The Best Cheap Meals in California, According to the Michelin Guide

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