The Best Cheap Meals in California, According to the Michelin Guide
From burger joints and ramen shops to Mexican, Japanese, and French restaurants, the Bib Gourmand list recognizes high quality at a (relatively) low price
Attention, budget-minded people of good taste! The Michelin Guide, the world’s most prestigious restaurant guide, has just released its list of restaurants in California worthy of a Bib Gourmand, an honor they bestow on restaurants serving exceptionally high-quality meals for $40 or less.
Theoretically, that should include two courses and dessert or a glass of wine, though tip plus California tax will definitely knock you over that in more than a few instances. The list includes 151 restaurants representing 36 cuisine types, including ramen shops, burger joints, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Thai, Mexican, French, Italian, Japanese, and just plain old modern Californian restaurants. While the Michelin guide has covered San Francisco and Los Angeles in years past, this is the first top-to-bottom assessment of the Golden State. For those of you looking for places to pay considerably more than $40 for a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you’re going to have to wait for the official red guide to come out next week on June 3.
So, here’s a list of all the restaurants earning a Bib Gourmand for the very first time this year:
Aburiya Raku, Los Angeles
Adana Restaurant, Los Angeles
Amor y Tacos, Los Angeles
Ayara Thai Cuisine, Los Angeles
Badmaash, Los Angeles
Baran’s 2239, Los Angeles
Bowery Bungalow, Los Angeles
Broken Spanish, Los Angeles
Burritos La Palma, Los Angeles
Campfire, San Diego
Canon, Sacramento
Cassia, Los Angeles
Chengdu Impression, Los Angeles
Chengdu Taste, Los Angeles
Chuan’s, Los Angeles
Church & State, Los Angeles (closed)
Coni’Seafood, Los Angeles
Cucina Sorella, San Diego
Cucina Urbana, San Diego
Dai Ho, Los Angeles
Dha Rae Oak, Los Angeles
DongLaiShun, Los Angeles
El Jardin, San Diego
Eveleigh, Los Angeles
The Factory Kitchen, Los Angeles
Father’s Office, Los Angeles
Frank Fat’s, Sacramento
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen, Orange County
Garlic & Chives, Orange County
Grand Harbor, Los Angeles
Guerrilla Tacos, Los Angeles
Harborview, San Francisco
Hiro Nori Ramen, Orange County
Holbox, Los Angeles
Il Pastaio, Los Angeles
Jaffa, Los Angeles
Jitlada, Los Angeles
Jon & Vinny’s, Los Angeles
Juniper & Ivy, San Diego
Katsu-ya, Los Angeles
Kettner Exchange, San Diego
Kismet, Los Angeles
La Calenda, Wine Country
La Cevicheria, Los Angeles
Langer’s, Los Angeles
LaoXi Noodle House, Los Angeles
LOLA 55, San Diego
Longo Seafood, Los Angeles
LSXO, Orange County
Lunasia, Los Angeles
Maccheroni Republic, Los Angeles
Majordomo, Los Angeles
Manhattan Beach Post, Los Angeles
Mariscos Jalisco, Los Angeles
Meals by Genet, Los Angeles
Meizhou Dongpo, Los Angeles
Mercado Los Angeles, Los Angeles
Mesa Verde, Santa Barbara
Mian, Los Angeles
Mi Lindo Nayrit Mariscos, Los Angeles
Mix Mix Kitchen & Bar, Orange County
Mother, Sacramento
Okiboru Ramen, Los Angeles
Papilles, Los Angeles
Petit Trois, Los Angeles
Pig in a Pickle, Marin
Pine & Crane, Los Angeles
Pizzana, Los Angeles
Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
Preux & Proper, Los Angeles
Punta Cabras, Los Angeles (closed)
Rocio’s Mexican Kitchen, Angeles
Rosaliné, Los Angeles
Rossoblu, Los Angeles
Salazar, Los Angeles
Sama Sama Kitchen, Santa Barbara
Sea Harbour, Los Angeles
Shanghai No. 1, Los Angeles
Sichuan Impression, Los Angeles
Sixth & Mill, Los Angeles
Solare, San Diego
Son of a Gun, Los Angeles
Sqirl, Los Angeles
Stockhome, Wine Country
Thai Thing, Los Angeles
Tsubaki, Los Angeles
Yafa, Monterey
Z & Y Bistro, San Francisco