Which Country Has the Most Michelin Star Restaurants?

When it comes to the world’s best restaurants, one name that stands out is Michelin. Michelin restaurants are known for their exemplary cuisine, outstanding service and exquisite ambiance. The Michelin Guide has been rating and awarding the best of the best since 1900, and it is now considered to be one of the most prestigious culinary awards in the world.

Michelin stars are given out based on a variety of criteria, including quality of ingredients, flavor, creativity and technique. A three-star rating is reserved for exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey. Restaurants with two stars have excellent cuisine and are worth a detour when traveling nearby; while one star represents very good cuisine in its category.

So which country has the most Michelin star restaurants? The answer may surprise you: Japan.

The Land of the Rising Sun boasts an impressive total of 292 Michelin-starred restaurants as of 2019; this number includes 116 three-star establishments, 156 two-star restaurants and 20 one-star eateries. France follows closely behind with 291 total starred establishments – 134 three-stars, 123 two-stars and 34 one-stars – while Italy takes third place with 236 starred establishments – 71 three-stars, 150 two-stars and 15 one-stars respectively.

In comparison to these countries, other major culinary destinations like Spain (194 starred establishments), Germany (170), China (128) and the United Kingdom (119) fall significantly behind in terms of total starred restaurants per capita. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these countries don’t have any top quality eateries – it simply means that Japan has been able to maintain a higher concentration of exceptional restaurants than its European counterparts.

Conclusion:
When it comes to having the most Michelin star restaurants in the world, Japan takes top honors with 292 total starred establishments including 116 three-stars, 156 two-stars and 20 one-stars respectively. France follows closely behind with 291 total starred establishments while Italy takes third place with 236 starred establishments.