If you’re a frequent flyer in the San Francisco restaurant scene, then it should come as no surprise that the city’s chefs have been gathering up accolades. At an invite-only ceremony Monday night in San Diego, Michelin released its 2026 California Guide, which saw San Francisco restaurant Californios ascend from two stars to three. It is the world’s first Mexican restaurant (opens in new tab)to earn the guide’s highest designation, according to the pros at the tire company/restaurant Bible.
In addition to Californios, Enclos — which opened in late 2024 and became the first Sonoma restaurant to earn a Michelin star in the 2025 guide — was elevated from two to three.
Chef Val Cantú opened Californios in January 2015 in the Mission space now home to Buddy wine bar; Californios moved to a more spacious SoMa location in 2021. The restaurant made its debut in the Michelin Guide during its first year, earning one star, and was awarded a second in 2017, a designation it has held ever since.
“It feels insane, feels unreal, the team is so stoked, our fish cook was crying while he was working last night,” Cantú said Thursday on his way back from San Diego for service.
Cantú said that after retaining two stars for seven years, the designation starts to feel like the status quo. “We’ve tried to continuously get better and better,” Cantú said. “I feel like a humble custodian of the cuisine, and I think that’s what I’ll continue to be.”
The Michelin honors wrap up the unofficial restaurant awards season in California. In late May, North America’s 50 Best Restaurants released its 2026 list (opens in new tab), featuring four San Francisco destinations: Saison, Benu, Atelier Crenn, and Sons & Daughters. The James Beard Foundation Awards, presented June 19 in Chicago, honored San Francisco chef Michael Tusk of Quince and bartender Kevin Deidrick of Pacific Cocktail Haven.
Other newly minted starred restaurants include Filipino fine dining gem Naides and Wolfsbane, the Dogpatch restaurant from husband-and-wife team Rupert and Carrie Blease. Both were granted one star. Naides, run by Patrick Gabon and Celine Wuu, was recognized in part for its creative nonalcoholic beverage pairings.
Most San Francisco restaurants retained their prior star status. Atelier Crenn, Benu, and Quince remain three-star destinations. Acquerelo, Birdsong, Kiln, Lazy Bear, Saison, Sons & Daughters, and Oakland’s Commis all kept their two stars. The Progress, State Bird Provisions, Ssal, Sorrel, San Ho Won, Nisei, Niku Steakhouse, Nari, Mister Jiu’s, Kin Khao, Hilda and Jesse, Angler SF, 7 Adams, San Anselmo’s Madcap, San Mateo’s Wakuriya, and Oakland’s Sun Moon Studio all held onto their single star.
New to Michelin’s “recommended” list are Maria Isabel, the Mexican restaurant from the couple behind Dalida; Kitchen Istanbul in the Richmond; the Fillmore’s best fried chicken destination, Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement; and Via Aurelia, a fine-dining Italian restaurant from the Che Fico team.
More about the author
Madeline Taub is a food reporter intern at The Standard. She was previously a contributor to Cityside’s food publication, East Bay Nosh. She graduated from UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
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