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