The Michelin Star rating has no wonder become the yardstick of quality food and best dining experience. Thanks to the fame and prestige it brings to every restaurant that gets awarded with 1 star, 2 stars or the most coveted, 3 star-rating.
San Francisco as a cosmopolitan city is a hotbed of culinary talent. Therefore, its wealth of Michelin-starred restaurants comes as no surprise.
But how do restaurants get a Michelin star and when did it start? Let’s dig deeper into the history of Michelin ratings before we dig into the scrumptious meals we prepared for you based on the sumptuous list we gathered.
Believe it or not, the Michelin rating started at the turn of the 20th century and coincided with an invention that had little to do with cuisine. How mind blowing is it when I tell you that it coincided with the invention of automobiles. Yes you read it right, cars!
History of the Michelin Guide
The first Michelin Guide was published in 1900 by French industrialist Andre Michelin and his brother Edouard. They wanted to create a buzz for the automobile industry with the ultimate goal of creating business for the tires they manufactured.
The maiden print of the Michelin Guide included maps and how to repair and change tires. It also included hotels, gas stations, mechanics and notably, restaurants along popular routes in France. And with that, they say the rest is already history.
Fast forward to the present time, the Michelin Star rating awarded to restaurants continues to be a popular guide and even a factor that increases traffic in the streets where these restaurants are in the city. It may have just been a byproduct of the Michelin brothers’ main target to increase the popularity of automobiles in the past, but now it has clearly become a stand-alone product and gold standard at that.
Here’s the 8 Michelin-Starred restaurants that will make your wandering foodie heart skip a beat. The list only includes 3 and 2 star-ratings because we want to offer you only the best of the best in San Francisco!
1. Atelier Crenn
Behind an unassuming facade mere steps from the San Francisco Bay, Dominique Crenn offers various multi-course experiences and artfully presented French dishes with a focus on innovation, served in a minimalist setting.
LOCATION: 3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123
2. Benu
Minimalist SoMa spot featuring innovative, Minimalist SoMa spot featuring innovative, American cuisine and renowned tasting menu by chef Corey Lee, the former Chef de cuisine at the French Laundry.
LOCATION: 22 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA 94105
3. Acquerello
For more than three decades, Acquerello has offered an unparalleled Italian fine-dining experience in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood. The restaurant, operated by Giancarlo Paterlini and Executive Chef Suzette Gresham, has been heralded for its high-end Italian cuisine & wines served in a converted chapel with vaulted, wood-beam ceilings.
LOCATION: 1722 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94109
4. Birdsong
Set out to explore, discover and showcase the original cuisine of the Pacific Northwest with its cozy, upscale stop with a chef’s tasting menu highlighting Pacific Northwest & wood-fire cooking.
LOCATION: 1085 Mission St, CA 94103
5. Californios
Californios is a family owned and operated California Mexican restaurant. The cuisine is a contemporary expression of Mexican cuisine, using the bountiful ingredients of the Bay Area for inventive tasting menus & small-batch wines served in a cozy, luxe interior.
LOCATION: 355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
6. Campton Place
Taj Campton Place holds a special place in the heart of San Francisco food lovers. Guests universally agree that no trip here is complete without sampling our signature Cal-Indian cuisine, a flavorful spin on California cuisine pairing fresh, seasonal ingredients with India’s rich culinary heritage.
LOCATION: Taj Campton Place, 340 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108
7. Lazy Bear
The revered pop-up gets a permanent setting with this midcentury space serving New American cuisine. Lazy Bear’s cuisine centers around nostalgia and a reverence for the wild, utilizing a wide variety of preservation methods and inventive techniques.
LOCATION: 3416 19th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
8. Saison
Saison is a modern American restaurant located in San Francisco, California. Their cuisine is focused around wood fire cooking of seasonal ingredients in an open-kitchen space in a historic building known for luxe, innovative French-American tasting menus.
LOCATION: 178 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
So whether you’re a local foodie who wants to experience the world renowned Michelin starred restaurants in the neighborhood or you’re a wandering foodie who’s just visiting and curious if the anonymous inspector who visited the restaurant awarded the right number of stars, check out the list above and feel free to add or deduct stars. After all, a wandering foodie may get attracted to the stars that shine bright in that restaurant but it’s the overall vibes that make the restaurant a star.
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With over 30 years of real estate experience, Lawrence brings a family-focused approach to Real Estate. Starting early on by assisting his father with hands-on repairs and maintenance with various properties and later assisting with the backend operational processes, Lawrence along with his wife Melanie Leung have a developed multiple businesses focusing on all aspect of Real Estate including, but not limited to, Property Management, Investment Strategies as well as Buyer and Seller Representation. By working in multiple aspects of the real estate process, he brings a multi-faceted perspective to the buying and investment process. As a duo team with a strong knowledge of property investment, Lawrence is able to provide all the necessities an investor needs to make the smart choices.
Having grown up with parents working in real estate, I found my passion for this industry at an early age. I chose to follow in their footsteps after seeing how many clients they were able to help fulfill the American Dream of Home Ownership. After 7 years of working extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have developed a keen understanding of the local market and always take the time to figure out what clients really need from me as a professional real estate broker. I take pride in serving my clients with the utmost level of care and professionalism. It is my job to ensure a smooth, worry-free, and satisfying experience for everyone involved.
Nathalie began her professional career in software and data management. Working with imperative government statistics, Nathalie developed a strong attention to detail and exceptional multitasking capabilities. As a technical support specialist in the IT industry, Nathalie began to deepen her desire to help people and provide excellent customer service. Driven by a mission to be user-centric and customer-focused, she approaches all customer interactions with sincerity and an eagerness for improvement. She’s your go-to person when you’re stuck, need help, or just need someone to listen.
Erika May Roslin has a BA in Accounting and has professional experience working in finance and administration. She has a robust appreciation for accuracy and precision which makes her well equipped for bookkeeping within the real estate and property management industries. Erika has also developed excellent customer service skills and highly values customer satisfaction. She strives to make customers and clients feel happy with their products and services and seeks feedback to further improve operations.
Cherrylane has developed excellent customer service and conflict diffusion skills during her 20 years in the gaming and casino industry. Patience, honesty, and professionalism are at the heart of her commitments and honors her work with integrity and confidentiality. As Cherrylane pivots into the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry, her advanced customer service experience is extremely useful in ensuring customer satisfaction and support. She has worked and interacted with people from diverse cultures and from all walks of life, making her personable and empathetic. We’re thrilled to have her as part of our operations team.
Emily is originally from Los Angeles, California, and graduated from Chapman University with a degree in Business Communication. Her first experience in a leadership role was as a department manager at Nordstrom. It was here she developed her skills in people management as well as client retention. She was awarded with a “Customer Service All-Star” award by the CEO for her creative problem-solving skills and stellar success in giving customers the utmost best service. Following this chapter, she moved her expertise into a Project Management role at an Architectural Engineering company in Southern California. It was here she found her passion for home design and ultimately real estate. With Emily’s combined people skills and passion for the business of real estate and property management, she is thrilled to help grow all facets of KeyOpp.
Katrina embarked on her professional journey as a Digital Marketing Specialist in Real Estate right after graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing Management.
Kristine Cordenillo’s fascination with the concept of home got her into the property management industry. She believes the home is a significant factor in shaping a person’s identity. She was previously a Lease Management Manager for a property management company based in Michigan for about five years. She is currently a candidate for a degree in Masters in Anthropology.
Calvin Yu is a seasoned professional with a decade of diverse experience, underpinned by a foundation in Business Administration from San Francisco State University. His career trajectory includes roles in food service, project management, and as a production associate at Tesla, each contributing to his robust skill set. In these roles, Calvin has demonstrated his ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, showcasing his hardworking nature, diligence, and patience. His time in the food service industry refined his customer service and operational skills, while his project management experience enhanced his strategic planning and problem-solving capabilities. At Tesla, he embraced the challenge of precision and innovation, further solidifying his adaptability and commitment to excellence.
Anupama’s journey began with a deep curiosity for design, leading her to complete a 3-year diploma in Design and Animation. However, her passion for Marketing and Real Estate soon took center stage. With 10 years of experience, she has helped brands scale and thrive by crafting strategic, data-driven solutions and building a strong digital presence.