5 Best Burgers In California Ranked By Michelin Guide

CALIFORNIA — The hamburger is a staple of American cuisine reinvented over and over at fast food joints and restaurants around the globe.

From a Big Mac to a Michelin star, a perfectly cooked burger is a work of culinary art.

The Michelin Guide is known for traveling far and wide to find the best food in the world. The Michelin distinction celebrates restaurants worthy of a road trip destination, and its seal of approval draws foodies from far and wide.

Here are the guide's top five favorite burger joints in the Golden State:

Breakwater Barbecue - El Granada

Michelin Guide food reviewers lauded Breakwater Barbecue for its All-American charm.

"Upon entering, you're greeted by the butcher slicing and prepping slabs of meat. Further in, house-ground brisket, smoked short rib and house-made sausage await," Michelin critics noted.

The restaurant's signature Breakwater Burger contains house-ground brisket patties, caramelized onions, American cheese, shredded lettuce, breakwater pickles and smoked brisket all on a soft bun with burger sauce.

Juanita & Maude - Albany

Chef and co-owner Scott Eastman named the restaurant after his mother and grandmother, Michelin said. The revolving menu changes based on available seasonal produce.

"Sit back and enjoy dishes like house-made radiatore pasta and the Maude burger #20 with fries while washing it down with devilishly fun cocktails like the rum and coconut-based White Picket Fence," according to the Michelin Guide.

Manuela - Los Angeles

Manuela's Venison burger is a favorite of the Michelin Guide. With pickled green tomatoes, crisp leeks and garlic aioli on top of a brioche bun, Michelin inspectors noted the burger gives more traditional burgers a run for their money.

"Located inside the multi-use Hauser and Wirth Arts Complex, this Southern leaning menu is chock-full of mouth-watering options like Liberty Farms duck breast and cream biscuits," the Michelin critic noted.

Miller & Lux - San Francisco

Michelin's favorite burger at Miller & Lux is the M & L Burger. Between the buns is a dry-aged blend patty topped with Mt. Tam Triple Cream, bacon jam, onion rings and watercress paired with truffle fries.

"Courtesy of chef Tyler Florence, diners at Miller & Lux can expect a variety of steakhouse classics like caesar salad Dover sole meunière to perfectly seared dry-aged steaks," according to the Michelin Guide.

The Stonehouse - Santa Barbara

The Stonehouse's three-course prix-fixe menu could draw a diner's attention away from the burger, but Michelin said the SYR Grilled Natural Angus Burger was the start of the meal. They also recommended the ranch vegan burger sold at lunchtime for those looking for something less meat-heavy.

"Inside this rustic "stone house," hyper-local regional cooking is king. In fact, many of the herbs, fruits and vegetables are actually harvested on the property," Michelin noted.

To get a taste of any of these delicious burgers, book on Michelin's website.