On November 11, 2024, the Michelin Guide awarded its first stars to Texas restaurants and revealed all 116 recommendations for its inaugural guide to the Lone Star State at 713 Music Hall in Houston.
The Michelin Guide's arrival in Texas has been in the news and discussed in foodie circles since the summer, when it was announced that its anonymous inspectors had already begun dining out at restaurants in five cities: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
These cities' tourism organizations and Travel Texas invested a combined $2.7 million to bring The Michelin Guide to Texas for three years. I was excited to learn about this collaboration, as it's another way to highlight the fantastic work happening at restaurants, barbecue joints, and taco trucks.
Fifteen restaurants were awarded one Michelin star for "high-quality cooking, worth a stop." Austin restaurants were awarded seven stars. The Houston metro area, which includes Spring, has six Michelin-starred restaurants. Dallas and San Antonio each came away from the ceremony with one Michelin-star restaurant.
This includes four barbecue restaurants, the first time such cuisine as received a Michelin star in the United States. Twenty-eight of the 116 Texas restaurants recognized by Michelin Guide serve barbecue, a whopping 24%. That's far more than I anticipated and a clear message that they view Texas barbecue as a culinary hallmark of the state. The long lines will be getting a little longer.
Two restaurants received a Green Star for their sustainability efforts. Notably, though not mentioned during the awards ceremony, no Texas restaurants received two or three Michelin stars.
This didn't surprise me as the standards for Michelin three-star restaurants are extraordinarily high. I've had the chance to dine at three (Geranium, Le Bernardin, and Eleven Madison Park), and the food quality and preparation are world-class.
While I think barbecue spots will stay within the one-star rating, I'm willing to bet a restaurant or two will reach two-star status in the coming years. Below are the full results from the 2024 Michelin Guide for Texas.
Table of Contents
Restaurants
One Michelin Star
| Restaurant | City | Cuisine |
| Barley Swine | Austin | Contemporary |
| Craft Omakase | Austin | Japanese |
| Hestia | Austin | American |
| InterStellar BBQ | Austin | Barbecue |
| la Barbecue | Austin | Barbecue |
| LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue | Austin | Barbecue |
| Olamaie | Austin | American |
| Tatsu | Dallas | Japanese |
| BCN Taste & Tradition | Houston | Spanish |
| Le Jardinier | Houston | French |
| March | Houston | Mediterranean |
| Musaafer | Houston | Indian |
| Tatemo | Houston | Mexican |
| CorkScrew BBQ | Spring | Barbecue |
| Mixtli | San Antonio | Mexican |
I've been to six of the seven Austin restaurants to receive a Michelin star, and I'm super happy to see them all recognized at such a high level. I've long held that Hestia (live fire cooking) and Olamaie (Southern) are two of the city's best restaurants.
InterStellar BBQ is the closest Michelin-starred restaurant I've lived near, which is neat to think about. I really should be ordering takeout from pitmaster John Bates more often! I began eating at la Barbecue when it was still a food truck.
The Spanish restaurant BCN Taste & Tradition was one of the first places I dined out with Kel when I began joining her on road trips to Houston in 2022. The experience reminded me of my dinner at Massana, a Michelin-star restaurant in Girona, Spain, so I wasn't surprised to see them earn a star.
Of the ten restaurants I've been to that received a star, the only surprise was CorkScrew BBQ. Not to take anything away from them as I've only dined there once, but I would've picked Truth BBQ. Over the last three years, their brisket has been consistently among the best I've eaten anywhere in Texas.
See also: Michelin Star Restaurants in Tampa
Michelin Green Stars
Michelin Guide's Green Star was established in 2021 to acknowledge restaurants dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices, such as using local ingredients, working with regenerative farms, and reducing food waste.
The Green Star can be awarded to restaurants regardless of whether they're given a one-, two-, or three-star rating. For example, Atelier Crenn in San Francisco has three Michelin stars and a Green Star.
Austin restaurants received the only two Green Stars in the Michelin Guide's first year in Texas. Both restaurants, Dai Due and Emmer & Rye, also earned the Bib Gourmand designation. Only 32 restaurants in the United States have been awarded a Green Star, making it arguably more difficult to attain than a regular Michelin star.
Bib Gourmands
| Restaurant | City | Cuisine |
| Briscuits | Austin | Barbecue |
| Cuantos Tacos | Austin | Mexican |
| Dai Due | Austin | American |
| Distant Relatives | Austin | Barbecue |
| Emmer & Rye | Austin | American |
| Franklin Barbecue | Austin | Barbecue |
| Kemuri Tatsu-ya | Austin | Japanese / Barbecue |
| KG BBQ | Austin | Barbecue |
| La Santa Barbacha | Austin | Mexican |
| Micklethwait Craft Meats | Austin | Barbecue |
| Nixta Taqueria | Austin | Mexican |
| Odd Duck | Austin | American |
| Ramen del Barrio | Austin | Mexican |
| Veracruz Fonda & Bar | Austin | Mexican |
| Barbs B Q | Lockhart | Barbecue |
| Burnt Bean Co. | Seguin | Barbecue |
| Cattleack | Dallas | Barbecue |
| Gemma | Dallas | American |
| Goldee's | Fort Worth | Barbecue |
| Lucia | Dallas | Italian |
| Mot Hai Ba | Dallas | Asian fusion |
| Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen | Dallas | Vietnamese |
| nonna | Dallas | Italian |
| Blood Bros BBQ | Bellaire | Barbecue |
| Ema | Houston | Mexican |
| Killen's | Houston | American |
| Mala Sichuan Bistro | Houston | Chinese |
| Nam Giao | Houston | Vietnamese |
| Nancy's Hustle | Houston | Contemporary |
| nobie's | Houston | American |
| Pinkerton's BBQ | Houston | Barbecue |
| Rosie Cannonball | Houston | Contemporary |
| Street to Kitchen | Houston | Thai |
| The Pit Room | Houston | Barbecue |
| Theodore Rex | Houston | Contemporary |
| Truth BBQ | Houston | Barbecue |
| Killen's BBQ | Pearland | Barbecue |
| Belly of the Beast | Spring | Mexican |
| Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q | Spring | Barbecue |
| Tejas Chocolate | Tomball | Barbecue |
| Cullum's Attaboy | San Antonio | French |
| Ladino | San Antonio | Mediterranean |
| Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery | San Antonio | American |
| The Jerk Shack | San Antonio | Jamaican |
Forty-four restaurants were awarded the Bib Gourmand designation, which signifies "good food at a moderate price." This category was introduced in 1997, and for some restaurants, it serves as a stepping stone to earning a Michelin star.
For diners who associate the Michelin Guide with pricey fine dining, Bib Gourmands offer a more affordable way to take advantage of the inspectors' recommendations.
I've been to 13 of the 16 Bib Gourmand restaurants in the Austin area (which includes Lockhart and Seguin). Checking out the remaining (Briscuits, Cuantos Tacos, and La Santa Barbacha) won't require any special budgeting or occasions to celebrate.
Special Awards
The first awards handed out at the Michelin Guide Texas ceremony were for the individual efforts of the professionals below:
- Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award - Julian Shaffer, Rye
- Michelin Sommelier Award - Steven McDonald, Pappas Bros Steakhouse
- Michelin Outstanding Service Award - Hailey Pruitt & Lauren Beckman, Mixtli
- Michelin Young Chef / Culinary Professional Award - Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria
While I have yet to go to Rye, the Pappas Bros Steakhouse, or Mixtli, I have been to Edgar Rico's Nixta Taqueria in East Austin numerous times. Watching him and his wife grow their business and receive national acclaim for their efforts has been fun. In 2022, Edgar Rico won the James Beard Award for Emerging Chef.
Michelin Recommended
| Restaurant | City | Cuisine |
| Apt 115 | Austin | Fusion |
| Birdie's | Austin | Contemporary |
| Comedor | Austin | Mexican |
| Con Todo | Austin | Mexican |
| dipdipdip Tatsu-Ya | Austin | Japanese |
| Discada | Austin | Mexican |
| Este | Austin | Mexican |
| Ezov | Austin | Israeli |
| Garrison | Austin | American |
| Jeffrey's | Austin | Contemporary |
| Joe's Bakery & Coffee Shop | Austin | Tex-Mex |
| La Condesa | Austin | Mexican |
| Launderette | Austin | Contemporary |
| Lenoir | Austin | Contemporary |
| Ling Kitchen | Austin | Chinese |
| Lutie's | Austin | American |
| Maie Day | Austin | Steakhouse |
| Mexta | Austin | Mexican |
| Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen | Austin | Barbecue |
| Suerte | Austin | Mexican |
| Tare | Austin | Japanese |
| Terry Black’s BBQ | Austin | Barbecue |
| Toshokan | Austin | Sushi |
| Barsotti's | Dallas | Italian |
| Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez | Dallas | Mexican |
| Crown Block | Dallas | American Contemporary |
| El Carlos Elegante | Dallas | Mexican |
| Fearing's | Dallas | American |
| Georgie | Dallas | Steakhouse |
| Knox Bistro | Dallas | French |
| Mercat Bistro | Dallas | French |
| Mister Charles | Dallas | Contemporary |
| Monarch | Dallas | Italian American |
| Quarter Ace | Dallas | Contemporary |
| Rye | Dallas | Contemporary |
| Sachet | Dallas | Mediterranean |
| Smoke'N Ash BBQ | Dallas | Barbecue |
| Stillwell's | Dallas | Steakhouse |
| Stock & Barrel | Dallas | American |
| Tei-An | Dallas | Japanese |
| Written by the Seasons | Dallas | American Contemporary |
| Panther City BBQ | Fort Worth | Barbecue |
| Harvest | McKinney | American |
| Baso | Houston | American |
| Bludorn | Houston | American |
| Brisket & Rice | Houston | Barbecue |
| Candente | Houston | Tex-Mex |
| Hidden Omakase | Houston | Sushi |
| Late August | Houston | Southern |
| Pappas Bros. Steakhouse | Houston | Steakhouse |
| 2M Smokehouse | San Antonio | Barbecue |
| Barbecue Station | San Antonio | Barbecue |
| Garcia's Mexican Food | San Antonio | Tex-Mex |
| Leche de Tigre | San Antonio | Peruvian |
| Little Em's Oyster Bar | San Antonio | Seafood |
| Nicosi | San Antonio | Contemporary |
| Signature Restaurant | San Antonio | French |
Fifty-seven restaurants are Michelin-recommended, which means they're included in the Texas guide. However, they did not receive any star or Big Gourmand designation. The culinary community in Austin is once again punching above its weight (or, at least, population) with 23 of the 57 recommendations.
Dallas restaurants (including the suburb of McKinney) come in second with 19, helping to compensate for their lack of star-worthy dining establishments. Panther City BBQ marks only the second mention of Fort Worth after Goldee's received a Bib Gourmand.
Interestingly, the largest city in Texas, Houston, only had seven Michelin-recommended restaurants after a good showing in the other categories. Given Houston's population of 2.3 million people (more than double that of Austin), I expected to see more places in this category. San Antonio has 1.47 million people, and seven restaurants are recommended.
Here are the total mentions in the Texas Michelin Guide by city (not including suburbs and nearby towns):
- Austin: 46 total (7 stars, 2 Green Stars, 14 Bib Gourmand, 23 recommended)
- Dallas: 25 total (1 star, 6 Bib Gourmand, 18 recommended)
- Fort Worth: 2 total (1 Bib Gourmand, 1 recommended)
- Houston: 24 total (5 stars, 12 Bib Gourmand, 7 recommended)
- San Antonio: 12 total (1 star, 4 Bib Gourmand, 7 recommended)
By the numbers, Austin's culinary scene was the clear winner despite the Texas capital's smaller population.
Overall, it's been an exciting and somewhat surreal experience to watch the Michelin Guide launch in the state of Texas. Congrats to the first 15 restaurants to win Michelin stars in Texas and to everyone recognized in the inaugural guide.
Visit the Michelin Guide website and search for "Texas" to see the full list and what the inspectors had to say about each restaurant.
