Chronicle Has Restored Star Ratings for Restaurants
The newspaper brings back the zero to four-star system starting Thursday morning.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Dining Out
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San Francisco diners can again use star ratings to evaluate local eateries after the San Francisco Chronicle decided to bring back its review system. The long-standing practice had been discontinued by the newspaper in 2018.
Why it matters
The revived system aims to provide a standardized tool for residents navigating the city's vast dining scene and determining value. It creates a common language for comparing restaurant experiences across different neighborhoods and price points.
The system features a 0 to 4-star scale, returning after the newspaper issued its final starred review in 2018. While the scale is fixed, the specific criteria for each star tier remain to be seen in the upcoming reviews.
The players
MacKenzie Chung Fegan
The San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic who announced the return of the rating system.
Cesar Hernandez
A restaurant critic who will co-author the new reviews with MacKenzie Chung Fegan.
The details
Restaurant critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan announced the revival at an event held at Gray Area. Fegan and critic Cesar Hernandez will co-author the reviews, which the publication will release on Thursday mornings beginning this week. The system will once again classify restaurants on a scale from zero to four stars.
Timeline
2018: The Chronicle issued its final starred review.
September 30, 2026: MacKenzie Chung Fegan announced the revival.
October 1, 2026: The first starred review will be published.
Across the Bay
This decision marks a complete reversal of the San Francisco Chronicle's 2018 choice to drop its long-standing star rating system. The move reinstates a practice that served as a local dining standard for decades prior to that hiatus.
Starting Thursday morning at 4 a.m., you will see star ratings accompanying new restaurant reviews. Use these as a guide to help you compare dining options across the city as you plan your next meal out.
The takeaway
The return of the star system provides a simplified metric for assessing local restaurants. Keep an eye on the newspaper's website every Thursday morning to see how the critics rank your favorite neighborhood spots.
Further reading
For more on the local food scene, see our Dining Out coverage.
Live Poll
Do you find star ratings helpful for deciding which restaurants are worth your time and money?
