Here’s Where You’ll Find Michelin Star Restaurants in the US

If you dine out frequently and especially enjoy fine dining, then you know the awards that can be bestowed upon restaurants and chefs. From the prestigious James Beard Awards doled out every year to those coveted Stars awarded by the Michelin Guide, many restaurants and chefs can only dream of adding “award-winning” to their names.

In this article, we’ll talk about the Michelin Star-winning restaurants in the United States — and the restaurants that have received Bib Gourmands or just a simple review. Any notation by Michelin is appreciated by a restaurant, as it is a highly respected rating system. (Note that Michelin does not award chefs, only restaurants.)

Michelin inspectors travel the globe to bring us the best of the best. There are over 1,500 restaurants in the U.S. that have seated these inspectors, but only in a handful of cities. The Michelin Guide , as of 2024, has awarded only 200 of these restaurants at least 1 Star (on a scale of 1 to 3). The rest have received either a Bib Gourmand, which means Michelin sees them as an affordable, quality option, or just a review, which is a good reason to check out a place. (If you love French food, here’s the best French restaurant in every state .)

The Meaning Behind Michelin Stars

Michelin Stars are awarded to the highest-quality restaurants that meet these standards:

• Quality of ingredients and products
• Harmony of flavors
• Mastery of techniques
• Chef’s personality
• Consistency of the food and restaurant after multiple visits

You might note that a restaurant’s atmosphere or service does not contribute to an inspector’s overall rating. Furthermore, these inspectors are full-time Michelin employees and they dine anonymously.

So, you might be asking which U.S. cities or states these inspectors have dined in, and the answer might surprise you. It’s seven, as we’ll discuss below. And just because a restaurant received a Michelin Star doesn’t mean they’ll hold on to it. Inspectors reassess previous award winners to make sure they still fit the criteria.

Here’s a closer look at what each Star means:

• 1 Star: If a restaurant is awarded 1 Michelin Star, the ingredients and food at the restaurant are of the highest standard.
• 2 Stars: When a restaurant receives 2 Michelin Stars, the personality and expertise of the chef are evident through the food.
• 3 Stars: 3 Michelin Stars are rare and means a restaurant has an excellent chef who’s likely one of the best in the industry.

Michelin also hands out a Green Star to restaurants that practice sustainability, such as by cutting out or reducing waste or by using locally sourced ingredients.

Colorado Michelin Guide

Some notable entries from Colorado’s 46 Michelin restaurants include:

• Alma Fonda Fina, Denver: This 1-star Mexican restaurant has a menu that’s “littered with treasures,” Michelin wrote .
• Tavernetta, Denver: An Italian restaurant that received a Bib Gourmand and was called “an absolute stunner.”
• Blackbelly Market, Boulder: This steakhouse received a review and a Green Star.

Atlanta Michelin Guide

Among the restaurants are:

• Lazy Betty: A contemporary restaurant with “clever combinations that highlight regional ingredients,” according to Michelin’s 1-star review .
• Estrellita: This Bib Gourmand winner impressed inspectors with its Filipino fixings.
• Fishmonger: Another Bib Gourman winner known for its blackened grouper sandwich.

California Michelin Guide

Not only is California teeming with visitors, but it’s also the largest state in the Union, so not surprisingly it has its own Michelin Guide.

Michelin has included all of the Golden State since 2019 when previously it only covered Los Angeles and Southern California. There are six 3-star restaurants here, 13 with 2 Stars, and a whopping 66 with 1 Star. Bib Gourmands have been doled out to 132 restaurants, and a further 358 were reviewed (as of 2024). (Also check out San Jose’s culinary elite: Michelin-graded restaurants you must visit .)

Some noteworthy restaurants in the California Michelin Guide:

• Addison, San Diego: A 3-star “oasis,” Michelin said , and a “world-class dining destination.”
• Hilda and Jesse, San Francisco: This 2-star American restaurant’s menu is a “total riot of flavors.”
• Gwen, Los Angeles: A 1-star upscale steakhouse that perfectly cooks its meats.
• Camden Spit & Larder, Sacramento: This gastropub received a review on its “decadent evening feast.”

Chicago Michelin Guide

Chicago entered the Michelin Guide fray in 2011. It now has 154 restaurants rated and/or reviewed, with two 3-star restaurants, three 2-star establishments, and 15 with 1 Star.

Forty-five restaurants have been awarded a Bib Gourmand, and 89 have received just a review. (Love chocolate? Here are the most delicious chocolate shops in the U.S .)

Here are some of the standouts in Chicago, according to Michelin:

• Alinea: “Dining here is part theater and pure pleasure,” Michelin said of this 3-star creative modern restaurant.
• Moody Tongue: This 2-star American contemporary restaurant is unique and creative, Michelin wrote .
• Prime & Provisions: This steakhouse would feel right at home in Las Vegas, Michelin’s review stated.

New York City Michelin Guide

As the most populous city in the U.S., New York City was the first non-European locale to be published as a Michelin Guide in 2006. In 2020, the Guide began including restaurants outside the city’s five boroughs, venturing into Westchester County.

Of the 433 restaurants Michelin has reviewed, just four have received 3 Stars. Thirteen have been given 2 Stars, and 1 Star has been given to 51. A Bib Gourmand has been awarded to 100 restaurants, while another 265 were given a review. A Green Star has been awarded to three restaurants. (Here are 8 Michelin-worthy restaurants you must try in New Jersey .)

Here’s a sampling of Michelin restaurants in the Big Apple:

• Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Tarrytown: A 2-star and Green Star winner, Michelin raved about its sustainability practices.
• ILIS, Brooklyn: Michelin said this Scandinavian restaurant has “sustainable cuisine that reflects [Chef Mads Refslund’s] Nordic pedigree.”
• Eleven Madison Park, New York: A 3-star vegetarian restaurant with “a bold vision of luxury dining.”
• Jean-Georges, New York: Michelin said this 2-star French restaurant’s desserts are “dazzling works of art.”

Washington DC Michelin Guide

Our nation’s capital certainly isn’t short on fantastic dining. Michelin first published a Washington D.C. Guide in 2017.

As of 2024, inspectors have visited 121 restaurants in D.C., awarding three a 2-star rating and 21 a 1-star rating. Bib Gourmands have been given to 29 restaurants, and inspectors have reviewed another 68. ( Are there any Michelin Star restaurants in Virginia? Don’t miss these charming spots .)

Here are three Michelin restaurants in Washington D.C.:

• minibar: This contemporary restaurant received 2 Stars and is helmed by world-famous chef José Andrés.
• Karma Modern Indian: A Bib Gourmand winner where the naan is a “cut above the norm.”
• Fiola: Michelin’s 1-star review said this Italian restaurant’s menu is rife with “stunning creations and playful twists.”

Florida Michelin Guide

Florida has some incredible restaurants, and it should given its diverse population and thriving tourist attractions.

The Michelin Guide entered Florida in 2022 and covers its three largest metro areas: Tampa, Orlando, and Miami.

There are 144 Michelin-reviewed restaurants in Florida, one with 2 Stars and 25 with 1 Star. Thirty-two have been handed a Bib Gourmand and another 86 were reviewed. (Check out the most popular cocktail in each state .)

Here are three Michelin restaurants in Florida you shouldn’t miss:

• L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami: Michelin recommended the seasonal prix fixe at the state’s only 2-star restaurant.
• Ravello, Orlando: An Italian restaurant where executive chef Fabrizio Schenardi employs family recipes .
• The Pearl, Tampa: This American restaurant’s desserts are not to be missed, Michelin said .

Texas Michelin Guide

Michelin announced in July 2024 that the Guide would finally enter Texas. Restaurants in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio are up for honors that will be announced later in the year. (Here are 7 restaurants in Texas that could make the cut .)

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