AUSTIN, Texas — When it comes to top international restaurants, one series of guides is known for its reviews and rankings.
The Michelin Guide rates spots across the world – and for the first time ever, it has released a list of Texas restaurants, including 44 in Austin.
From classic barbecue to sushi, the Michelin Guide Texas 2024 highlights a wide variety of dining options in the state’s capital.
Michelin Guide criteria
The Michelin Guide analyzes restaurants based on five categories: ingredient quality, consistency, techniques, the combination of flavors and the chef’s personality shown in their menu items.
Receiving a single star means a restaurant uses high quality ingredients in their dishes with unique flavors. Two stars indicates the chef’s personal style in their cooking, while three stars shows a chef is “at the peak of their profession” and their meals “are destined to become classics,” according to the guide.
Which Austin restaurants received a Michelin star?
While no Austin restaurants received two or three Michelin stars, seven received one star:
- Barley Swine
- Craft Omakase
- Hestia
- InterStellar BBQ
- la Barbecue
- LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
- Olamaie
What is a Michelin Green Star?
Two Austin restaurants received a Michelin Green Star, noting their efforts towards sustainability.
Dai Due, an American eatery using only Central Texas ingredients, and Emmer & Rye, a carbon-neutral restaurant, both received green stars.
Which Austin restaurants received a Bib Gourmand rating?
Several Austin spots were awarded Michelin’s Bib Gourmand rating, which “recognizes good food at moderate prices.” These include:
- Briscuits
- Cuantos Tacos
- Dai Due
- Distant Relatives
- Emmer & Rye
- Franklin Barbecue
- Kemuri Tatsu-ya
- KG BBQ
- La Santa Barbacha
- Micklethwait Craft Meats
- Nixta Taqueria
- Odd Duck
- Ramen del Barrio
- Veracruz Fonda & Bar
Edgar Rico receives Michelin Special Award
A Michelin Special Award was also given to Edgar Rico, the owner of Bib Gourmand recipient Nixto Taqueria. Rico received the Young Chef Award for his work in his Mexican restaurant.
Michelin Recommended restaurants in Austin
Finally, a number of Austin restaurants also made it on the Michelin Recommended list, meaning they haven’t quite reached award status, but they’re still better than the average restaurant.
Featured on this list are:
- Apt 115
- Birdie’s
- Comedor
- Con Todo
- dipdipdip Tatsu-Ya
- Discada
- Este
- Ezov
- Garrison
- Jeffrey’s
- Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
- La Condesa
- Launderette
- Lenoir
- Ling Kitchen
- Lutie’s
- Maie Day
- Mexta
- Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen
- Suerte
- Tare
- Terry Black’s BBQ
- Toshokan
Restaurants in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth were also featured in the Michelin Guide Texas.