San Francisco’s culinary scene continues to thrill with 28 restaurants, including three newcomers, earning Michelin stars in 2024.
At just seven-by-seven miles, San Francisco boasts the second-highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Americas, trailing only New York and making it a compelling destination for travellers from Asia looking to follow their tastebuds.
Acclaimed chefs Dominique Crenn, Corey Lee and Michael Tusk – who respectively helm the city’s three Michelin-starred Crenn Atelier, Benu and Quince -were joined by rising talents, including Kiln chef John Wesley, who was honoured with the Michelin Guide California Young Chef Award. Kiln received its first star just a year after opening in May 2023.
This marks the third consecutive year a San Francisco chef earned the Young Chef Award, with Wesley following in the footsteps of Nisei’s chef David Yoshimura, who earned the title and Nisei a star in 2022, and chef Harrison Cheney, who won the award in 2023 and led Sons & Daughters to achieve its second star this year.
In addition to Kiln, newcomers 7 Adams and Hilda & Jesse also received their first star. Chef David Fisher and chef Serena Chow Fisher’s 7 Adams (above), which debuted in late 2023, was praised by Michelin for its “signature magic”, while Hilda & Jesse (below), which opened in late 2021 by chef Kristina Liedags Compton and Rachel Sillcocks, was lauded for its “total riot of flavours mixed with stellar ingredients.” Sillcocks was also recognised with the “Outstanding Service Award”, while one-star Aphotic’s head distiller and bar director Trevin Hitchins received the “Exceptional Cocktails Award.”
San Francisco’s spirit of creativity, innovation and resilience is deeply ingrained in its culinary culture. Seven of San Francisco’s 19 one-star restaurants intrepidly opened as the world transitioned from the pandemic. Another 23 restaurants, also launched between 2021 and 2024, achieved the “selected” designation in the 2024 Michelin Guide California, joining a list of 65 venues, including stalwarts like Boulevard, Rich Table and Zuni Café. Both the city’s emerging and established culinary leaders continue to evolve their offerings, fueled by the city’s culture of openness and invention.
