When it comes to fine dining, few awards are as prestigious as the Michelin Star. Earning one or more stars from the Michelin Guide is an incredible achievement and a sign that a restaurant is serving some of the best food in the world.
But which country has the most Michelin Star restaurants per capita? The answer might surprise you.
Japan leads the world in Michelin Star restaurants per capita, with 593 starred establishments spread over 100 million people. That means each person in Japan is within reach of at least six Michelin-starred eateries! This is especially impressive when you consider that Japan only has one city (Tokyo) with more than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants, meaning that even in smaller cities and towns, residents can still access some of the world’s best dining experiences.
France isn’t far behind, with 519 starred establishments across 67 million people. Paris alone has 109 starred restaurants – nearly twice as many as Tokyo – but it’s worth noting that France’s population is much larger than Japan’s. This means that while Parisians can enjoy a wealth of stellar culinary experiences, they may need to travel further to find them than their Japanese counterparts.
The United States, despite having a population of 328 million people, falls behind both Japan and France when it comes to starred restaurants per capita. There are currently only 223 Michelin-starred eateries across all 50 states – an average of just 0.68 per million people! However, this number is likely to increase soon; America’s culinary landscape is constantly evolving and chefs are beginning to push boundaries like never before.
Conclusion:
When it comes to Michelin Star restaurants per capita, Japan takes the lead with an impressive 593 establishments spread over 100 million people. France follows closely behind with 519 starred eateries across 67 million people, while The United States lags behind with only 223 establishments across its massive population of 328 million people.