{"id":17667,"date":"2026-06-25T04:31:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T04:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17667"},"modified":"2026-06-25T04:31:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T04:31:34","slug":"one-orange-county-restaurant-loses-its-michelin-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17667","title":{"rendered":"One Orange County restaurant loses its Michelin star"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The culinary world\u2019s top honors for California were handed out Wednesday night at Eve in Downtown San Diego.<\/p>\n

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Costa Mesa\u2019s Knife Pleat, the modern French restaurant inside South Coast Plaza, lost its star this year. But Rebel Omakase in Laguna Beach retained its one-star status, making it the sole Orange County eatery with a Michelin star.<\/p>\n

No other Orange County restaurants were awarded stars this year.<\/p>\n

Hungry? Sign up for The Eat Index, our weekly food newsletter, and find out where to eat and get the latest restaurant happenings in Orange County. Subscribe here.<\/div>\n

Kato in Los Angeles was promoted to two stars (up from one), while nine Golden State restaurants earned new one-star acclaim this year, including Corridor 109, Kojima and Lielle in Los Angeles; Lucien in La Jolla; Miura in Beverly Hills; Naides and Wolfsbane in San Francisco; Seline in Santa Monica; and Troubadour in Healdsburg.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> <\/em>Costa Mesa sushi restaurant Hana re loses its Michelin star<\/p>\n

Two new three-star spots were added to this list \u2014 Californios, a Mexican cuisine spot in San Francisco, and Enclos, a contemporary cuisine joint in Sonoma \u2014 bringing California\u2019s total of three-star restaurants to 10.<\/p>\n

The annual ceremony remains one of the most-anticipated nights in California\u2019s lofty dining scene, with restaurants across the state waiting to learn whether they landed, kept or lost one of the sought-after honors.<\/p>\n

California has more Michelin stars than any other state in the nation, with more than 100 sparklers awarded to Golden State restaurants, as well as the most three-star spots.<\/p>\n

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The Michelin Guide\u2019s celestial system is ranked on a three-tier scale: one star means \u201chigh-quality cooking, worth a stop,\u201d according to the guide; two stars denotes \u201cexcellent cooking, worth a detour\u201d; and three stars means \u201cexceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

In recent years, Michelin\u2019s expansion into new U.S. markets has raised questions about the cost of getting a city or region on the guide\u2019s coveted radar. Legacy food cities like New York City and San Francisco do not pay to be included. But some newer Michelin markets have arrived with financial support from tourism boards, city agencies or state travel offices.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCities like Boston and Atlanta have reportedly paid $1 million or more to bring in Michelin for a three-year term,\u201d according to a 2026 Food & Wine article. \u201cState and city travel offices paid a combined $2.7 million for three years of Texas Michelin editions that cover Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Visit Orlando reportedly paid more than $1 million to be included in the Florida editions between 2022 to 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

That money does not buy stars for any particular restaurant. Rather, as Food & Wine reported, it helps bring Michelin\u2019s anonymous inspectors and the guide itself into a given market. From there, restaurants that make the cut can earn stars, a Bib Gourmand, the guide\u2019s designation for \u201cexceptional food at a great value,\u201d or a recommended nod for high-quality eateries that do not quite land in star or Bib Gourmand territory.<\/p>\n

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Michelin Guide says its anonymous inspectors are \u201cexperts in food, dining and hotel sectors with many years of experience working in the hospitality industry.\u201d They are not freelance critics parachuting in for a hot take. They are Michelin Group employees who pay for their own meals \u2014 meaning no freebies, no comped menus and no chef glad-handing upon arrival \u2014 and have no outside affiliation.<\/p>\n

Michelin also notes that its inspectors judge restaurants using five criteria: quality of products, command of flavor and cooking techniques, the chef\u2019s personality as expressed through the dining experience, harmony of flavors and consistency between visits.<\/p>\n

The Michelin Guide dates back to 1900, when brothers Andr\u00e9 and Edouard Michelin published it as a free booklet meant to encourage motorists to get out on the road and, not incidentally, buy more tires. The guide started awarding stars in 1926.<\/p>\n

Here is the complete updated 2026 list of all Michelin-starred restaurants in California (* denotes new entry):<\/p>\n

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THREE STARS\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n