Michelin is an iconic French tire company, but it is also known for its annual restaurant guides, which rate restaurants from one to three stars. A three-star rating from Michelin is seen as a major honor in the culinary world and only a select few restaurants can claim this prestigious rating. So how many Michelin 3 star restaurants are there in the USA?
The answer is quite simple, yet complex at the same time. According to Michelin’s official website, the number of 3-star restaurants in the US currently stands at 31.
This may seem like a small number when compared to other countries like France or Japan, which boast over 100 3-star establishments between them. However, this number has been steadily growing over the past few years.
In 2020, Michelin added five new three-star restaurants in the US: The Inn at Little Washington (Washington D.C.), Alinea (Chicago), SingleThread (Healdsburg), Le Bernardin (New York City) and Atelier Crenn (San Francisco). These five additions join a prestigious list of culinary destinations that have held their 3-star rating for years such as The French Laundry (Yountville), Per Se (New York City) and Masa (New York City).
These 31 establishments span across 15 different states with California leading the way with 8 three-star restaurants. Other states such as New York and Illinois follow closely behind with 7 and 5 three-star establishments respectively. While some states have yet to receive any stars from Michelin, this could change in upcoming years as more chefs push boundaries and create innovative dishes that can impress Michelin’s inspectors.
Conclusion:
Michelin’s 3 star ratings are highly coveted by chefs around the world and it signifies excellence within the culinary industry. Currently, there are 31 Michelin 3 star restaurants in the US spread across 15 different states with California being home to the most of these establishments.