Good news for all local and visiting foodies! 30 Houston restaurants are now included in different categories of the MICHELIN Guide, solidifying Houston's position as an outstanding gastronomic destination in the U.S.
After its successful debut in Texas in July 2024, when the first MICHELIN Keys were awarded to three hotels in Houston and one in Galveston, the MICHELIN Guide granted its inaugural Texas MICHELIN Stars to six Houston restaurants on November 11 during a ceremony in H-Town. Other restaurants were distinguished as Bib Gourmands and Recommended Restaurants.
Musaafer, courtesy
For months, anonymous inspectors (full-time MICHELIN employees) have been on the ground assessing restaurants in Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, using its historical methodology and criteria based solely on food, not service or decor: the quality products, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of cooking techniques, the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time. The process is always the same: once several inspectors have eaten at a restaurant, they then discuss their experiences as a team in order to make a final decision.
Houston One-Star MICHELIN Restaurants
BCN Taste & Tradition, photo by Julie Soefer
Six restaurants in Houston received one MICHELIN Star: BCN Taste & Tradition, Corkscrew BBQ, Le Jardinier, MARCH, Musaafer, and Tatemó. One MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants using top-quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard. As the guide puts it, a restaurant with one MICHELIN Star “is worth a visit.”
MARCH, photo by Zach Horst
If you are wondering how many meals the inspectors must have in a restaurant before awarding it one, two or three stars, their answer is simple: “As many as it takes for us to get the complete picture.” According to MICHELIN, consistency is very important when awarding MICHELIN Stars. Inspectors need to be sure that customers will receive the same high standard of cooking whenever they visit. Various inspectors will visit throughout the seasons for lunch as well as for dinner, both at the weekend and during the week. Such a savory job!
Houston Bib Gourmands
Theodore Rex, photo by Jenn Duncan
According to Michelin, the Bib Gourmand designation recognizes restaurants that offer “good quality food for a good value” and those that are often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time.
Included in this category in the MICHELIN Guide are: Belly of the Beast, Blood Bros. BBQ, Ema, Killen’s, Killen’s BBQ, Mala Sichuan Bistro, Nam Giao, Nancy’s Hustle, Nobie’s, Pinkerton’s BBQ, The Pit Room, Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q, Rosie Cannonball, Street to Kitchen, Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue, Theodore Rex, and Truth BBQ.
Houston Recommended in the MICHELIN Guide
Late August, courtesy
The following restaurants in Houston are featured in the MICHELIN Guide as Recommended by the MICHELIN’s inspectors for a high standard of cooking but, according to inspectors, they don’t qualify for either a Bib Gourmand or a Michelin Star: Baso, Bludorn, Brisket & Rice, Candente, Hidden Omakase, Late August, and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse.
What's Next
Le Jardinier, courtesy
Since 1926, foodies worldwide have been paying close attention to restaurants awarded MICHELIN Stars in destinations they have visited. Nowadays, the MICHELIN Star Guide has become an iconic worldwide symbol of culinary excellence. And for Houston, the first MICHELIN Stars and other distinctions are a good start!
Undoubtedly, in the near future, we'll see more One-Star restaurants in Houston. Let's even go for two and three stars! Why not? According to MICHELIN, Two Stars are awarded when the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; their food is refined and inspired. Three MICHELIN Stars is the highest award given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form, and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.
With its rich tapestry of cultures and savors, Houston's potential is unlimited, and many local, regional, and international foodies would argue that two —and Three-Star restaurants are already here. They just need to be discovered, and they'll be!
Photos: Courtesy of restaurants mentioned in this post. Header photo: MARCH by Zach Horst.
