What Are Michelin Starred Restaurants? How Does a Restaurant Get a Michelin Star?

Most food lovers are familiar with the term Michelin star as it represents the peak of culinary excellence. That is why it's worth exploring questions like how does a restaurant get a Michelin star and how many Michelin-starred restaurants are there in the world?

But before we start exploring the history and evolution of the Michelin stars, you should know that this popular rating system is not a traditional way of evaluating food quality and service. Behind the stars, there is a whole world filled with ambition, prestige, and many controversies.

A lot of drama and controversies surrounding the Michelin stars have unfolded over the years, especially because acquiring a Michelin star is not a done deal. Gordon Ramsay, for example, famously cried after his restaurant in New York became the first entity in the history of the Michelin guide to lose two stars for quality issues.

On the opposite end, there have been many successful chefs, such as Thomas Keller , who has been able to maintain his three Michelin stars at The French Laundry restaurant in California since 2007.

Statistics indicate that there are over 3,000 restaurants in the world with at least one Michelin star. But in this article, we'll dive deeper into the history of the Michelin star, the significance of getting the prestigious 3 Michelin stars, criticism of the rating system, and some amazing success stories.

If you are a foodie who would like to be familiar with the world’s most prestigious restaurant rating system, keep reading!

What is a Michelin Star and How Did It Begin?

The origin story of the Michelin star system is shocking for a lot of people, as it was not launched by a restaurateur or a food critic. Instead, the renowned Michelin tire company of France published the first Michelin guide in 1900.

The guide was published by the company’s owners - André and Édouard Michelin - as a marketing strategy. It provided information to motorists, including maps, tire repair and replacement guides, and hotel listings. Eventually, the Michelin Guide evolved in 1926 to award stars to different hotels and restaurants to simplify its recommendations

What Do the Michelin Stars Mean?

The Michelin rating system is quick and easy to understand:

• One Star: A very good restaurant in its category that is worth a visit.

• Two Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.

• Three Stars: It is the highest ranking that any restaurant can achieve. Three stars represent “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”

Prestige of Michelin Recognition

Getting a Michelin star can make a restaurant an overnight sensation. However, there is also a lot of pressure that comes with the great prestige of being a Michelin-starred restaurant. Many chefs, such as Marco Pierre White, have returned their Michelin stars or have asked not to be included in the guide due to the enormous pressure of maintaining expectations.

Understanding How Does a Restaurant Gets a Michelin Star?

Now that you are familiar with the basics of the Michelin star system, you are probably wondering, how does a restaurant get a Michelin star. Well, it all depends on the restaurant's service consistency, creativity, and quality.

The specific process of awarding a Michelin star is a well-kept secret in the culinary world. But the general process involves Michelin inspectors dining at restaurants anonymously to judge them on five main criteria. Multiple inspectors eat at a restaurant from time to time, and then they meet to discuss their individual experiences and draw a conclusion about whether the restaurant deserves a Michelin star.

The following are five universal criteria that Michelin inspectors evaluate:

1. Quality of Ingredients

Quality food ingredients are the foundation of great cooking. Restaurants with the goal of getting a Michelin star are encouraged to find the best of what is available, whether that's a tomato or a chicken. Michelin-starred restaurants have been able to source the finest possible ingredients, surpassing cost and complexity challenges that many other restaurants face.

2. Mastery of Cooking Techniques

Chefs also have to prove themselves and show that they have excellent technical skills. These techniques involve everything from simple knife work to complex temperature control and timing techniques.

3. Harmony of Flavors

Striking a perfect balance between different flavors is vital for restaurants to get Michelin recognition. Creating a harmony of flavors means the chef should be skilled enough to create balanced dishes where each component complements the others.

4. Personality in Cuisine

The primary goal of a chef should be to cook for their customers and bring them joy, rather than focusing solely on winning awards. That's why Michelin-starred restaurants often excel at showcasing the chef's unique culinary voice and vision.

When a cuisine reflects a chef's personality, it means the dishes carry a distinct style, creativity, and point of view. It is achieved through a unique combination of bold flavors, cultural influencers, and storytelling on the plate.

5. Consistency

Consistency is the most challenging criterion of the Michelin rating system for the majority of the restaurants. It means the restaurants must deliver exceptional experiences consistently. Different inspectors visit the restaurant at varying times to judge a restaurant’s consistency.

Overall, the process of getting Michelin stars is quite extensive and can take several years as multiple inspectors visit the restaurants anonymously in different seasons and times of day to ensure consistent quality.

History and Evolution of the Michelin Star Rating System

The Michelin star rating system has evolved over the last several decades. This evolution can be divided into two main parts:

1. Early 20th Century Expansion

Michelin Guide became highly popular in Europe and Northern Africa within a decade of its debut. World War I in 1914 temporarily halted the guide’s production, but in 1920, it made a huge comeback.

The Michelin Guide’s popularity and influence continued to grow through the 20th century. The company also introduced country-specific editions, specifically Belgium in 1904, and a widely popular debut in Italy in 1956.

2. Global Reach in the 21st Century

The Michelin star rating continued to expand beyond Europe in the 21st century. It got introduced in the United Stated in 2005 with the initial focus on fine dining establishments in New York City.

Hong Kong and Macau also adopted the Michelin star system in 2009, and it grew its influence throughout Seoul, Singapore, and Shanghai from 2016 onwards. In 2025, the Michelin guide covers 37 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. Hence, it has become a global phenomenon.

Additional Michelin Recognition

While the stars system is the most popular component of the Michelin guide, it has also introduced some additional recognition in the form of awards:

Bib Gourmand

Bib Gourmand is another Michelin rating system that acknowledges restaurants serving high-quality food at affordable prices. As of 2025, there are 3,357 Bib Gourmand-winning restaurants.

Green Star

Since 2020, the Michelin guide has also been awarding the Green Star to restaurants committed to sustainability and adopting eco-friendly practices. Restaurants that are already covered by the Michelin guide are eligible for a Green Star. There are currently 644 restaurants with a Green Star in the Michelin guide.

Global Distribution: How Many 3 Michelin Star Restaurants in the World?

The answer to the question regarding how many 3 Michelin star restaurants in the world can vary from time to time. As of July 2025, the Michelin Guide has listed 157 restaurants with three stars. These restaurants are some of the finest dining locations in the world, as this exclusive club represents less than 1% of all Michelin-starred restaurants.

Michelin Stars by Country

France, the origin country of the Michelin star rating system, is home to the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, with 680 restaurants having at least one star. Japan comes in the second place with 539 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Some of the other notable countries include:

• ⭐️ Italy: 381

• ⭐️ Germany: 332

• ⭐️ Spain: 267

Michelin Stars in the United States

The concept of Michelin stars is still relatively new in the USA. Nevertheless, many people wonder about how many Michelin restaurants in the US are available.

Let's break down the statistics:

• 🔥 How many Michelin star restaurants in the US? As per the Michelin guide of 2025, the USA has 265 restaurants with at least one Michelin star.

• 🔥 How many 3 star Michelin restaurants in the USA? Out of the 265 total Michelin restaurants in the USA, 215 have one star, 34 have two stars, and only 16 have three stars.

Coverage

While we are discussing how many Michelin-starred restaurants in USA cities currently exist, it is important to note that the Michelin guide reviews only select states and cities in the USA, including:

• New York City

• Chicago

• Washington, D.C.

• California (covering cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Napa Valley)

• Florida (covering cities like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa)

• Colorado

It means there are likely many other fine dining establishments in the USA that are not included in the Michelin guide yet.

Success Stories of 3 Star Michelin Restaurants in the USA

Out of the 16 three-star Michelin restaurants in the USA, several restaurants have stood out from the crowd with their immense success:

1. Alinea (Chicago)

Alinea is known for holding the Michelin star since the guide came to the city in 2011. The restaurant is led by chef Grant Achatz and is known for many innovative dishes, like the Table Dessert, where the chef creates art directly while serving on the table.

2. Atelier Crenn (Bay Area)

The Bay Area has 6 different three-star Michelin restaurants. Atelier Crenn is one of them. Since its opening in 2011, chef Dominique Crenn has brought a modern and soulful take on French fare. The restaurant gained 2 stars soon after its foundation, and in 2018, it was awarded the third star, with Crenn becoming the first woman to run a Michelin three-starred restaurant in the USA.

3. Addison (San Diego)

Addison is one of the most notable Michelin restaurants in America due to its evolution over time. When Michelin started to cover California in 2019, Addison was awarded one star. However, chef William Bradley and his team completely remade the menu to find their own unique voice by promoting local produce, flavors, and culture. Now, Addison is called the California Gastronomy and has joined the exclusive list of three-star Michelin restaurants.

4. The French Laundry (Napa Valley)

The French Laundry is a renowned Michelin-starred restaurant located in Napa Valley, California. Founded by chef Thomas Keller in 1994, the restaurant has consistently received high praise for its exquisite cuisine and exceptional service. The French Laundry was awarded three Michelin stars in 2006, a testament to its status as one of the finest dining establishments in the world.

Criticisms and Controversies of the Michelin Guide

Despite its popularity and prestige, the Michelin Guide has faced several criticisms over the years from food enthusiasts as well as chefs with years of experience:

1. Cultural Bias Concerns

Concerns that the Michelin star rating system is biased towards the French and European cuisine are at the forefront of the criticisms. This is also supported by the fact that the majority of the Michelin-starred restaurants are in France, while many of the major cities of the USA and even international regions are still not covered by the guide.

2. Lack of Transparency

Very little is known about the process through which Michelin inspectors evaluate different restaurants and choose to reward them one, two, or three stars. Since the Michelin guide does not reveal any detailed reasons for awarding or removing stars, even the chef and restaurant stakeholders have to remain in the dark.

Guy Savoy, often called the world's best chef , was not immune to this lack of transparency. In 2023, his flagship Paris restaurant lost one of its three Michelin stars after holding them for two decades. The Michelin Guide did not publicly disclose any specific reasons for the downgrade.

3. Burnout and Health Issues

Having a three-starred Michelin restaurant is the pinnacle in the culinary world. There have been numerous reports of immense pressure and mental health issues faced by chefs in trying to either gain or retain the Michelin status. Bernard Loiseau, one of France’s top chefs, died by suicide because he was facing financial issues, along with media speculation that he was going to lose a Michelin star.

4. Financial Pressure

Gaining or even retaining a Michelin star is no easy feat. It requires significant capital investment as chefs have to create a high-quality dining experience. In countries like the United States, where casual dining is more culturally prevalent, building and maintaining a fine-dining restaurant meeting the Michelin standards can be challenging and financially demanding.

A famous example of this situation is when David Kinch closed his 3 Michelin-starred restaurant, Manresa, in 2022 as he wanted to step away from fine dining and the pressures that came with maintaining the highest possible standards to keep the Michelin stars. Instead, he moved towards other casual projects and restaurants.

Alternative Rating Systems

Michelin has managed to become the leading restaurant rating system, but many newer methodologies have also emerged over the years:

• ✅ James Beard Awards: These awards are also called the Oscars of the food world. They honor chefs, restaurants, food writers, and other culinary experts throughout the USA. While Michelin is primarily focused on food quality, the James Beard Foundation also recognizes leadership, diversity, and overall contributions to food culture.

• ✅ World’s 50 Best Restaurants: The Restaurant magazine reveals the top 50 restaurants in the world on the basis of the opinions of 1,000+ culinary experts. The list is known for highlighting innovative and modern dining scenes. This is completely opposite to the Michelin-starred restaurants, as it favors creative dining experiences over traditional fine dining.

• ✅ Zagat: compiles crowd-sourced reviews and scores restaurants on the basis of food, decor, service, and pricing. Zagat is a great alternative to Michelin for casual diners.

• ✅ La Liste: It compiles restaurant reviews from guides, critics, and several online platforms to create a comprehensive data-based global ranking. Overall, La Liste is a great platform for foodies who like an aggregate scoring system.

Future of the Michelin Star System

The Michelin Guide has transitioned from being a printed guide to a digital publication. While the guide is still being printed in select regions, it mainly reaches people through its app and website.

The future of the Michelin guide seems bright as it continues to evolve and transform itself for Gen Z to remain relevant in the age of social media. Currently, the guide has announced several plans for the future, including:

• ✅ Expansion into new markets, including the southeastern United States, with the American South edition.

• ✅ Higher focus on sustainability through the Green Star

• ✅ More focus on inclusivity, especially highlighting female chefs and street food vendors, like the world's first Michelin-starred hawker stall.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the Michelin Guide remains the gold standard for culinary excellence in most countries. Whether you are planning a special journey to have a fulfilling dining experience or simply want to understand what separates good restaurants from great ones, you need to remember the following key points about the Michelin star rating system:

• ✅ The Michelin Guide started in France as a travel guide, and over a century later, it is still regarded as the highest honor in fine dining.

• ✅ The answer to the common question of how to get a Michelin star is shrouded in mystery, as there is no publicly announced criteria. The best thing any restaurant can do is focus on providing exceptional service consistently to measure up to the expectations of anonymous Michelin inspectors.

• There are only 157 restaurants in the world with 3 Michelin stars, and 16 of them are in the USA. These elite establishments provide exceptional experiences and typically require bookings months in advance.

• ✅ The Michelin Star keeps evolving with newer recognitions and awards to keep up with the changing times, but there are several other restaurant rating systems popular in varying demographics.

If you loved this deep dive into the Michelin star rating system, don't forget to share it with fellow food lovers and maybe even plan a trip to one of those exclusive 3-star Michelin restaurants yourself.

Bon appétit!

Over a century since its inception, the Michelin star system continues to be the most prestigious restaurant rating system in the world.