The Bay Area's culinary landscape saw both triumph and heartbreak as the MICHELIN Guide California 2025 was unveiled Wednesday night in Sacramento, with significant star gains offset by a notable loss that ended a nearly two-decade streak for one Peninsula establishment.
Oakland made culinary history as Sun Moon Studio earned the city's second-ever Michelin star, joining the ranks of established winner Commis. According to the MICHELIN Guide, chefs Alan Hsu and Sarah Cooper's intimate 16-seat restaurant captivated inspectors with its "mercurial seasonal tasting menu that dutifully celebrates the wealth of Californian ingredients." The tiny West Oakland venue, which opened just last summer, represents a farmer-driven approach to California cuisine that has already earned critical acclaim.
San Francisco's Kiln Soars to Two-Star Status
Hayes Valley's Kiln achieved the rare feat of jumping from one to two Michelin stars, marking the only San Francisco restaurant to gain new recognition in this year's guide. As reported by SFGate, the restaurant from chef John Wesley and general manager Julianna Yang impressed with its Nordic-influenced tasting menu featuring preservation techniques like curing, drying and fermentation. Industry veterans Chef Wesley and Yang met at the Michelin-starred Sons & Daughters before launching their own venture in the former Cala restaurant space.
The elevation positions Kiln among California's elite dining establishments, joining an exclusive group of 14 two-star restaurants statewide. The MICHELIN Guide notes that the tasting menu "leans Nordic, highlighting preservation techniques like curing, drying and fermentation in dishes whose simplicity is belied by intricate techniques and compelling flavor combinations."
Peninsula Favorite Loses Longtime Star
In a surprising turn, Mountain View's Chez TJ lost its Michelin star after maintaining the distinction for 19 consecutive years since the guide first covered the Bay Area in 2006. Owner George Aviet expressed his disappointment to SFGate, saying "I'm heartbroken for my chef, for my staff. People who work very hard." The contemporary French restaurant, housed in a historic Victorian home, had been hoping to earn a second star rather than lose its existing recognition.
The loss follows a challenging period for Peninsula fine dining establishments amid rising operational costs and shifting dining preferences. According to Palo Alto Online, executive chef Stanley Michalski joined the restaurant in January 2024 with ambitions to earn a second Michelin star, but the loss represents a significant setback for the 43-year-old establishment.
Broader California Recognition
The ceremony marked a historic night for Los Angeles, which saw its first-ever three-star restaurants with Providence and Somni both achieving the highest designation. As noted by the East Bay Times, California now boasts eight three-star restaurants, surpassing New York City's five establishments. The guide also honored 14 restaurants for two-star cuisine and handed out five new one-star awards, bringing the state's total to 87 starred restaurants.
Sonoma County celebrated as Enclos earned two stars in its debut, marking the first two-star restaurant in Sonoma proper. The winery-owned establishment joins an elite group and represents the continuing evolution of Wine Country's culinary scene beyond traditional French fine dining.
Regional Dining Trends and Challenges
The mixed results reflect broader challenges facing Bay Area restaurants in 2025. According to the San Francisco Chronicle's restaurant analysis, the region continues to grapple with high operational costs, labor shortages, and changing consumer preferences that favor casual dining over traditional fine dining experiences. Several notable restaurants have closed in recent months, including multiple establishments featured in previous Michelin guides.
Despite these challenges, industry observers note that 2025 has also seen promising new openings, including concepts from celebrity chefs and innovative fast-casual establishments that reflect evolving dining preferences. The success of relatively new establishments like Sun Moon Studio and Kiln suggests that quality and innovation continue to find recognition, even in a challenging business environment.
Special Awards and Sustainability Focus
Beyond star recognition, the Bay Area garnered special awards highlighting diverse culinary excellence. Menlo Park's Eylan received both a Bib Gourmand distinction and the Special Cocktail Award for its modern Indian cuisine and innovative beverage program. According to the Mountain View Voice, chef Srijith Gopinathan's restaurant impressed inspectors with dishes like Dungeness crab mutabar and innovative cocktails that complement complex Indian flavors.
The guide also emphasized sustainability with Green Star awards, including recognition for San Francisco's Sons & Daughters alongside Sonoma's Enclos. These awards highlight the industry's growing focus on environmental responsibility and sustainable sourcing practices that are becoming increasingly important to both chefs and diners.
Looking Forward
Wednesday night's ceremony represents both continuity and change in California's dining landscape. While established powerhouses like Atelier Crenn, Benu, The French Laundry, Quince and SingleThread retained their three-star status, the emergence of new talent and concepts suggests a dynamic future for Bay Area cuisine. The recognition of establishments like Sun Moon Studio, with its farmer-driven philosophy and intimate scale, may signal evolving preferences in fine dining toward more personal, sustainable, and locally-focused experiences.
For industry professionals and dining enthusiasts, the 2025 results underscore the importance of adaptation and innovation in an increasingly competitive and complex restaurant environment. The success stories provide inspiration, while the challenges faced by longtime establishments serve as reminders of the difficulties inherent in sustaining excellence in the hospitality industry.
