“Texas is a perfect fit for the MICHELIN Guide, based on the experiences of our anonymous Inspectors.”

Gwendal Poullennec
International Director
The MICHELIN Guides
.…on expanding MICHELIN Guides to Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio with MICHELIN Guide Texas.

A MICHELIN star—not to mention the ultimate prize, three stars—can turn an everyday restaurant into a must-go culinary destination, with seatings booked from opening to close. That coveted rating will be available in Dallas, Fort Worth, and three other Texas cities for the first time ever later this year, Michelin announced Tuesday.

The first MICHELIN Guide Texas selection will reveal “culinary gems” across the Lone Star State, also including Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.

“The Texas culinary scene has proven to be an exhilarating one, with multicultural influences, homegrown ingredients and talent that is rich in ambition,” Gwendal Poullennec, international director of The MICHELIN Guides, said in a statement. “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.”

‘Anonymous inspectors’ are already booking tables

So who’ll be awarding the stars? We’ll never know. The MICHELIN Guide’s “anonymous Inspectors” are meant to stay that way. And they’ve already been making dining reservations across Texas “secretively and paying for all their meals to ensure they are treated the same as any other customer,” Michelin revealed.

Tim Fennell is director of Travel Texas, a division of the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office that’s partnering with MICHELIN on Guide Texas. He said the guide “will illustrate to global travelers the culinary journey that’s waiting to be discovered in our state, featuring restaurants that embody our heritage and introducing innovative chefs and local artisans who are redefining our food scene.”

“The introduction of the guide will be a tremendous asset for Texas, promoting our rich and diverse food culture and elevating the restaurant scene to an international stage,” Fennell added in a statement.

The MICHELIN Guide said it’s working with Travel Texas “on marketing and promotion activities only.” Its selections will remain “fully independently determined by anonymous Inspectors.”

Aiming for one, two, or three stars—if restaurants hit this high bar

Anonymous MICHELIN Guide Inspectors award iconic MICHELIN Stars—whether one, two or three—only if a restaurant achieves a striking standard: “unparalleled cuisine.” The guide is also renowned for its Bib Gourmand selection, highlighting restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices. Additionally, the MICHELIN Green Star is given to restaurants that are leaders in “sustainable gastronomy.” Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted by the inspectors, Michelin said.

Checking out Texas hotels, too

The 2024 Texas restaurant selection will join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels later this year and “will feature the most unique and exciting places to stay in Texas and around the world,” Michelin said.  Every hotel in the guide is chosen for its extraordinary style, service and personality—with options for all budgets—and each can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website or app.

Dallas-Fort Worth chefs have stars in their eyes

Needless to say, top chefs in Dallas and Fort Worth can’t wait to see if their restaurants will get MICHELIN stars later this year.

“It suddenly puts Dallas on the same level as any restaurant city in the world right now,” Chef Stephan Pyles—whose restaurants, including Routh Street Cafe, Stephan Pyles, and Flora Street Cafe have been acclaimed across decades—told the Dallas Morning News. 

What goes into a star

There’s a time-tested methodology behind the awarding of MICHELIN’s prized stars. Per Michelin, they’re 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).”

Over a century of historic star ratings

The MICHELIN Guide dates back over a century. It was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage tire sales by giving practical advice to French motorists, the Guide says. Michelin’s inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by their forebears in the very beginning, “now applied in destinations around the world”—including Texas.

It took nearly 100 years for the first U.S. MICHELIN Guide to be published, in New York in 2005. Since then, guides have since been added in Chicago (2011); Washington, D.C. (2017); California (San Francisco in 2008, statewide 2019); Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Florida (2022); Toronto (2022); Vancouver (2022); Atlanta (2023); and Mexico (2024).

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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