2024 was an exciting year for The MICHELIN Guide, and is seeing even more buzz as Texas joins as the newest addition to the United States selection. Together with Travel Texas, the Lone Star State becomes the eleventh location to join the ever-growing list of North American destinations. And with award-winning barbecue, locally sourced seafood and steaks, and savory Tex-Mex, it's easy to see why our famously anonymous Inspectors couldn't wait to share their finds.
“The Texas culinary scene has proven to be an exhilarating one, with multicultural influences, homegrown ingredients and talent that is rich in ambition,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guide. “Foodies and travel enthusiasts alike will find something to enjoy, with such a broad dining scene spanning farm-to-table dishes, fusion cuisine, upscale dining and the famous Texas-style barbecue. Texas is a perfect fit for the MICHELIN Guide, based on the experiences of our anonymous inspectors.” The first MICHELIN Guide Texas selection featured culinary gems in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
About the process
The MICHELIN Guide’s anonymous Inspectors are already in the field, making dining reservations secretively and paying for all their meals to ensure they are treated the same as any other customer.
The 2024 Texas restaurant selection joined the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels and features the most unique and exciting places to stay in Texas and around the world. Every hotel in the Guide is chosen for its extraordinary style, service and personality – with options for all budgets – and each hotel can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website or app.
The MICHELIN Guide is constantly observing the evolution of culinary destinations around the world. Michelin works with Destination Marketing Organizations, or tourism boards, to promote the travel industry in the respective locations; however, the MICHELIN Guide selections process remains completely independent. While selections remain fully independently determined by anonymous inspectors, the MICHELIN Guide worked with Travel Texas on marketing and promotion activities only.
History and methodology
The Texas restaurant selection follows Michelin’s historical methodology, based on five universal criteria, to ensure each destination’s selection equity:
1) quality products
2) the harmony of flavors
3) the mastery of cooking techniques
4) the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine
5) consistency between each visit and throughout the menu (each restaurant is inspected several times a year).
The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveler seeking a great meal. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage tire sales by giving practical advice to French motorists. Michelin’s inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by inspectors in the very beginning, now applied in destinations around the world.
Michelin published its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have since been added in Washington, D.C.; Chicago; California; Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Florida; Colorado; Atlanta, Toronto; and Vancouver.
A Starry Debut in the Lone Star State
As the MICHELIN Guide makes its mark on Texas, the inaugural selections have already set high standards. The first MICHELIN Guide Texas selection was a star-studded affair, unveiled at a grand event in Houston, showcasing the diverse culinary excellence of the state. With 15 one-MICHELIN-Star establishments and two MICHELIN Green Star eateries, the debut highlighted Texas' rich culinary landscape.
The celebration didn't stop at the stars; the Guide also recognized 44 Bib Gourmand restaurants and numerous recommended eateries, totaling 116 restaurants across 26 cuisine types. This breadth of recognition emphasizes the depth and variety of the Texas food scene, from its world-renowned barbecue to innovative fusion and everything in between.
For a closer look at the celebrated venues and their unique dishes that earned them a coveted spot in this prestigious guide, check out the full details here.
