Majordomo, Rossoblu, and Sqirl are among the notable recipients of the Michelin Guide’s affordable restaurants
It’s officially Michelin season in California. The Big Red Book’s anonymous inspectors have been traipsing around Southern California in anticipation of the company’s first-ever all California guide, which drops on June 3. In the meantime, here is the full list of all 151 bib gourmand restaurants.
First, some light background: Michelin (yes, the tire company) has long released an annual collection of restaurant accolades in regions around the world, punctuated most notably by one, two, or three stars. The Bib Gourmand awards are a tier below the star system, representing worthwhile restaurants that don’t quite meet the star standards, but are still worth checking out in their respective categories and price points. As Michelin itself says in a press release announcing the big gourmands:
Michelin inspectors take great pride in finding hidden gems to complete the selection that are more widely accessible for diners, whatever their budget or craving.
In all, the new list of bib gourmands cover some 62 restaurants in Los Angeles, though two (Punta Cabras and Church & State) are listed as closed. There are only five restaurants representing all of Orange County on this non-starred list.
Read one way, the restaurants that receive Bib Gourmand accolades can see their inclusion as a success, particularly for places like Coni’Seafood in Inglewood, DongLaiShun in the San Gabriel Valley, Father’s Office in Culver City, and Garlic & Chives in Garden Grove. But for others, the inclusion here means there’s no chance for a Michelin star in 2019.
Some of the most notable restaurants to make an appearance on this list (and thus shut out of stars) in Los Angeles include Jessica Koslow’s impossibly busy Sqirl; David Chang’s best new restaurant winner Majordomo; Bryant Ng’s Santa Monica restaurant Cassia; and Boyle Heights legend Mariscos Jalisco, often considered to be among the greatest pound-for-pound restaurants anywhere in Southern California. Other Bib Gourmand winners include Kismet, Badmaash, Pizzeria Mozza, Rossoblu, Rosaline, Petit Trois, both Chengdu Taste and Chengdu Impression, Tsubaki, Jon & Vinny, and Aburiya Raku.
It’s unclear how the Michelin Guide will dole out its stars on June 3, especially for restaurants like Bestia or Bavel, and more upscale mainstays like Providence and Urasawa. And how will the Michelin Guide’s anonymous reviewers take to South LA, the San Gabriel Valley, and the city’s many, many street food options? More to come.
Here are the Los Angeles 2019 Bib Gourmands:
Aburiya Raku
Adana Restaurant
Amor y Tacos
Ayara Thai Cuisine
Badmaash
Baran’s 2239
Bowery Bungalow
Broken Spanish
Burritos La Palma
Cassia
Chengdu Impression
Chengdu Taste
Chuan’s
Church & State (closed)
Coni’Seafood
Dai Ho
Dha Rae Oak
Dong Lai Shun
Eveleigh
The Factory Kitchen
Father’s Office
Grand Harbor
Guerrilla Tacos
Holbox
Il Pastaio
Jaffa
Jitlada
Jon & Vinny’s
Katsu-ya
Kismet
La Cevicheria
Langer’s
LaoXi Noodle House
Longo Seafood
Lunasia
Maccheroni Republic
Majordomo
Manhattan Beach Post
Mariscos Jalisco
Meals by Genet
Meizhou Dongpo
Mercado Los Angeles
Mian
Mi Lindo Nayarit Mariscos
Okiboru Ramen
Papilles
Petit Trois
Pine & Crane
Pizzana
Pizzeria Mozza
Preux & Proper
Punta Cabras (closed)
Rocio’s Mexican Kitchen
Rosaliné
Rossoblu
Salazar
Sea Harbour
Shanghai No. 1
Sichuan Impression
Sixth and Mill
Son of a Gun
Sqirl
Thai Thing
Tsubaki
Here are Orange County’s 2019 Bib Gourmands:
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen
Garlic & Chives
Hiro Nori Ramen
LSXO
Mix Mix Kitchen & Bar
Source: Eater LA – All – Farley Elliott