California Welcomes Nine New Michelin-star Restaurants for 2026

WHO:

Forbes - A group of talented chefs earned Michelin stars for their restaurants in California.

Eater San Francisco - Chef Val M. Cantu is associated with Californios, and Chef Brian Limoge is associated with Enclos.

Eater San Francisco - Evan Williams and the bar team at Maria Isabel received the Exceptional Cocktail Award.

Eater San Francisco - Frida Blomdahl Hay, general manager at Sons & Daughters, received the Michelin Service Award.

WHAT:

Forbes - Nine restaurants in California received their first One Star award.

Forbes - Californios and Enclos were promoted from Two Stars to Three Stars.

Eater San Francisco - Californios is the first Mexican restaurant in the U.S. to earn the three-Michelin-starred distinction.

Eater San Francisco - Nine new restaurants were added to the list of one-starred designations.

Eater San Francisco - Kenzo in Napa lost its stars, and Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn, O’ by Claude Le Tohic, and Shota in San Francisco had their one-star designation removed.

WHERE:

Forbes - The Michelin Guide’s annual ceremony took place in San Diego, California.

Forbes - Californios is located in San Francisco, and Enclos is in Sonoma.

Eater San Francisco - Troubadour is in Healdsburg, and Naides and Wolfsbane are in San Francisco.

WHEN:

Eater San Francisco - The Michelin Guide: California ceremony occurred on June 24.

Eater San Francisco - Californios earned its first Michelin star in 2015 and became a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in 2017.

Eater San Francisco - Enclos achieved two-Michelin-starred status in 2025.

WHY:

Forbes - The Michelin stars are awarded based on ingredient quality, flavor handling, cooking techniques, chef's personality in the food, value for money, and consistency.

HOW:

Forbes - Michelin inspectors evaluate restaurants anonymously based on various criteria.

(UPDATED June 25, 2026 15:59 UTC)

At the recent Michelin Guide ceremony held in San Diego, California, nine restaurants received their first One Star award, while Californios and Enclos were elevated from Two Stars to the prestigious Three Stars, making Californios the first Mexican restaurant in the U.S. to achieve this honor. Chef Val M. Cantu of Californios and Chef Brian Limoge of Enclos were among the notable names recognized, along with Evan Williams and his bar team at Maria Isabel, who received the Exceptional Cocktail Award, and Frida Blomdahl Hay from Sons & Daughters, who earned the Michelin Service Award. However, Kenzo in Napa lost its stars, and Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn, O’ by Claude Le Tohic, and Shota in San Francisco had their one-star designations removed.