When they first saw the news on TV, the staff at Rosemead’s Good Alley restaurant was ecstatic. They really couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
“We are just so excited, just so excited and we can’t believe it. But now we have to start working even harder,” said Terry Shao, the manager of the restaurant, which is located in a strip mall and has been open for a little more than a year.
Good Alley is one of 11 LA-area restaurants that made the Michelin Guide California selection of restaurants, which was announced on Wednesday, May 20.
“Michelin Guide Inspectors spend the entire year on the road seeking out the best restaurants to recommend — and what they’ve found is too good to keep a secret,” read a statement on the Guide’s website.
The restaurants added to the list could later receive prestigious distinctions like Michelin Star or Bib Gourmand awards.
The new list of restaurants serve a variety of cuisines from omakase to Mexican to Korean and South American.
Among the restaurants is well-known Long Beach-founded taqueria Sonoratown, which has two other locations in Los Angeles. The place is known for its house-made flour tortillas and tacos, burritos and quesadillas stuffed with meats like chicken, beef and chorizo.
“Look for the line that is likely stretching down the block, and you’ll known you’ve arrived at Sonoratown. This spot has become a local favorite, and while the long queue may mean finding a seat indoors or out requires a stroke of luck, it’s worth standing up for the food here,” the guide stated.
Another inclusion is Alto in Studio city, an Argentinian and Uruguayan live-fire restaurant and California-French bistro Electric Blue in Mar Vista.
“Chef/owner Craig Hopson’s Electric Bleu is indeed buzzy; this California-meets-French bistro in Mar Vista draws a crowd for its likable plates. Seating at the bar, counter and tables is tight and a hot ticket, so make reservations (especially on weekends) to savor starters like sauteed, foraged chanterelles with parmesan, parsnips and Treviso tardivo, or entrees such as duck breast with dates, saffron and green olives,” the guide stated.
And good luck getting in here now because also on the list is Kojima, an omakase restaurant in a mini-mall in Sawtelle with a rotating menu and room for only eight diners at a time. Reservations are a must here.
“Chef Hayato Kojima prepares everything himself. There is no fixed or printed menu and chef doesn’t speak English, though the warm staff explain every dish. As expected, the menu changes often and is dictated by sourcing for peak freshness and quality but could include dishes like tempura firefly squid and bamboo shoots; charcoal-grilled chicken hearts paired with grated ginger; or sliced clam served over asparagus,” the guide stated.
For Chao and his crew at Good Alley, the recognition means hard work is coming because now they got their eye on the prize. They want a Michelin Star.
“Now that we’re on the Michelin Guide we think we have a good chance to get a Star. We’re going to work hard and take this to the next level,” Shao said. For now though, they’re also planning a staff dinner to celebrate the recent honor.
Here’s the list of the 11 Los Angeles restaurants added to the Michelin Guide this week:
- Alto in Studio City
- Casa Leo in Los Feliz
- Electric Bleu in Mar Vista
- Good Alley in Rosemead
- Kojima in Sawtelle
- Lielle in Pico-Robertson
- Lynx in the Arts District
- The Mulberry in Sawtelle
- Miura in Beverly Hills
- Sonoratown, with locations in downtown Los Angeles, Mid-City and Long Beach
- SORA Craft Kitchen in downtown Los Angeles