Michelin Star Restaurants by Country 2025

There are lots of people who are looking for a delicious place to grab a bite to eat, particularly when they travel across the world; however, there are some countries that simply have more Michelin star restaurants than others.

The country that has the most restaurants that have earned a Michelin star is France. France has a total of 680 restaurants that have Michelin stars. 83 of these restaurants have earned at least two Michelin stars, while 34 restaurants have earned a total of three stars. 3 Michelin stars are the most that a restaurant can receive, and it takes a tremendous amount of work for a restaurant to earn this coveted title.

What Other Countries Have Restaurants With Michelin Stars?

Many other countries have Michelin star restaurants, as well. For example, Japan ranks second, just behind France. The Pacific island nation has a total of 539 restaurants that have earned Michelin stars. Other countries that fill out the top few places include Italy, Germany, and Spain. The United States has the 7th most Michelin restaurants in the world, with a total of 235 of them. In the United States, California, New York, Illinois, and Washington DC have restaurants that have earned Michelin stars. China is number 12 on the list, with a total of 123 restaurants that have earned Michelin stars. When referring to China, this includes Hong Kong and Macau. Some of the other locations in China that have Michelin star restaurants include Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou.

How Do Restaurants Earn Michelin Stars?

Restaurants must meet a number of criteria in order to earn a coveted Michelin star. Of course, this is an award that is given for outstanding cooking. Some of the most important factors that the judges will take into account include the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of exceptional cooking techniques, and the harmony of flavors. In addition, consistency of the quality of the food over time is be taken into account. Typically, the judges look at the quality of the food across the entire menu instead of just focusing on the restaurant’s specialty.

Do Michelin Stars Go To Chefs or Restaurants?

Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants, not chefs. Of course, the quality of the chef is going to play a role in whether the restaurant earns a Michelin star. One of the most important criteria is whether the personality of the chef is reflected in the food that is placed on the plate. It is possible for a chef to leave one restaurant, go to another restaurant, and earn another Michelin star. It is also possible that the second Michelin star may come faster, given that the chef understands what it takes to earn a Michelin star. At the same time, when a chef leaves a Michelin star restaurant, they do not take the Michelin star with them to the new restaurant.