The Michelin Guide returned to Texas on Tuesday, October 28 for its second annual awards ceremony, held at the elegant Wortham Theater in Downtown Houston. The highly anticipated event brought together some of the state’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, media, and culinary enthusiasts for an evening honoring excellence in Texas dining. Against the backdrop of Houston’s vibrant food scene, the ceremony showcased the innovation, craftsmanship, and diversity that continue to define the state’s growing reputation as a world-class culinary destination.
Guests were welcomed with Franciacorta wines during a lively cocktail hour, mingling alongside the Michelin Man on the red carpet and noshing on passed hors d’oeuvres, caviar, and bites from Goodnight Hospitality’s Rosie Cannonball before the ceremony. At promptly 7:30 p.m., attendees filled an auditorium as winners were announced.
While no stars were added—or taken away—from the six Houston restaurants that earned distinctions last year, the city was recognized with a slew of new places that earned Bib Gourmands (an award that honors restaurants with excellent value), plus one that earned the prestigious Michelin Service Award. Here is the breakdown of awards given to Houston restaurants this year:
Michelin Outstanding Service Award
Elliot Wood of Credence
Michelin One Star Restaurants, “High quality cooking, worth a stop”
Bib Gourmand, “Good food at moderate price”
Annam new
ChopnBlok new
Da Gama Canteen new
Papalo Taqueria new
Maximo new
Nam Giao
In its second year, restaurants featured in the guide as Recommended were not included in the ceremony, but are celebrated nonetheless. Houston was well represented with seven restaurants maintaining their distinctions from last year, and an additional nine added to the lot.
Michelin Recommended
Bar Bludorn new
Credence new
J-Bar-M Barbecue new
Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition new
Perseid new
Neo new
After the ceremony, the party continued in the grand lobby where bubbly and cocktails like the themed “Stargarita” flowed. Despite no changes in the way of stars for Houston restaurants, attendees were buzzing with excitement for all of the new additions to the guide.
Shiva Patel, who co-owns Da Gama with her husband Rick Di Virgilio, expressed her sentiments of earning a first-time Bib Gourmand distinction for their four-year old Indian-Portuguese restaurant in the Heights. “To continuously and steadily do your craft, and to be recognized for it is a great thing,” she said, proudly. “It lights a fire—it makes you feel like you are seen. It makes you feel proud of who you are and what your culture is.”
Michael Sambrooks of Sambrooks Hospitality, which maintained its Bib Gourmand distinction for the Pit Room, and Recommended distinction for Candente, both in Montrose, humbly said, “It is an absolute honor to be included in the Guide once again, alongside such great talent. The celebration continues!”
For the complete list of Michelin star Texas recipients, visit guide.michelin.com.
