chefs, the long absence reinforced the notion that Michelin never quite knew what to make of a sprawling, immigrant-driven dining scene that has never fit neatly into traditional fine-dining conventions.
And as this year's new stars demonstrate, Michelin still appears more comfortable rewarding a certain kind of luxury than capturing what actually makes eating in Los Angeles unlike anywhere else in the world. Kato ($325 a person) bumped up to two stars, while the guide added five new one-star entries. And several restaurants lost their ratings, including the previous one-star restaurants 715, Camphor, Gwen, and Morihiro, as well as the three-starred Somni.
For those unaware of what the Michelin Guide is, here’s how it all goes down: The star ratings, while not universally celebrated, are considered the most prestigious award any restaurant could ever receive. One star denotes “a very good restaurant,” two signifies “excellent cooking that is worth a detour” and three stars, most coveted of all, translates to “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.” A Bib Gourmand category, added in 2019, also recognizes more affordable spots, with three new L.A. area additions in 2026: Lapaba, Little Fish and Little Fish Melrose Hill, Lugya’h, Lynx and Sonoratown.
To determine these ratings, the guide’s anonymous inspectors visit and judge restaurants according to quality, atmosphere, service and even minor details, such as how far apart the tables are. With a clear bias towards fine dining and blatant roots in a culture of Western imperialism, the Michelin Guide is just one measure of excellence in food and hospitality among many, particularly in a city as rich in amazing street food and multicultural cuisine as L.A.
However, if you still have (French multinational tire brand) stars in your eyes, look no further: We’ve updated our list of the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants for 2026.
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