San Francisco’s Stellar Culinary Scene Shines in 2024 MICHELIN Guide California

August 12, 2024 (San Francisco) – San Francisco’s culinary stars took the stage last week at the 2024 MICHELIN Guide to California ceremony, where 28 of the city’s restaurants earned prestigious MICHELIN stars. Three new restaurants received their first star, while one restaurant achieved its second star this year.

Acclaimed chefs Dominique Crenn, Corey Lee and Michael Tusk—who respectively helm the city’s three-MICHELIN -starred Crenn Atelier, Benu and Quince—were joined by rising talents, including Kiln chef John Wesley, who was honored with the MICHELIN Guide California “Young Chef Award.” Kiln received its first MICHELIN star just a year after opening in May 2023.

This marks the third consecutive year a San Francisco chef earned the “Young Chef Award.”  Wesley follows in the footsteps of Nisei’s Chef David Yoshimura, who earned the title and Nisei a MICHELIN star in 2022, and Chef Harrison Cheney, who won the award in 2023 and led Sons & Daughters to achieve its second MICHELIN star this year.

In addition to Kiln, newcomers 7 Adams and Hilda & Jesse also received their first star. Chef David Fisher and chef Serena Chow Fisher’s 7 Adams, which debuted in late 2023, was praised by MICHELIN for its "signature magic.” Hilda & Jesse, opened in late 2021 by chef Kristina Liedags Compton and Rachel Sillcocks, was lauded for its “total riot of flavors mixed with stellar ingredients.” Sillcocks was also recognized with MICHELIN's “Outstanding Service Award.”  Additionally, one-star Aphotic’s head distiller and bar director, Trevin Hitchins, received MICHELIN's “Exceptional Cocktails Award.” For a complete list of MICHELIN-starred San Francisco restaurants, please see the chart below.

“San Francisco brings together a diversity of cuisines and we are so lucky to be so close to farming and agriculture to express ourselves as chefs,” said Cheney, executive chef of Sons & Daughters. “There is amazing talent here and a beautiful tapestry for creating incredible culinary experiences. Upon relocating from London to San Francisco, I’ve discovered local farmers markets, purveyors, and artists that I’m proud to speak to daily, and of creating a special, unique experience for locals and visitors alike.”

At just seven-by-seven miles, San Francisco boasts the second-highest number of MICHELIN star restaurants in the Americas, trailing only New York. MICHELIN recognition bolsters San Francisco’s status as a premier dining destination and attracts top culinary talent to the city.

“San Francisco’s culinary scene is a driver of excellence among chefs in part because we have a high volume of MICHELIN-Starred restaurants, this in turn creates an environment of healthy competition,” said Nisei’s Yoshimura. “We all work with the same local produce from the farmer’s markets, therefore, if we want to stand out, we have to be extremely creative and push hard to create something unique for our guests. San Francisco's restaurant scene can be tough to thrive in; in order to do so, chefs here must be self-motivated and extremely determined to excel.”

San Francisco’s spirit of creativity, innovation and resilience is deeply ingrained in its culinary culture. Seven of San Francisco’s 19 one-star restaurants intrepidly opened as the world transitioned from the pandemic. Another 23 restaurants, also launched between 2021 and 2024, achieved the “selected” designation in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide California, joining a list of 65 venues, including stalwarts like Boulevard, Rich Table and Zuni Café. Both the city’s emerging and established culinary leaders continue to evolve their offerings, fueled by the city’s culture of openness and invention.

Dominique Crenn, again awarded four MICHELIN stars and two Green Stars between Atelier Crenn and Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn, shared, “San Francisco has always been a symbol of freedom and acceptance. When I arrived here, I immediately felt embraced by the city that celebrates diversity. It’s a place where you can truly be yourself, without the weight of judgment or preconceived notions. Whether it’s who you choose to love, how you express yourself through fashion, or the culinary adventures you embark on, San Francisco encourages you to explore and embrace every facet of who you are. This openness and inclusivity is what drew me to the city, allowing me to create and thrive in an environment where love and creativity know no bounds.” 

San Francisco’s chefs and restaurateurs have been making history over the past decade:

• Corey Lee’s Benu became the first San Francisco restaurant to receive three MICHELIN stars in 2014, a rating it has maintained for 10 years. Lee was also the first Korean chef to earn three MICHELIN stars.
• Acquarello has held its two-star rating since 2014, when Suzette Gresham became one of only three female chefs in the U.S. to hold two stars at that time.
• Californios was the first Mexican restaurant in the U.S. to earn two MICHELIN stars, achieving its first in 2015 and its second in 2017.
• Mister Jiu’s earned its first star six months after opening and is the only Chinese restaurant in the U.S. to retain a MICHELIN star.
• In 2018, Dominique Crenn became the first female chef in the U.S. to receive three MICHELIN stars for Atelier Crenn.
• Taj’s Campton Place (closed) earned its second star in 2019 under Srijith Gopinathan, making it at the time the only Indian-influenced restaurant in the U.S. and Europe to have received this recognition.

For the full list of restaurants in the 2024 edition of the MICHELIN Guide California, please access the website here. 

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