The La Jolla fine dining restaurant, helmed by chef Elijah Arizmendi and perched atop Girard, earns Michelin recognition less than one year after opening.
Less than one year after opening, fine dining restaurant Lucien in La Jolla has earned a spot on the Michelin Guide.
“We’re very humbled, very excited,” said acclaimed chef Elijah Arizmendi, who owns Lucien with Brian Hung and Melissa Lang. “I’m happy for the team.”
A restaurant’s appearance in the 104-year-old Michelin Guide comes down to quality: a team of anonymous Michelin inspectors visit eateries over the course of a year, at various points, checking for consistency and outstanding dishes time and again.
Lucien, named for Arizmendi’s young son, opened in July as an intimate, high-touch experience, a 30-seat restaurant featuring a 10- to 14-course tasting menu.
Image courtesy of Lucien
“It’s great to see my son’s name on the Michelin Guide,” Arizmendi said, adding the inclusion in the Guide is something he’s wanted since he was young himself.
“It’s an accomplishment.”
The May 20 announcement means Lucien joins five other Michelin Guide restaurants in La Jolla: AR Valentien; Catania; Himitsu; Nine-Ten and Paradisaea.
The Michelin Guide adds new selections twice a year; Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmands for 2026 will be announced June 24.
Until then, Arizmendi said he’ll approach his team with the same direction and mentality he’s had since Lucien’s opening:
“Focus on the guests, focus on what’s in front of you. The most important thing is to create a special experience for people they can’t find elsewhere.”
