Texas Michelin Guide: Central Texas restaurant winners announced

Michelin announced the restaurants that made the cut in its first guide to the Lone Star State.

Anonymous Michelin reviewers have been in the state looking to award their coveted stars to the best cuisine in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. The company announced its plans to release a Texas guide in July.

The company has several awards that they hand out to restaurants, including their famed one, two and three stars. They also recognize restaurants that deliver quality food at good prices with their Bib Gourmand selections and recognize restaurants that lead the way in sustainability with a Michelin Green Star.

One MICHELIN Star

Austin:

  • Barley Swine — Cuisine: Contemporary
  • Craft Omakase — Cuisine: Japanese
  • Hestia — Cuisine: American
  • InterStellar BBQ — Cuisine: Barbecue
  • la BarbecueCuisine: Barbecue
  • LeRoy and Lewis BarbecueCuisine: Barbecue
  • OlamaieCuisine: American

San Antonio:

  • Mixtli Cuisine: Mexican

Michelin Green Star

Austin:

  • Dai DueCuisine: American
  • Emmer & RyeCuisine: American

Bib Gourmand

Austin:

  • Briscuits — Cuisine: Barbecue
  • Cuantos Tacos — Cuisine: Mexican
  • Dai Due — Cuisine: American
  • Distant Relatives — Cuisine: Barbecue
  • Emmer & Rye — Cuisine: American
  • Franklin Barbecue — Cuisine: Barbecue
  • Kemuri Tatsu-ya — Cuisine: Izakaya
  • KG BBQ — Cuisine: Barbecue
  • La Santa Barbacha — Cuisine: Mexican
  • Micklethwait Craft Meats — Cuisine: Barbecue
  • Nixta Taqueria — Cuisine: Mexican
  • Odd Duck — Cuisine: American
  • Ramen del Barrio — Cuisine: Fusion
  • Veracruz Fonda & Bar — Cuisine: Mexican

Lockhart:

  • Barbs B Q — Cuisine: Barbecue

San Antonio:

  • Cullum's Attaboy — Cuisine: French
  • Ladino — Cuisine: Mediterranean
  • Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery — Cuisine: American
  • The Jerk Shack — Cuisine: Jamaican

Seguin:

  • Burnt Bean Co. — Cuisine: Barbecue

Individual awards

  • Mixtli in San Antonio — Hailey Pruitt and Lauren Beckman were awarded the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Texas Outstanding Service Award Winners ***One MICHELIN Star***
  • Nixta Taqueria in Austin — Chef Edgar Rico was awarded the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Texas Young Chef Award Winner ***Bib Gourmand***

In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott called the awards a testament to the "world-class talent" in the state.

"The coveted MICHELIN Stars rankings will have a lasting impact on the Texas economy, bringing travelers from around the world to experience the best that Texas has to offer," Abbott said. "More than just our world-renowned barbecue and Tex-Mex, every region of Texas offers a rich menu of flavors that draws visitors from across the globe. This is why the foodservice industry is a cornerstone of our economy, contributing more than $100 billion in sales last year and serving as the state’s largest private employer. Thank you to The MICHELIN Guide for recognizing our world-class cuisine, and congratulations to all of the chefs, restaurateurs, and their teams for helping to make Texas one of the best places in the world to live, visit, and dine."

How are restaurants judged for a Michelin Star?

Michelin reviewers use five criteria when judging restaurants.

  1. Quality of products used.
  2. Harmony of flavors
  3. The mastery of cooking techniques.
  4. The voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine.
  5. Consistency between visits and across the menu. Reviewers visit restaurants several times a year.

What do the stars mean?

Michelin has famously handed out stars to restaurants since 1926 when a restaurant was only designated with one star. It was expanded to award up to three stars in 1931. The criteria for the star system wasn't revealed until 1936.

  • Michelin Green Star - An annual award given to restaurants that demonstrate exceptional sustainable and ethical practices
  • Bib Gourmand - A Michelin Guide award that recognizes restaurants that offer high-quality food at reasonable prices.
  • One star - Restaurants can earn one star by using top quality ingredients, the dishes have distinct flavors and are consistently made at a high standard.
  • Two stars - Restaurants earn two stars when the chef's personality and talent are evident in their dishes and the food is refined and inspired.
  • Three stars - Restaurants get a three-star rating when the chef is at the peak of their profession and their cooking is considered elevated to an art form. The dishes are considered those that will become a classic.

History of the Michelin Guide

The guide was first put together by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin in France after they  founded the now worldwide tire company as a guide for drivers and as a way for the brothers to sell more tires. The guide also featured maps and advice for drivers.

The first guide for North America was published in 2005 for New York and it has since expanded to Chicago, Washington, D.C., California, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, Atlanta and Mexico.