Michelin Guide recognizes 31 Orange County restaurants including 3 SCP establishments
by Jennifer Tanaka | OC Register
September 14, 2022
The Michelin Guide has recognized 31 Orange County restaurants in its most recent list. The city of Costa Mesa dominates the dining scene with Orange County’s only Michelin star recipients. (Michelin has said its official star rating announcements for 2022 will come “this winter.”)
South Coast Plaza restaurants such as AnQi Bistro and Vaca helmed by chef Amar Santana and Ahmed Labbate joined the guide. The two additions showcase the plaza’s award-winning dining options, which includes one Michelin star restaurant Knife Pleat, which is one of three Orange County restaurants with a star rating, and another restaurant helmed by Bib Gourmand chef Ross Pangilinan.
Costa Mesa’s other dining destination, SOCO & The OC Mix, saw the addition of Arc Food & Libations to the California list. The center is home to chef Carlos Salgado’s critically lauded, Michelin star restaurant Taco Maria.
Other cities in Orange County honored the region’s diverse culinary flavors. Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in Fullerton, Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen in Orange, Garlic & Chives by Kristen in Garden Grove, and Fable & Spirit in Newport Beach showcase the wide range of dining options ranging from Pakistan to Ireland. Restaurants such as Hana re and Marchè Moderne were expected inclusions, but for some chefs, the recognition was completely unexpected.
“It’s an honor to have our work recognized,” says Joel Gutierrez, executive chef at Lido Bottle Works in Newport Beach. The restaurant is known for its seasonal approach to American-style pub fare. Placing hummus with lavash and seared chicken with morels on the same menu with a varying rotation of craft beer and wine.
“Anytime Michelin even mentions you it is surreal,” adds Gutierrez. “This gives me a sense of joy but also a desire to push our boundaries. We were very fortunate to have worked through the entire pandemic when many could not. Now, with the current state of things, we can really push ourselves and our ethos to new heights.”
One Michelin Star restaurants
Hana re, The LAB Anti-Mall, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa; 714-545-2800; hanaresushi.com
Knife Pleat, South Coast Plaza, Penthouse Level, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa; 714-266-3388; knifepleat.com
Taco Maria, SOCO & OC Mix, 3313 Hyland Ave., Ste. C21, Costa Mesa; 714-538-8444; tacomaria.com
Bib Gourmand restaurants
Fable & Spirit, 3441 Via Lido, Newport Beach; 949-409-9913; fableandspirit.com
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen, 141 S. Glassell St., Orange; 714-633-3038; gabbismexicankitchen.com
Garlic & Chives, 9892 Westminster Blvd., #311, Garden Grove; 714-591-5196; garlicandchives.com
Heritage Barbecue, 31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano; heritagecraftbbq.com
Hiro Nori Craft Ramen, Trade Shopping Center, 2222 Michelson Drive, #234, Irvine; 949-536-5800; hironori.com
Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen, 229 E. Commonwealth Ave., Unit A, Fullerton; 714-853-1081; khansaaboc.com
LSXO, 21016 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; 714-374-0083; dinebluegold.com/lsxo
Mix Mix Kitchen & Bar, 300 N. Main St., Santa Ana; mixmixkitchenbar.com
Oliver’s Osteria, 853 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach; 949-715-0261; oliversosteria.com
Pho 79, 9941 Hazard, Garden Grove, 714-531-2490; pho79.com
California Michelin Guide, Orange County restaurants (listed alphabetically)
AnQi Bistro, South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa; anqibistro.com
Arc Food & Libations, SOCO & OC Mix, 3321 Hyland Ave., Suite F, Costa Mesa; arcrestaurant.com
Bello by Sandro Nardone, 1200 Bison Ave., C2, Newport Beach; bellobysandronardone.com
CdM, 2325 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar; riverjettyrg.com/cdm
Chaak Kitchen, 215 El Camino Real, Tustin; chaakkitchen.com
El Mercado Modern Cuisine, 301 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana; mercadomodern.com
Habana, The LAB Anti-Mall, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa; restauranthabana.com
Ikko, 735 Baker St., C, Costa Mesa; 714-556-7822
J.Zhou, The District at Tustin Legacy, 2601 Park Ave., Tustin; eatjzhou.com
Lido Bottle Works, 3408 Via Oporto, #103, Newport Beach, lidobottleworks.com
Marchè Moderne, 7862 S. Coast Hwy, Newport Beach; marchemoderne.net
Ohshima, 1956 N. Tustin St., Orange; ohshimasushi.com
Ootoro, Trade Shopping Center, 2222 Michelson Drive #246, Irvine; ootorosushi.com
Shunka, 369 E. 17th St., #17, Costa Mesa; shunkasushi.com
Sushi ii, 100 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach; sushi-ii.com
The Ranch, 1025 E. Ball Rd., #101A, Anaheim; theranch.com/restaurant/index.aspx
Todos Santos, 22322 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita; eatdrinksantos.com
Vaca, South Coast Plaza, 695 Towne Center Drive, Ste. 170, Costa Mesa; vacarestaurant.com
