Best Restaurants in California

Best Restaurants in California: A Culinary Journey Through the Golden State

California is food heaven. From Los Angeles and San Francisco’s Michelin-starred fine dining establishments to Napa Valley’s rustic farm-to-table cuisine, the Golden State offers a culinary experience second to none. In this blog, we explore the best restaurants in California, showcasing a mix of luxury, authenticity, innovation, and unforgettable flavor.

California’s cuisine is as diverse as its landscape. With Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, and classic American influences, there’s something in the state to suit every taste. Whether a foodie out to find the best restaurants in California or an explorer wanting to experience its taste, this is your perfect guide. From cliffside restaurants serving up breathtaking vistas to city food centers and resort mountains serving up gourmet cuisine, California serves more than food California serves experience.

The French Laundry – Yountville, Napa Valley

• Cuisine: Fine Dining / French

• Chef: Thomas Keller

• Why it is renowned: A three Michelin-starred, world-class eatery. Celebrated for its exquisite nine-course tasting experience crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and perfectly matched wines.

• Experience: The French Laundry is a serene garden-like environment and impeccable service. Diners can indulge in a one-hour-or-more-long meal with standout dishes including Oysters and Pearls and truffle-enhanced foods.

Benu – San Francisco

• Cuisine: Asian Fusion

• Chef: Corey Lee

• Highlights: Offers a sophisticated blending of Korean, Chinese, and American cuisines. Every dish is crafted with creativity and precision, turning each plate into a visually stunning and flavorful experience.

• Ambience: Elegant and understated, Benu is a peaceful oasis amidst the city, ideal for special occasions and foodies.

State Bird Provisions – San Francisco

• Cuisine: American Fusion / Dim Sum-style service

• With its bold personality and distinctive call, the California quail proudly represents the Golden State as its official bird.

• Why it’s a must-try: Offers innovative small plates with a revolving menu. Food is pushed around on carts, and customers choose what they want, adding a fun and interactive feature to dining.

Providence – Los Angeles

• Cuisine: Seafood / Contemporary American

• Recognition: Two Michelin stars

• Highlights: Has sustainably caught seafood. Wild Japanese tai snapper and Santa Barbara uni are transformed into art.

• A modern, elegant atmosphere, ideal for an intimate and luxurious dining experience.

n/naka – Los Angeles

• Cuisine: Japanese / Modern Kaiseki

• Chef: Niki Nakayama

• Why it’s famous: Combines traditional Japanese multi-course cuisine with Californian ingredients. Each course is created to reflect seasonality and harmony.

• Awards: Included in Chef’s Table and one of the few female-owned Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.S.

Bestia – Los Angeles

• Food: Italian / Industrial-Chic Venue

• Why it’s buzzing: For homemade pasta, artisan pizzas, and vibrant ambiance. The industrial-chic ambiance makes it an urban restaurant experience.

• Must-try: Spaghetti rustichella, bone marrow with spinach gnocchetti, and their signature desserts.

Ember – Arroyo Grande

• Food: Wood-fired / Italian-Californian

• Highlights: Seasonal ingredients, cozy ambiance, and open-fire cooking.

• Vibe: Rustic and laid-back. A popular spot among both locals and visitors, offering a warm and fulfilling dining experience.

• Specialties: Flatbreads, grilled meats, and seasonal offerings with locally obtained produce from the surrounding farms.

The Hitching Post II – Buellton

• Cuisine: Santa Maria-style BBQ

• Renowned for: Popularized by the film Sideways. Offers wood-grilled steaks and regional wines.

• Ambience: Unhurried and vintage, with friendly personnel and a focus on utilizing locally obtained traditional barbecue techniques.

California is home to the farm-to-table revolution. Several of California’s top restaurants boast utilizing locally produced farms, fisheries, and dairies for food products.

Manresa – Los Gatos

• Cuisine: Californian / French

• Chef: David Kinch

• Experience: Offers a different tasting menu daily. The emphasis is on cultivating biodynamic produce and using beef sourced directly from nearby farms.

SingleThread – Healdsburg

• Cuisine: Japanese / Farm-driven

• Distinctive Element: Combines a luxury inn, a small organic farm, and a gourmet restaurant.

• Features: Each meal is a seasonal masterpiece with ingredients picked just a few miles from your plate.

California’s coast offers more than scenic drives—it’s where some of California’s best restaurants with ocean views are located.

Sierra Mar – Big Sur

• Cuisine: New American

• Enjoy an unforgettable meal perched above the coastline, where the endless Pacific unfolds before you.

• Specials: Prix fixe menus that feature coastal flavors, local seafood, and artistic presentation.

Geoffrey’s – Malibu

• Cuisine: Coastal Californian

• Highlight: Mediterranean-influenced dishes and romantic sunsets.

• A glamorous waterfront venue with cascading terraces that sparkle under the night sky.

These restaurants have stood the test of time and are still popular due to their legend and charm.

Musso & Frank Grill – Hollywood

• Cuisine: Traditional American Steakhouse

• Opened: 1919

• Celebrity Guests: Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and today’s Hollywood royalty.

Tadich Grill – San Francisco

• Cuisine: Seafood / Retro atmosphere

• Recognized as the longest-operating restaurant in California, this historic eatery has served guests without pause since its founding.

Modern locations that combine cutting-edge cuisine with social media environments.

Gjelina – Venice, Los Angeles

• Cuisine: New American / Tapas

• The setting blends a sleek, eco-conscious design with earthy, rustic charm and features an open kitchen that invites guests into the culinary experience.

• Popular Dishes: Wood-fired pizzas, roasted vegetables, and innovative salads.

Girl & the Goat – Los Angeles

• Popular for: Flavorful international small plates like goat empanadas and chickpea fritters.

• Atmosphere: Eclectic, lively, and always busy.

California has the most innovative and satisfying veggie and vegan menus.

Gracias Madre – West Hollywood

• Cuisine: Mexican vegan

• Atmosphere: Elegant and trendy with a charming outside patio.

• Fan favorites include crispy sweet potato flautas, rich plantain mole, and refreshing homemade horchata.

Millennium – Oakland

• Cuisine: Gourmet Vegan

• Reputation: One of the country’s oldest and highest-end vegan restaurants.

• Keyword usage: Upscale vegan cuisine, Millennium is among California’s top-rated restaurants for responsible dining.

Overrated but not to be forgotten, these restaurants surprise pleasantly with quality and personality.

The Firehouse – Sacramento

• Cuisine: Californian / Upscale

• Ambiance: Situated in a turn-of-the-century 1853 firehouse. Offers an elegant dining experience complemented by a selection of award-winning wines.

La Super-Rica Taqueria – Santa Barbara

• Cuisine: Mexican / Casual

• Celebrity Endorsement: Julia Child’s go-to taco joint. World-renowned for true flavors and freshly made tortillas.

Napa and Sonoma cuisine is about pairing fine wine with outstanding cuisine.

Auberge du Soleil – Rutherford

• Cuisine: Mediterranean cuisine

• A refined escape nestled amid rolling vineyards, offering panoramic scenery and tranquil charm.

Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch – St. Helena

• Atmosphere: Sophisticated but not pretentious. Renowned for its crisp farm-grown produce, naturally raised beef, and wines crafted directly on the vineyard estate.

Sometimes the greatest bites are on a truck or in a small shop.

Kogi BBQ – Los Angeles

• Type: Korean-Mexican Fusion

• History: Led gourmet food truck movement. Known for their flavorful short rib tacos and spicy kimchi quesadillas, this place has become a local favorite.

Banh Mi Saigon – San Jose

• Type: Vietnamese Sandwiches

• Why go: Excellent meats, fresh baguettes, and unbeatable prices make it a local favorite.

Rich desserts that will make your trip totally unforgettable.

Salt & Straw – Multiple Locations

• Why go: An advocate of offbeat ice cream flavors such as olive oil and pear & blue cheese.

Bouchon Bakery – Yountville

• From: Chef Thomas Keller

• Treats: Macarons, croissants, and breads crafted by the master baker’s own hand equal to the best Parisian bakery.

Dining with a purpose is here to stay.

Homegirl Café – Los Angeles

• Mission: Employment training empowering women who were previously gang involved and women who were previously incarcerated.

Café Gratitude – Multiple Cities

• Ethos: Mindfulness, sustainability, and tasty vegan food.

California’s cuisine is globally famous. From upscale fine dining, comforting comfort food, or adventurous fusions, the best restaurants in California serve once-in-a-lifetime experiences for every kind of diner. From Northern towering redwoods to sun-drenched beaches in the south, each morsel is a story and always scrumptious.

Fuel your appetite for new experiences and start mapping out your next culinary journey across California.