Michelin brought its annual California awards ceremony to Sacramento, giving the capital city a rare moment at the center of the national dining conversation. Held at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, the evening honored exceptional restaurants from across the state. Among them, Localis chef-owner Chris Barnum-Dann received one of the night’s top individual honors: the Michelin Sommelier Award. Meanwhile, local favorite Pho Momma joined the prestigious Bib Gourmand list, cementing its status as one of Sacramento’s best under-the-radar dining gems.
The Sommelier Award, given to just one chef or beverage lead in California, recognized Barnum-Dann’s intuitive, globally inspired wine pairings. Barnum-Dann was acknowleged for his ability to take risks in the glass, matching unexpected wines with layered, high-impact dishes, from Thai-inspired spice with Riesling to octopus piccata with Austrian red. It was a moment of validation for Localis, which retained its Michelin star for the third consecutive year.
Asked by the Michelin Guide to describe how he built his wine list, Barnum-Dann said:
“It really just came out of wanting a wine list that had something for everybody. So often restaurants are focused on what they like, or what they want, or what they think customers will want. I just hope to have great wines at every price point and to share my love of wine. For me it was: how can we create something that no matter who you are, you will find something delicious on this list?”
Inside the auditorium’s lobby, Barnum-Dann and The Kitchen’s executive chef Kelly McCown showcased Sacramento’s culinary perspective. Localis served wagyu beef tartare over ginger-tapioca chips, along with a vegetarian bite built around roasted sunflower panna cotta, sunflower brittle, black garlic purée, and pickled cucumber. The Kitchen, which also held onto its Michelin star, leaned into peak Northern California seasonality with heirloom tomato tartlets topped with Ossetra caviar and a scallop ceviche finished with coconut and passionfruit.
Over in La Riviera, Pho Momma has long drawn locals for its $6 bowls of pho and hand-rolled spring rolls. Now it is officially on the map. One of just six new Bib Gourmand recipients across the state, the family-run Vietnamese spot was recognized for offering exceptional food at approachable prices. Chef-owner My Le makes every dish herself, simmering broth for days and wrapping each rice paper roll to order. Her restaurant joins the guide’s value-focused category alongside Sacramento holdovers Canon and Nixtaco.
Not every Sacramento mainstay made the list. Michelin dropped longtime entries Frank Fat’s, Yue Huang, and Mulvaney’s B&L, reducing the region’s total recognized restaurants to 15.
Still, Sacramento’s presence on Michelin’s biggest night signaled growing momentum for a region long known for its ingredients but not always its dining scene. Midtown newcomers Majka and Kin Thai were added to the guide earlier this spring for their inventive menus and strong community roots.
When I asked what continued Michelin recognition means for Sacramento’s food scene and its identity as a culinary destination, Mike Testa, CEO of Visit Sacramento, said:
“Hosting the Michelin awards ceremony here in Sacramento and seeing some of our top chefs and restaurateurs recognized for their commitment to innovative farm-to-fork dining is a gratifying moment for Sacramento. With this continued recognition, Sacramento further cements itself as a U.S. culinary destination. Sacramento’s chefs consistently demonstrate that world-class cuisine and wine experiences are deeply rooted in community, seasonality, and agriculture.”
This year’s ceremony underscored what many in the region already knew: Sacramento has earned its place in California’s culinary conversation.