In case you haven’t heard, the MICHELIN Guide has come to Texas and boy howdy, is the Lone Star State excited. And no city in this massive state is more elated than Houston. After last night’s MICHELIN Guide Texas 2024 ceremony at 713 Music Hall, many of Houston’s finest and tastiest eateries have reason to celebrate.
Across the state, 15 restaurants received a one star designation while two in Austin were noted as MICHELIN Green-Starred restaurants. There were also a large number of restaurants being chosen as Bib Gourmand honorees. Altogether, 117 Texas establishments garnered Michelin recognition in a diverse culinary representation.
And that diversity impressed the Michelin inspectors. Gwendal Poullenec, International director of the MICHELIN Guides, said in a press release, “The selection reflects their findings by highlighting uniquely Texas flavors, such as Barbecue and Tex-Mex, as well as several international influences. We are very honored to welcome these restaurants to the MICHELIN Guide family for the first time and we toast to the tremendous spirit of the Texas restaurant community.”
The awards were pretty much centered around Texas’s largest cities, unsurprisingly. Austin barely edged Houston out in the One Star category with 7 to Houston’s 6. The Bib Gourmand awards were more spread out with a few smaller establishments in the Greater Houston area being recognized. There was also a list of recommended restaurants.
Here are the Houston stars.
MICHELIN One Star:
BCN Taste and Tradition, 4210 Roseland, was awarded the coveted star for its Spanish cuisine with its personable staff and seafood dishes being particular standouts to the inspectors, along with its all-Spanish wine list and owner Ignacio Torras’s private art collection adorning the walls.
Corkscrew BBQ, 26608 Keith, was chosen for its pit masters Will and Nichole Buckman and their red oak-smoked brisket and beef ribs in Spring, Texas. Now the long lines will be even longer so order in advance.
Le Jardinier, 5500 Main, is no surprise since it already has MICHELIN-star cred from Chef Alain Verzeroli. Located at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the restaurant has earned raves for its artistic plating almost as much as its use of seasonal and quality ingredients. Along with executive chef Felipe Botero, the restaurant’s dishes please the eyes as well as the palate, often taking inspiration from current exhibits at the museum.
MARCH, 1624 Westheimer, has been the subject of Michelin star speculations ever since the Texas guide was announced. For those who put odds on the exploratory restaurant, it was a safe bet. With its hyper focus on regional cuisines, it dives into each chosen region with gusto and creates an overall dining journey from cocktails and wine to amuse bouches and stunning plates.
Musaafer, 5115 Westheimer, amazed the Michelin team with its decor as well as its Indian cuisine. It opened in May 2018 from The Spice Route Co. out of Dubai. Owners Mithu and Shammi Malik have created a venue that does justice to the complex and flavorful plates that often look like something out of a fairytale.
Tatemo, 4740 Dacoma, has been a culinary rocket since it first opened as a tortilleria in 2021. Owner and chef Emmanuel Chavez was most recently a finalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas. With his dedication to the use of heirloom corn from different regions of Mexico, Chavez has taken humble ingredients to new heights. The Michelin team were taken with his salsas and sauce work as well. They were particularly impressed by his mole negro topped with a tortilla made with nixtamalized plantains.
As for the Bib Gourmand eateries, the Greater Houston area had 17 this year, the most of any city on the list. The Bib Gourmand is a distinction given to restaurants with great food at a great value.
Bib Gourmand Winners:
Belly of the Beast, 5200 FM 2920, Spring
Blood Bros. BBQ, 5425 Bellaire Boulevard, Bellaire
Ema, 5307 N. Main, Houston
Kau Ba, 2502 Dunlavy, Houston
Killen’s, 101 Heights Boulevard, Houston
Killen’s BBQ, 3613 Broadway, Pearland
Mala Sichuan Bistro, 9348 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston
Nancy’s Hustle, 2704 Polk, Houston
Nobie’s, 2048 Colquitt, Houston
Pinkerton’s BBQ, 1504 Airline, Houston
The Pit Room, 1201 Richmond, Houston
Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q, 2111 Riley Fuzzell, Spring
Rosie Cannonball, 1620 Westheimer, Houston
Street to Kitchen, 3401 Harrisburg Boulevard, Houston
Tejas Chocolate, 200 N. Elm, Tomball
Theodore Rex, 1302 Nance, Houston
Truth BBQ 110 S. Heights Boulevard, Houston
Texas 2024 Recommended Restaurants (Houston):
Baso, 633 W. 19th, Houston
Bludorn, 807 Taft, Houston
Brisket & Rice, 13111 FM 529, Houston
Candente, 4306 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston
Hidden Omakase, 5353 W. Alabama, Houston
Late August, 4201 Main, Houston
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, 5839 Westheimer, Houston
In addition to the One Star, Bib Gourmand designations and Texas recommendations, four MICHELIN Special Awards were given out and Houston’s Steven McDonald of Pappa Bros. Steakhouse was honored with the MICHELIN Sommelier Award. McDonald is no stranger to high accolades for the wine program at the pricey steakhouse but a Michelin recognition is a nice cherry on top.
There’s the list of Texas’ first MICHELIN Guide awards. Let the debates begin.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
