These Los Angeles Restaurants Earn First-Ever Three Michelin Stars in City’s History

The SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center hosted chefs and restaurateurs from throughout California on June 25 for this year’s Michelin Guide announcement. There, Michelin stars and green stars for sustainable practices were awarded to nominees, two of which received the highly coveted three-Michelin-star rating. 

Aitor Zabala, chef and owner of the acclaimed fine dining restaurant Somni, was the first winner announced, setting a milestone as LA’s first-ever three-star restaurant. Somni is no stranger to the Michelin guide, having earned two stars in 2018, the first year it opened. Later in the ceremony, Chef Michael Cimarusti’s Providence was named as the second recipient of three Michelin stars, bringing the city’s total to two. 

Somni, which means “dream” in Catalan, offers a molecular gastronomy tasting menu of Californian, American, and Spanish cuisines, with a focus on Basque and Catalan dishes. The restaurant requires that the party size include a minimum of two people in order to dine there, and is one of the most expensive restaurants in Los Angeles. Based on reviews and its recent three-star status, it’s worth the splurge.

Providence, a restaurant that’s been highly acclaimed for over 20 years, specializes in wild-caught seafood, mostly sourced from American waters. Chef and co-owner Michael Cimarusti opened it in 2005 and earned his first star in 2008, when the Michelin Guide first began nominating LA restaurants. The second star came the following year.

Another highlight from the ceremony was Restaurant Ki by chef Ki Kim, which became the first Korean restaurant to receive a star in Los Angeles.