These LA and Orange County chefs and restaurants won big at the Michelin Guide awards

The Michelin Awards for California were announced Monday night, and several Los Angeles and Orange County restaurants took home honors, including:

• Chef Gilberto Cetina of Holbox (Exposition Park), who received a star for his coastal Mexican cuisine food stall located in Mercado La Paloma, near the USC campus.
• Chef Jordan Nakasone of R|O-Rebel, an upscale Japanese Omakase concept in Laguna Beach, also won a star.

But the biggest winner of the evening was Los Angeles Chef Jordan Kahn, who won in three different categories.

One star was for Meteora (Melrose), Kahn's otherworldly concept known for its zero-waste and inventive menu of wild-sourced and organic ingredients. He also took home two stars for his recently re-opened Vespertine (Culver City), known for its innovative tasting menu. Vespertine additionally earned a Michelin Green star for its sustainability practices.

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About the ceremony

The ceremony was held at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, on Monday night, attended by some of the biggest names in the California restaurant world. Winners will now be included in a guide that celebrates dining up and down the coast. The guide currently boasts 600+ restaurants, including over 90 restaurants that have received stars.

What's the difference between a Michelin star and a Bib Gourmand award?

A Michelin star is the honor bestowed on restaurants that serve “exceptional cuisine” that is “remarkably executed” and infused with the personality of the chef at the helm. Restaurants can earn up to three stars in total.

The Bib Gourmand Award is awarded to restaurants that offer outstanding cooking at a more affordable price point. Both categories are usually picked from ongoing additions to the Michelin dining guide throughout the year.

So, who won in the Bib Gourmand category?

Nine of the 10 restaurants added to the list on Monday are in the SoCal area:

• Cedro Italian Restaurant (Newberry Park)
• Grá and Little Fish (both in Echo Park)
• Liu’s Cafe (Koreatown)
• Lola Gaspar (Santa Ana)
• Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles (Hollywood)
• Manohar's Delhi Palace (La Puente)
• Pollo a la Brasa (Koreatown)
• Quarter Sheets (Echo Park).

How many California restaurants have Michelin stars?

Several dozen SoCal restaurants have one or more stars. However, only six restaurants in the state have three stars, including Addison in San Diego. The rest are in Northern California and include the famed French Laundry.

And what about these green stars?

The Michelin Green Star is a relatively recent honor given to pioneers in sustainable gastronomy. Another SoCal-based restaurant — Heritage (Long Beach) — took home the honor last year.

What does a Michelin win mean for chefs and restaurants?

Aside from making it a little more challenging for the rest of us to get a seat or a reservation, it’s one of the top honors in the restaurant world: A Michelin nod provides international recognition.

What's next?

We wish you luck as you try, in vain, to get a reservation at many of these top places.