The MICHELIN Guide has added six new Bib Gourmands to the California selection. A Bib Gourmand, for those that need a refresher, are restaurants that offer the best value for money—and these spots are exactly that.
Whether it's contemporary Californian cooking in a hipster haven where the furnishings are crafted from upcycled materials, a swanky spot spotlighting regional Indian cooking, or a market stall with Mexican fare, these six exciting spots with wallet-friendly menus are a must-add to your rotation.
View the Bib Gourmands for 2025 below.
Encinitas
Atelier Manna
Cuisine: Californian
Husband-and-wife Andrew and Larah Bachelier have fashioned a hipster haven at this Encinitas hideaway where the covered patio dining area is set with furnishings crafted from recycled and upcycled materials. Meanwhile in the kitchen, local ingredients are the basis for a streamlined selection of seasonally focused and shareable dishes for breakfast and lunch. Whether you've ordered the locally caught halibut with sudachi and coconut leche de tigre or the grilled Salmon Creek Farms pork rack with a tableside pour of pomegranate-infused jus, expect plates that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. Their nonalcoholic drinks menu features a variety of skillfully crafted and delicious thirst quenchers.
Menlo Park
Eylan
Cuisine: Indian
Chef Srijith Gopinathan has struck gold once again with this swanky Menlo Park sensation, drawing in crowds with his inventive blend of regional Indian cuisine with a fresh Californian twist. To illustrate this singular approach, take a flaky, paratha-like flatbread filled with Dungeness crab and paired with a rich, complex sauce featuring fennel, poppy seeds, and mint. Wood-fired grills add an additional layer of interest, providing a robust char to the likes of lemon-grass scented gulf shrimp, chili-glazed celeriac and pineapple kebabs, and whole sea bream, as well as lending a subtle smoke to sauces. The compelling balance of flavors makes each dish stand on its own, but an assortment of carefully chosen wines and clever cocktails certainly doesn’t hurt matters.
Los Angeles
Komal
Cuisine: Mexican
In the bustling Mercado Del Paloma, Chef Fátima Juárez runs this little stall specializing in corn. Heirloom varieties sourced from Mexico and nixtamalized in-house form the heart of the menu. A quesadilla lined with squash blossoms and sweet corn bound with melty quesillo earns top marks. Golden-fried plantain balls set in a smoky black mole is another accomplished winner. From tlacoyas topped with cactus to tacos lined with short rib, be liberal with the salsa for extra punch and power.
Sacramento
Pho Momma
Cuisine: Vietnamese
It may not look like much from the outside, but there’s a reason that pho lovers flock to this unassuming strip-mall operation. The staff and ambience do offer an above-average level of charm, but it’s the cooking, made with apparent care and high-quality ingredients, that really sets it apart. Naturally, pho is the main event here, offered in a variety of sizes and featuring either chicken or beef broth, both long-simmered and deeply flavorful, to be decked out with accompaniments ranging from tender meats to house-made pork wontons. Fried crab and cream cheese wontons are also offered as appetizers, though diners are better steered towards fresh spring rolls, like a signature offering filled with crispy pork sausage and served with a tangy peanut dipping sauce.
Los Angeles
Rasarumah
Cuisine: Malaysian
Expect to be greeted with an array of sambals as well as Malaysian classics on Chef Johnny Lee's Chinese-Malaysian menu. Don't let the slightly higher price point steer you away, as these large plates are designed for sharing. Pork jowl or chicken satay skewers start things off right, as do ulam bendi with charred okra, and steamed eggplant with sambal and dried shrimp. There are plenty of main dishes to choose from, but beef rendang in a rich and creamy curry accompanied by a buttery roti is a sure thing. To finish, look no further than the cendol sundae with coconut and pandan ice cream with pandan jelly noodles, red bean, gula melaka syrup, and toasted buckwheat.
Hermosa Beach
Vin Folk
Cuisine: Californian, Contemporary
Vin Folk is the kind of place you want to come again and again. The staff is friendly and welcoming; the ambience is just right—both indoors and out—and the offerings are widely appealing. Chefs Kevin De Los Santos and Katya Shastova bring a breath of fresh air to Hermosa Beach with their menu of shareable, globally minded dishes. Whether it's the mussels tart, a riff on a pot pie with flaky pastry and seafood in a warm fennel cream, or the half Jidori chicken that's a favorite for the whole table, there's something delicious to be had. End on the perfect note with goat cheese fromage blanc with diced pear and honey buckwheat granita. It's a popular spot, so plan ahead and make reservations.
Hero image: Ricardo Mora / Vin Folk
Thumb image: Frank Lee / Komal
