Michelin Guide Adds 6 New NorCal Restaurants

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The Michelin Guide added six more NorCal restaurants to its gilded ranks, proving once again that the region is one of the great culinary capitals of the world. After adding eight NorCal restaurants in March, Michelin Guide reviewers nominated six more local gems that now have a chance of receiving the vaunted Michelin star or Bib Gourmand.

Interestingly, half of the new additions are located in Sacramento, while just one is in San Francisco. So if you’re interested in delicious seasonal Italian specials that change daily, the juiciest pho broth you can imagine, or “Thai spicy” street food, head over to this expanding and under-appreciated market. Or stay in the Bay Area for cozy Korean soups, or eclectic Californian twists on Indian and Japanese food.

Without further ado, here are the new places to book a reservation, while you still can.

1. San Francisco: Sungho

At Sungho, you’ll be transported out of San Francisco and into the kitchen of Chef Seongho’s Korean grandmother. The menu eschews more traditional Korean restaurant offerings in favor of warm stews and his grandmother’s gukbap, a comforting, hearty meal where rice is served in a hot and flavorful broth, often with meat and vegetables. Michelin praised one gukbap for having “fall-off-the-bone pork and tender rice.”

Outside of stews and soups, the restaurant offers generous, family-sized portions of jeon (crisp and savory pancakes studded with seafood and kimchi); yangnyeom-gejang, a spicy dish of raw marinated crab, and kimchi to your heart’s content.

2. Palo Alto: Ethel’s Fancy

The family vibes continue at Ethel’s Fancy, a homey, rustic restaurant in Palo Alto named after the name of the mother and grandmother of Chef and owner Scott Nishiyama. A small menu geared toward family sharing features creative Californian dishes like katsu-style swordfish with spiced kumquats or hojicha tapioca pudding topped with rice cracker bark.

3. Menlo Park: Eylan

This buzzy Menlo Park restaurant puts a unique Californian twist on Indian cuisine. Large crowds are attracted to inventive pairings like paratha flatbread with Dungeness crab and a fennel, poppy seed and mint sauce. Wood-fired grills add a rich, smoky flavor to dishes like lemon-grass scented gulf shrimp, chili-glazed celeriac, and pineapple kebabs. Eylan is also notable for its well-curated wine and cocktail lists.

4. Sacramento: Kin Thai

Sisters and co-owners Napis Lindley and Napak Kongsitthanakor bring the bold and fragrant flavors of Thai street food to a converted warehouse and art gallery in the heart of Sacramento to great effect. Brave souls can ask for “Thai spicy,” while those seeking more familiar Thai food will enjoy their pad Thai, crepe cakes, or rice plates. Kin Thai has a delectable dessert section with treats like mango sticky rice with condensed milk, and a Thai tea slushy with brown sugar boba or grass jelly.

5. Sacramento: Majka

Majka is an inventive twist on the traditional mom-and-pop pizzeria and bakery that centers on special daily plates. Each week, the restaurant offers unique pizza, pasta, and small plate specials featuring seasonal ingredients and suggested wine pairings. On any given day you could get a special deal on the asparagus pizza with sugar snap peas, ramps, bufalo mozzarella, and parmesan, spinach ricotta ravioli, King Salmon Crudo, or fried risotto balls.

6. Sacramento: Pho Momma

If you love pho, Pho Momma is your mecca. The menu is centered around every pho noodles in every conceivable combination, whether you like it with beef, meatballs, chicken, shrimp or tofu. The menu also boasts an impressive list of spring rolls, fried appetizers like a variety of different eggrolls or wontons, and a long list of “Momma’s Specials,” which feature everything from Momma’s Garlic Noodles to Curry Vermicelli. Wash it all down with a long list of milk teas, iced Vietnamese coffee, sweet iced tea, or shakes.

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