Michelin buzz in North County? You bet. Explore top-rated eateries that showcase culinary excellence and innovation — as highlighted by the one and only Michelin guide.
PHOTOS VIA PAULA WATTS
Oceanside’s Dija Mara is a restaurant renowned for its innovative take on Southeast Asian cuisine. Their menu, inspired by Balinese cuisine, is a unique blend of Southeast Asian flavours, Western touches, and Japanese cooking techniques. Overseeing the kitchen is the highly regarded local chef Jason Ambacher along with first-rate service staff, to curate delicious food, beverages, and overall experience.
PHOTOS VIA JEUNE ET JOLIE
Jeune et Jolie is a Michelin-star French restaurant in Carlsbad — one of only three restaurants in the San Diego area to receive the honor in 2021. The Michelin guide pointed out that the restaurant crafts food that is “too pretty to eat”, especially their take on the seabass with crispy skin and sweet pea ice cream. Their exquisite four-course menu costs $115 per person, but you’d be hard-pressed to find better French cuisine options in San Diego.
PHOTOS VIA ADDISON
Addison is the first Southern California restaurant to receive three Michelin stars. Under chef William Bradley’s leadership, Addison is a fine-dining restaurant with set menus and wine pairing. The Michelin guide praises the establishment’s “playful yet polished” approach to their dishes, such as the chicken liver churros and Koshihikari rice.
Perched on a bluff, Addison features arched windows that offer stunning twilight views. The dining room, with its high ceilings and scenic vistas, provides a perfect backdrop for Bradley’s ten-course tasting menu. Central to the restaurant is a wine cellar showcasing a comprehensive selection, including rare Champagnes and unique finds from small producers worldwide. For $375 a person, you can experience this 10-course tasting menu and culinary marvel in North County.
PHOTOS VIA KIMBERLY MOTOS
Valle has the distinction of being the only Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant in San Diego (one of only seven Mexican restaurants in the United States to receive the accolade). They serve a seasonal eight-course tasting menu paired with the finest selections from Valle’s extensive wine collection. The Michelin guide lauded how Valle achieved the balance between creativity and tradition, highlighted by the restaurant’s take on the heirloom corn masa and hoja santa.
PHOTOS VIA A.R. VALENTIEN
A.R. Valentien is the signature restaurant of The Lodge at Torrey Pines. It presents a cozy, wood-beamed restaurant with refined, seasonal American dishes and a terrace overlooking the golf course. According to the Michelin guide, the location’s never-ending growing season gifts the restaurant with boundless ingredients for inspiration. Some of their best recipes are the Dungeness crab flan, bruleed lemon sabayon tart, and an elevated take of chicken with Tuscan kale and cannellini beans.
PHOTO VIA VINCENT KNAKAL
Market is described as a “hidden gem” in North County, but with their star-studded menu and cozy atmosphere, it shouldn’t be. Unlike other upscale restaurants, Market’s menu changes daily to reflect the restaurant’s product-driven cuisine and the spontaneous nature of the owner, Chef Carl Schroeder. Market’s sushi and blue cheese souffle drew a special mention from the Michelin guide, as well as the establishment’s decor and chef Schroder’s creative cooking.
PHOTOS VIA CAMPFIRE
Campfire is a Michelin-star restaurant in Carlsbad serving New American cuisine. Owned by John Resnick, the same creative mind behind Jeune et Jolie, the restaurant has a rustic charm and fun-filled, casual atmosphere. The broccoli is a hit, while the s’mores and the brisket are must-tries.
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