It’s celebration time for dozens of chefs and restaurateurs across Texas. The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Texas selections are here, and while Austin didn’t gain any new stars, our food scene is still shining.
The second MICHELIN Guide awardees in Texas were announced during a ceremony in Houston on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Only three new stars were awarded this year — two in San Antonio and one in Dallas. Compare that to last year, when 15 restaurants received one MICHELIN Star, including seven restaurants in the Capital City.
Austin did secure one new Green Star — and still boasts the most MICHELIN Stars in the state — plus a handful of Bib Gourmands and MICHELIN-Recommended restaurants.
Without further ado, let’s dig into the local awards.
One MICHELIN Star
According to MICHELIN, one Star is “awarded to restaurants using top quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavours are prepared to a consistently high standard.”
Barley Swine, 6555 Burnet Rd., Ste. #400
MICHELIN Inspectors raved about chef and owner Bryce Gilmore’s use of local ingredients to create flavorful dishes inspired by Mexican and Southern traditions.
Craft Omakase, 4400 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. #102
“Skillfully handled” fish from Japan is the star of the show at this Rosedale restaurant, where chefs Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen delight diners’ taste buds with a curated lineup of nigiri and more Japanese bites.
Hestia, 607 W. 3rd St., Ste. #105
Anchored by a 20-ft hearth in an open kitchen, the American restaurant’s focus on live-fire cooking pays off in dishes like the “embered” cantaloupe with green tomato and shiso blossoms.
InterStellar BBQ, 12233 Ranch Rd. 620 N., Ste. #105
Living up to its name, pitmaster John Bates’ barbecue restaurant is now officially among the stars. MICHELIN complimented its simple brisket, peach tea-glazed pork belly, beer-brined tipsy turkey, Frito pie, smoked scalloped potatoes, and poblano-creamed corn.
la Barbecue, 2401 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Don’t let the wait time deter you from this barbecue haven, where the smoked beef, sausages + pork and beef ribs are accompanied by equally impressive side dishes. As MICHELIN put it, “don’t miss the mac and cheese.”
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, 5621 Emerald Forest Dr.
MICHELIN sung the praises of this casual eatery, noting its specials throughout the week like “melt-in-your mouth beef cheeks” and the brisket.
Olamaie, 1610 San Antonio St.
This American restaurant’s cocktail menu, buttermilk biscuits, whipped honey butter, chicken pressé, blackened dayboat fish, gumbo, and red rice with Gulf shrimp were highlighted by MICHELIN.
Green Stars
Awarded to restaurants that are “role models” in the sustainable gastronomy sphere, this is MICHELIN’s newest award that debuted in France in 2020.
Dai Due, 2406 Manor Rd.
“Nearly everything” is sourced from Texas at this American restaurant, where standouts on the menu include the smoked pork Porterhouse chop and the cold meat board with antelope salami and wild boar.
Emmer & Rye, 51 Rainey St., Unit #110
The Rainey Street restaurant was lauded for its in-house fermentation program, ties to small farms in Texas, and freshly ground heirloom grains.
Nixta Taqueria, 2512 E. 12th St.
The food at this restaurant, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Edgar Rico, is partially grown in a garden adjacent to the restaurant and usually sourced hyperlocally.
Bib Gourmands
Named after Bibendum, aka the Michelin Man himself, this award “recognizes friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.”
- Barbs B Q
- Briscuits
- Cuantos Tacos
- Dai Due
- Distant Relatives
- Emmer & Rye
- Franklin Barbecue
- Kemuri Tatsu-ya
- KG BBQ
- La Santa Barbacha
- Mercado Sin Nombre
- Micklethwait Craft Meats
- Nixta Taqueria
- Odd Duck
- Parish Barbecue
- Ramen del Barrio
- Veracruz Fonda & Bar
In addition to Nixta Taqueria’s Bib Gourmand, its chef Edgar Rico took home the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Texas Young Chef Award Winner.
MICHELIN-recommended
While not quite at a Star or Bib Gourmand level, these Austin restaurants were recognized by MICHELIN Inspectors as “above average.”
Birdie’s has also earned nods from the Global Tastemakers Awards + the James Beard Awards.
Photo by @mksrn
- Apt 115
- Birdie’s
- Comedor
- Con Todo
- Discada
- DipDipDip Tatsu-ya
- Este
- Ezov
- Fabrik
- Garrison
- Jeffrey’s
- Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
- La Condesa
- Launderette
- Le Calamar
- Lenoir
- Ling Kitchen
- Lutie’s
- Maie Day
- Mexta
- Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen
- Pasta|Bar Austin
- Poeta
- Siti
- Suerte
- Tare
- Terry Black’s BBQ
- Toshokan
Are you hungry yet? Before you go, let us know how many MICHELIN-starred restaurants you’ve dined at in Austin.
