From rustic farm-to-table spots to elegant Michelin-starred dining rooms, top restaurants run by celebrity chefs are all over California. Even if you don’t know these culinary stars from the TV shows and appearances that have made them famous, you can taste the delicious results of their unique cooking styles. Explore establishments every foodie should have on their list—and maybe even spot a celeb chef overseeing the service—at these California dining destinations.
Thomas Keller at The French Laundry, Yountville
He may not have his own TV show, but Chef Keller’s fame is almost unsurpassed in the culinary world based on the brilliance of his food and the quality of his dining experience. With three Michelin stars, The French Laundry in Napa Valley is a full-on event. The tasting menu is sublime, with seasonal dishes as well as Keller’s signature “oysters and pearls” (oysters and caviar in sabayon). If you can’t snag a reservation (tables fill up months in advance), visit Keller’s more casual spots in Yountville: Bouchon, Ad Hoc + Addendum, Bouchon Bakery, and RO Restaurant & Lounge.
Guy Fieri at Chicken Guy!, American Canyon
You practically can’t turn on the Food Network without encountering this spiky-haired superstar. Fieri first made the culinary scene in 2006, when he won his own series in the Food Network’s Next Food Network Star competition. Since then, the Mayor of Flavortown has overtaken the airwaves with shows such as Diners, Drive Ins & Dives and Guy’s Grocery Games. Also a restaurateur, Fieri launched his casual Chicken Guy! chain in 2018, offering up tasty fried chicken tenders and sandos with succulent sauces. When the newest location opened in American Canyon, near Napa, in late 2024, Triple D fans lined up for well over an hour to get a taste.
Alice Waters at Chez Panisse, Berkeley
The first woman to win the James Beard Award in 1992, Alice Waters is known as the visionary chef who ushered in the concept of “California cuisine” and the farm-to-table movement with her focus on hyper-local ingredients. Opened in 1971, her well-established Berkeley restaurant, Chez Panisse, remains as delightful as ever. Try the tasting menu in the chic and cozy downstairs dining room or the à la carte options at the more casual upstairs cafe. All offerings change daily and feature fruits, vegetables, and herbs plucked fresh from nearby farms and gardens.
Roy Choi at Kogi BBQ, Los Angeles
Food lovers across the country got to know Roy Choi through the Netflix series The Chef Show, which he cohosted in 2019 and 2020 with writer-director Jon Favreau. But for L.A.-based fans of fusion cooking, Choi was already a star. Credited as a pioneer of America’s food truck movement, Choi launched Kogi BBQ in 2008. The truck quickly grabbed national attention for its Korean-Mexican fusion fare—especially the short rib tacos. Along with his fleet of food trucks, Choi operates the brick-and-mortar Kogi Taqueria.
Brooke Williamson at Playa Provisions, Playa del Rey
The L.A. native is a Top Chef veteran, having won the top prize in Season 14 in Charleston and the Food Network’s Tournament of Champions. Williamson’s unique Playa Provisions concept features four different restaurants housed within one stunning beachside location near Marina del Rey. The cafe King Beach is all about breakfast and lunch, while Dockside, an intimate dinner spot, showcases the chef’s love of California coastal cuisine—especially seafood. After dinner, stop at Small Batch for housemade ice cream, or nip into Grain Whiskey Bar for a nightcap.
Dominique Crenn at Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
Crenn’s bird’s nest of a restaurant is one of San Francisco’s most exclusive spots with a handful of tables and a famously steep price tag. But if you’re lucky enough to snag a table, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As the only female chef in the U.S. with three Michelin stars, Crenn is famous for breaking boundaries. Author of the bestselling memoir Rebel Chef, Crenn made history in 2019 by removing all meat from the menus of Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn. Don’t worry, you won’t miss it one bit.
Tyler Florence at Wayfare Tavern, San Francisco
A South Carolina native who rose to culinary fame as a chef in New York City, Florence has been a Food Network staple since 1999, hosting How to Boil Water, Food 911, Tyler’s Ultimate, and The Great Food Truck Race. The chef—now a resident of Marin County—opened Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco's Financial District in 2010. With its cozy, wood-paneled decor and sophisticated American comfort food menu, Wayfare remains a local favorite. The signature burger is a standout, made from a secret ground-beef blend and topped with local brie, red onion marmalade, and smoky bacon. If you’re catching a Warriors game at Chase Center, check out Florence’s Miller & Lux steak house.
Wolfgang Puck at Spago, Beverly Hills
Charismatic Austrian-born Puck fused chef and celebrity before the era of Food Network megastars. Puck launched Spago back in 1982, and the restaurant still wows packed tables with an ever-changing, eight-course tasting menu. Head to the olive tree-dotted patio to watch the Hollywood elite, while trying the classic smoked salmon pizza topped with roe. This Beverly Hills hot spot is Puck’s flagship, but you can also taste the chef’s signature style at Chinois in Santa Monica, Merois in West Hollywood, and CUT Beverly Hills at the Beverly Wilshire.
Curtis Stone at Maude Restaurant, Beverly Hills
Stone boasts a laundry list of television credits including Iron Chef America, Top Chef, Take Home Chef, and more. The Australian native’s flagship Maude, which closed in 2024, earned him a Michelin star in 2019—and a devoted following. Stone continues to impress foodies at Michelin-starred Gwen in Hollywood. Decked out in glamorous Art Deco style, the European-style restaurant and butchery showcases house-made charcuterie and wood-fire grilled steaks.
Brian Malarkey at Herb & Wood, San Diego
This chef made his first national TV appearance as a finalist on Top Chef: Miami and has gone on to become a prolific restaurateur. Malarkey opened and subsequently sold his popular Searsucker and Herringbone restaurants before starting fresh with Herb & Wood. The San Diego destination, listed in 2024 among Travel + Leisure’s best San Diego restaurants, focuses on wood-fired Mediterranean dishes like roasted branzino and pizzas served in a rustic, vaulted-ceiling dining room. Start here or try one of Malarkey’s other hip SoCal spots.
Richard Blais at California English, San Diego
Blais made his Top Chef debut in Season 4, earning the runner-up spot, and then returned to take the top prize in Top Chef: All-Stars Season 8. Now, he cohosts FOX’s Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay and Nyesha Arrington. Following his big win, the chef went on to launch several restaurants in San Diego County, including Juniper and Ivy and Ember & Rye. Most recently, he opened California English, a stylish, Golden State–inspired take on pub food. From pasties filled with duck confit to harissa-spiced Scotch eggs to an upscale take on the traditional Sunday roast, Blais takes British classics to new heights.