The SF Bay Area Michelin Guide for 2018, though not technically released until December 15, has unveiled their new star rating updates today, as it was announced they would yesterday, following a two-week postponement due the wildfires in the region. And the big news: Coi rises to three stars, meaning that at least for a few days, and possibly for the next year, San Francisco has more three-star restaurants than New York for the first time in history, after tying at six last year. This is a huge endorsement for Coi's executive chef Matthew Kirkley who took over the helm from owner Daniel Patterson in late 2015, having come from the two-Michelin-starred L2O in Chicago. Kirkley thoroughly transformed Coi's menu, making it entirely seafood-focused as his previous menus at L2O had been, and now he steps onto the venerated stage of three-star Michelin chefs.

"Our inspectors have been following chef Kirkley since his days at L20 in Chicago, and we were thrilled to see that he is at the summit of his art,” said Michael Ellis, international director of the Michelin Guide, in a statement. "We were truly impressed by his artistry and his team’s ability to produce sublime dishes based on local ingredients like abalone, oysters and seafood."

Other big news: Single Thread in Healdsburg debuts in the guide at two stars, suggesting it could be well on its way to three within a year or two; Californios in the Mission, after debuting at one star two years ago, gets elevated to a second star; In Situ arrives in the guide, having opened a bit late for last year's deadline, and receives one star; and much loved Rich Table earns a Michelin star for the first time after spending several years on the Bib Gourmand list. Also newly starred are two sushi spots, Kenzo in Napa, and Kinjo in Russian Hill.

As for the demotions and star-strippings: Solbar in Calistoga lost its star this year, and Campton Place gets demoted from two stars to one star. Also Nico, which has closed for relocation downtown, drops out of this year's guide as a result.

As for SF's elevation to a status that, at least until New York gets its latest star update on Monday, puts us at the head of the class in terms of this nation's culinary destination cities, Ellis says (per Eater), "It confirms, as any observer would say, there is a lot of great cooking going on in the Bay Area. You have incredible products from the area and beyond, an open international city, a vibrant and affluent audience in the Bay Area that is interested in trying new things. We’re really excited by what we see."

Below, the new listing (new or elevated in bold).

Three Stars
Benu, San Francisco
Coi, San Francisco
The French Laundry, Wine Country
Manresa, Peninsula
Quince, San Francisco
The Restaurant at Meadowood, Wine Country
Saison, San Francisco

Two Stars
Acquerello, San Francisco
Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
Baumé, South Bay
Californios, San Francisco
Commis, Oakland
Lazy Bear, San Francisco
Single Thread, Healdsburg

One Star
Adega, San Jose
Al’s Place, San Francisco
Aster, San Francisco
Auberge du Soleil, Wine Country
Aziza, San Francisco
Bouchon, Wine Country
Campton Place, San Francisco
Chez TJ, South Bay
Commonwealth, San Francisco
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, Wine Country
Gary Danko, San Francisco
Hashiri, San Francisco
In Situ, San Francisco
Ju-ni, San Francisco
Keiko à Nob Hill, San Francisco
Kenzo, Napa
Kinjo, San Francisco
Kin Khao, San Francisco
La Toque, Wine Country
Lord Stanley, San Francisco
Luce, San Francisco
Madera, Peninsula
Madrona Manor, Wine Country
Michael Mina, San Francisco
Mister Jiu’s, San Francisco
Mourad, San Francisco
Octavia, San Francisco
Omakase, San Francisco
Plumed Horse, South Bay
The Progress, San Francisco
Rasa, Peninsula
Rich Table, San Francisco
Sons & Daughters, San Francisco
SPQR, San Francisco
Spruce, San Francisco
State Bird Provisions, San Francisco
Sushi Yoshizumi, Peninsula
Terra, Wine Country
Terrapin Creek, Wine Country
The Village Pub, Peninsula
Wako, San Francisco
Wakuriya, Peninsula

Related: Brown Sugar Kitchen, Royal Feast Added To Michelin's Bib Gourmand List