The California Michelin Guide dropped a new list of restaurants being added to its collection. On Wednesday, May 20, seven Bay Area restaurants made the cut, with 21 restaurants total joining across the state.
In this latest round of guide additions, four San Francisco restaurants were recognized: Turkish wine bar Kitchen Istanbul; Presidio Heights Mexican restaurant Maria Isabel; soul food purveyors Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement; and Tuscan fine dining spot, Via Aurelia. Over in Oakland, tofu masterminds Joodooboo snagged a spot in the guide, as did Salvadoran favorite Popoca. Meanwhile, Tasting House’s new sister restaurant, Vicinity, also landed a nod from the guide for Los Gatos.
These restaurants aren’t quite starred additions to the guide;
they join under the “Recommended” designation, and are highlighted as “New.” The California Michelin Guide updates with these new additions throughout the spring — the last batch was released in March— and typically these restaurants will be shuffled into a Bib Gourmand or starred recognition at the annual Michelin Guide ceremony. It should be noted, however, that being added to the guide is not a guarantee that a restaurant will land in either category. This year’s ceremony is set for San Diego on Wednesday, June 24.
