Discover the ultimate culinary experience with the list of 41 Michelin-star restaurants in San Francisco! From gourmet dishes to great dining atmospheres, explore these famous Michelin-star restaurants today!
San Francisco is a culinary hotspot with 39 Michelin stars across 28 restaurants with an enviable collection of one-, two-, and three-star establishments serving an array of authentic, contemporary, and fusion items. Indian visitors in the USA often seek diverse food options, exploring both local cuisines as well as authentic Indian flavours during their stay and San Francisco’s Michelin Mile includes excellent Indian options too! To help you decide, we have created a guide to the best.
New and Notable
7 Adams- Created by local chefs Serena and David Fisher, 7 Adams offers diners an elevated tasting menu experience with a five-course menu that includes delectable dishes such as roasted cauliflower cavatelli, seared black cod, and wagyu beef tongue.
Anomaly SF- This former pop-up, led by Chef Mike Lanham offers a 10-course dining experience revolving around artfully crafted modernist dishes and seasonal ingredients. Lanham’s experimental take on cooking brings us the famous “egg snack,” which is a must-try at Anomaly.
Azalina’s- Add Malaysian cuisine to San Francisco’s deep roster of exceptional global fare at Chef Azalina Eusope’s restaurant featuring a frequently changing, prix fixe menu of local ingredients. Be sure to save room for dessert; Chef Azalina’s experience as a pastry chef shines through in her pandan custard with water chestnut and coconut granita.
Bansang- A Michelin Guide 2023 recommendation, Bansang is a Korean eatery blending diverse ingredients with traditional fare and featuring a tapas-style menu for shared sampling.
Dalida- Located in Presidio and drawing inspiration from the culinary traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean, Dalida offers a wide variety of dishes, from the flaky and cheesy borek to the succulent short rib kebabs with sweetbreads.
Friends Only- Head Chef Ray Lee’s omakase-styled restaurant Akiko’s is renowned, with reservation slots first sent to those on their email list, hence the name.
Hed 11- Hed 11 is a decadent space that invites you to indulge in its 11-course tasting menu.Sweet and savoury flavours feature throughout the menu, from a coconut pancake with lime and caviar to a cheesecake with crispy fried onions and passionfruit syrup. Hed 11 offers authentic Thai cuisine served with a contemporary style.
HK Lounge Bistro- Years after the tragic destruction of San Francisco dim sum spot Hong Kong Lounge II, HK Lounge Bistro has opened as a new and improved version of its predecessor serving classic dishes like Shanghai dumplings and crispy pork buns, plus new items.
Kiln- Kiln combines delicately paired flavours with visually stunning presentations and a tasting menu featuring twenty courses highlighting Nordic cuisine with intricate techniques. Start with crisp puffed beef tendon or their squab breast, lacquered with burnt honey and served with a truffled jus. Kiln combines delicately paired flavours with a visually stunning presentation.
Movida- Movida near Oracle Park stands out for its restaurant-meets-lounge decor, exceptional hospitality, and small but unique menu blending Mexican and Persian cuisines. Some must-try items include the halibut in a jade-green agua chile or the tostadas topped with rich beef birria. Another favourite is the fried poblano pepper filled with a savoury rice mixture, spiced lamb, and queso Oaxaca.
Noodle in a Haystack- Every San Francisco native knows that gaining the reputation of “Best Ramen” in the area is a near-impossible feat. For Yoko and Clint Tan, who have introduced a quirky take on such a potentially simple dish, it does not seem so impossible. Noodle in a Haystack offers a seasonal menu that is constantly changing and ever-so-surprising.
Prik Hom- Already a staple for locals and visitors alike, chef Jim Suwanpanya has singlehandedly perfected the art of curry at this new Thai restaurant in Laurel Village.
Rosemary and Pine- Rosemary and Pine serves a coastal California-inspired menu of masterfully prepared dishes and co*cktails based on the lived experiences of Chef Dustin Falcon.
New Michelin-Starred Indian Restaurants
Copra- Head Chef Srijith Gopinathan opened Copra to pay tribute to his southwestern Indian home of Kerala. Ranging from small bites to sharing platters, Copra’s menu is centred around the namesake of the restaurant and a common southwestern Indian ingredient: coconut.
Tiya- The Marina gets a welcome addition to its restaurant roster with Tiya, an Indian spot run by chef brothers Sujan and Pujan Sarkar. Adding California flair to Indian classics, Tiya offers diners a la carte and tasting menu options. Be sure to check out their co*cktail menu, too, on which every creation is named for a different San Francisco neighbourhood.
One Star
Angler- Facing out on to the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island, Angler’s views are topped only by its Michelin-starred seafood. Their raw bar serves up the freshest variety of oysters, and their regular bar has an incredibly deep roster of wines, beers, and co*cktails.
Aphotic- Chef Peter Hemsley transforms seafood dining by emphasizing transparency in sourcing, with each of 10 courses featuring fresh, locally farmed seafood along with the sourcing history.
Bar Crenn- An establishment helmed by Chef Dominique Crenn, this spot is more wine bar than restaurant. However, its tasting menu and a la carte selections include some enviable vegetable and seafood dishes.
Gary Danko- With an accessible tasting menu and flexible main menu that lets you build your own culinary adventure, it’s clear why Gary Danko has been a Fisherman’s Wharf staple for decades.
Kin Khao- Located in the Parc 55 Hotel, just steps from the hustle and bustle of Powell and Market streets, Kin Khao is a terrific Thai restaurant. Their chicken wings are big and spicy and can’t be passed up.
Mister Jiu’s- A relative newcomer, Mister Jiu’s stormed out of the gate, earning its first Michelin star the very first year it opened. The cuisine at this buzzy Chinatown restaurant continues to impress.
Nari– Located in the iconic Hotel Kabuki, this beautiful restaurant delivers with a dramatic setting and laser-focused cooking. Chef Pim Techamuanvivit showcases her personality and refined palate in dishes that combine fantastic Californian ingredients with a contemporary Thai twist.
Niku Steakhouse- Niku Steakhouse is a meat-focused restaurant, highlighting an in-house dry-aging program, and exclusive cuts of coveted Japanese A5 wagyu with an emphasis on wood-fired cooking.
O’ by Claude Le Tohic- On the third floor of One65 sits one of San Francisco’s must-dine establishments: a multi-level French concept restaurant reminiscent of the Italian restaurant brand, Eataly. The O’ from O’Farrell reminded Le Tohic of the French “eau,” meaning water. From this, Le Tohic personally developed a refined culinary concept and a menu based on the elements of water, fire and earth. Luxurious but not pretentious, O’ offers modern French cuisine with elegant and attentive service.
Osito- Ositois a community-driven, live-fire restaurant in the Mission Districtfeaturing the bounty of San Francisco Bay Area’s rich agricultural heritage. The wood fire enlivens their seasonal approach to cooking, as the cuisine attempts to evoke the natural beauty of coastal California.
The Progress- Created by chefsStuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, The Progress offers brunch and dinner menus featuring everything from steamed egg tofu to smoked bacon bratwurst.
Restaurant Nisei- Nisei started as a pop-up restaurant in 2019, hosting a 10-course tasting menu around the Bay Area from Chef David Yoshimura. It has now settled in the Russian Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. The tasting menu is based on California Washoku cuisine—Washoku meaning “harmony of food,” also referred to as the “home cooking” of Japan. The philosophy of Washoku focuses on principles emphasizing the balance of colour, taste preparations, sense, and respect for food.
San Ho Wan – Chef Corey Lee’s creation and one of the newest additions,is a collaboration with Jeong-In Hwang.They share a vision for a casual Korean restaurant that uses the best ingredients and meticulous techniques with real BBQ cooked over proper charcoal.
The Shota- The Shota offers Edomae-style omakase sushi and Kaiseki-inspired dishes. Using seasonal seafood items sourced and jet-flown from the well-known Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan, the chefs maintain the highest quality and ensure authenticity using traditional Edomae techniques such as ageing, curing, and marinating.
Sons & Daughters- With a nine-course tasting menu heavily reliant on fresh produce, Sons & Daughters is a must for any vegetarian visitors to San Francisco.
Sorrel- At Sorrel, the roast duck stands out on a menu of outstanding Cal-Italian dishes. Among many outstanding selections, this entree earns regular raves.
SSAL- SSAL is a sophisticated restaurant serving a tasting menu of Korean-inspired cuisine that is seafood-forward. The interiors are minimal, and everyone gets a view of the open kitchen when they dine, ensuring that the food is the star of the show.
State Bird Provisions- The first creation ofchefsStuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions serves creative California cuisine that is delivered to the table via dim sum carts.
Two Stars
Acquerello- For over 30 years, Nob Hill’s Acquerello has set the standard for fine Italian dining. A neighbourhood institution, Acquerello has been setting the standard for excellence for years with its first Michelin honour in 2007.
Birdsong- The 12-course tasting menu at Birdsong is always changing, featuring the finest bounty of the season alongside chef’s table counter seating to catch the kitchen live in action.
Californios- For the most elevated and elegant Mexican cuisine, make a reservation at Chef Val M. Cantu’s Mission restaurant, Californios which also features a changing dessert selection.
Lazy Bear- For a communal dining experience, gather around the table at Lazy Bear to learn how Chef David Barzelay and his talented team create the succulent dishes you’re soon to enjoy.
Saison- Relying almost exclusively on their wood-fired ovens, the talented cooks at Saison can create an infinite combination of dishes from locally sourced fruit, vegetables, meats, and fish.
Three Stars
Atelier Crenn- Another restaurant by Chef Crenn where she has created a personal atelier (workshop) where exquisite, local ingredients merge with European techniques to put together “poetic culinaria.” In 2019, Atelier Crenn earned its third Michelin star,
Benu- Chef Corey Lee’s second restaurant, Benu, blends traditional flavours with innovative twists in its acclaimed three-star tasting menu.
Quince- With ingredients delivered each day from farms in the East Bay and wine country, the food at three-star winner Quince is unquestionably fresh.
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