Michelin Annoints Seven New San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to the California Guide
Kitchen Istanbul owner Emrah Kilicoglu strengthened the wine selection, turning the restaurant into a destination not only for wine but also for the neighborhood and the city’s industry folks. The wine menu is now led by wine director Joseph DiGrigoli, and in 2025, Büşra Ayvaz joined the team as head chef, per the San Francisco Chronicle, updating the Turkish food menu and creating more buzz for Kitchen Istanbul.
Chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz’s sophomore restaurant Maria Isabel is the couple’s deep dive into Mexican cuisine, opening in March 2026. The restaurant champions heirloom corn from Mexico and regional dishes from Guerrero and Sinaloa, parts of Mexico familiar to Laura, who grew up there and has family ties to the area.
Chef Fernay McPherson started Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement at the Public Market food hall in Emeryville, before triumphantly moving to the Fillmore District in San Francisco, where she grew up. It’s a personal restaurant for McPherson, whose family recipe for rosemary fried chicken has entranced customers on both sides of the bridge.
At Via Aurelia, across the city in the Giants’ Mission Rock development, chef David Nayfeld highlights Tuscan cuisine at a fine dining level. The restaurant is perched on the waterfront with views of the ballpark, with the interior done by the acclaimed de la Cruz Interior Design.
Chef Steve Joo’s temple to pillow-soft dooboo and seasonal banchan is an East Bay favorite, drawing diners to the corner of Market and 42nd streets, a mostly residential neighborhood of Oakland. Joo’s fresh take on banchan incorporates Northern California produce, while leaning on a more rural, countryside cooking approach to guide its menu, a nod to Joo’s Korean grandma.
Los Gatos newcomer Vicinity debuted in February 2026. Chef Julian Silvera pioneered a tasting menu at Tasting House before stepping out with Vicinity. Silvera’s focus on California ingredients is seen through his varied cooking experiences across New York and Florida, for what he calls, “California through the lens of somebody from New York,” landing on “not so traditional” California cuisine, he told Eater SF in January.
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.
