I love the Michelin Guide and am happy it’s coming back to LA, though LA isn’t a great fine-dining city. Here would be my list if I were a Michelin inspector.
Three Stars (***)
Somni (Only eaten here once; could be **)
Two Stars (**)
Providence
Hayato
Urasawa (Could be ***, but is it even still open?)
Vespertine (The hardest to judge because the food tastes like alien food but is the most ambitious on this entire list–could be *** or *)
One Star (*)
Republique
Spago
Officine Brera
Drago Centro
Bavel
Simone
Rossoblu
Mori (Is it still open and high-quality?)
Q Sushi
Sushi Zo
N/Naka
Shunji
Osteria Mozza
Orsa & Winston
The Bazaar
Melisse (But is this even still open?)
Trois Mec
Here’s Looking at You
Fell a bit short:
71 Above (But very close – only went here once)
Lucques
Gjelina
Tempura Endo
Factory Kitchen
Felix (But only been here once)
Bestia
Majordomo
Chi Spacca
Pizzeria Mozza
Cut (But only been here once)
Redbird
Plant Food + Wine Venice
Sonoratown
Spice Affair??? (Haven’t been in person, but delivery shows Michelin-star potential)
Tsujita Sushi
Michael’s
Otium
Gwen
Restaurants that others may think merit consideration and I think not:
AOC
Tasting Kitchen
Angelini Osteria
Rosaline
Alimento
Rustic Canyon
Shibumi
Broken Spanish
Lukshon
Cassia
Animal
Kismet
Manuela
Guerrilla Tacos
Anything else Mexican
Anything Thai
Anything Chinese in the SGV except maybe Sea Harbour and Bistro Na’s
WP24
Vincenti
Le Comptoir
Jar
Restaurants I haven’t tried but probably merit consideration
Sushi Ginza Onodera (the branch in NYC has ** and well deserves it. But I’ve heard nothing about the branch in LA.)
Shiki
Dialogue
Maude
Taco Maria