Houston, Texas, is known for its delicious barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine. But did you know that Houston is also home to some of the world’s finest restaurants? In fact, the city has several Michelin-starred restaurants, which are some of the most prestigious eateries in the world.
The Michelin Guide is a travel guidebook published by the French tire company, Michelin. The book has been around since 1900 and it provides ratings and reviews of restaurants across Europe and North America.
Restaurants are rated on a scale of one to three stars. A one-star rating indicates a very good restaurant in its category, while two stars denote excellent cooking worthy of a detour and three stars signify exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.
In 2016, Houston became the first city in Texas to have a restaurant with two Michelin stars. The restaurant, Oxheart, was praised for its innovative dishes featuring local ingredients and its sophisticated atmosphere. Since then, several other Houston restaurants have earned Michelin recognition including UB Preserv (one star), Xochi (one star), Hugo’s (one star), and Kiran’s (one star).
UB Preserv serves vibrant Southeast Asian cuisine with an emphasis on freshness and flavor. The menu features dishes like chili shrimp toast with crispy garlic and pork belly bao bun with spicy mayo.
Xochi, located inside Marriott Marquis Houston Hotel is helmed by renowned chef Hugo Ortega who combines traditional Mexican flavors with modern techniques to create unique dishes like grasshopper tacos and beef tongue empanadas.
Hugo’s, also run by Chef Ortega is an upscale Mexican restaurant serving modern interpretations of classic dishes like huaraches topped with braised pork shoulder or beef barbacoa tacos as well as regional specialties like mole poblano or cochinita pibil.
Kiran’s, located in the Galleria area of Houston, offers contemporary Indian cuisine prepared using traditional spices and flavors from India’s different regions. The menu features dishes like chicken tikka masala as well as vegetable biryani served with raita or mango lassi.
Conclusion: So does Houston have Michelin Star Restaurants? Absolutely! From Oxheart’s two stars to UB Preserv’s one star rating, there are numerous options for those looking for memorable meals at the highest level of quality that only Michelin Star rated restaurants can offer.