Are There Any Michelin Star Restaurants in North America?

Michelin stars are one of the most coveted awards in the culinary world, and they are a symbol of excellence. With that said, it’s no surprise that many restaurants aspire to receive a Michelin star. In North America, there are currently over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants, with the majority located in the United States.

The History of Michelin Stars in North America

Michelin stars have been awarded to restaurants in the U.S. since 2006, when New York City’s Per Se became the first American restaurant to receive three stars. Since then, Michelin has added more starred restaurants to its list each year.

Awarded Restaurants

In 2020, there were a total of 109 starred restaurants in North America; 95 of them were located in the United States, while 14 were located in Canada. The highest number of three-starred restaurants is located in New York City (6) followed by San Francisco (3), Chicago (2), Los Angeles (2), and Washington D.C., which has one three-starred restaurant.

How Restaurants Are Selected

In order to be considered for a Michelin star, restaurants must be visited by anonymous inspectors who evaluate them according to strict criteria such as quality of ingredients used, perfect execution of dishes, overall value for money and consistency over time. After an evaluation process that can take months or even years, restaurants are then awarded stars from one to three based on their performance.

Conclusion

To conclude, there are currently over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants throughout North America with 95 located in the United States and 14 located in Canada. Although it is no easy feat to obtain a Michelin star due to its rigorous selection process, many chefs strive for this prestigious award as it is a symbol of excellence and quality within the culinary world.