{"id":702694,"date":"2026-05-29T18:07:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T18:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/702694\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T18:07:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T18:07:20","slug":"no-new-michelin-stars-for-orlando-2-restaurants-lose-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/702694\/","title":{"rendered":"No new Michelin stars for Orlando, 2 restaurants lose them"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Michelin Guide has announced its 2026 Florida recommendations<\/a> in a year that marks its expansion to cover the entire state.<\/p>\n

Six area restaurants \u2014 1921 Mount Dora<\/a>, Smoke & Donuts,<\/a> June<\/a>, Kappo Tsan<\/a>, Osteria Ester<\/a> and Sparrow<\/a> \u2014 were added to its list of general recommendations.<\/p>\n

Most of Orlando\u2019s constellation remains intact, with Camille<\/a>, Kadence<\/a>, \u00d4mo by J\u00f4nt<\/a>, Soseki<\/a> and Victoria & Albert\u2019s<\/a> retaining their one-star distinction and Sorekara<\/a> retaining its two stars. Losing their stars were Capa<\/a> at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort and Papa Llama<\/a> in Orlando\u2019s Curry Ford West neighborhood. They were relegated to the list of general recommendations.<\/p>\n

No new stars were awarded in Central Florida.<\/p>\n

Jason Chin, co-owner of Good Salt Restaurant Group, was thrilled to see two of his eateries, Osteria Ester and Sparrow, join the Michelin ranks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great feeling to be included this year,\u201d Good Salt Restaurant Group\u2019s Jason Chin told the Orlando Sentinel in the wake of the reveal. \u201cI\u2019ll be honest, I was beginning to think it wasn\u2019t in the cards for us as a group.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil now, we haven\u2019t gotten so much as a recommendation, but I am happy we finally got their attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chin noted the pride in the Good Salt teams\u2019 work as the most important facet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could not be more proud,\u201d he said. \u201cThis industry is a grind and many times we forget to look up and enjoy the fruits of our labor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope the members of our teams are as proud of themselves as I am, and that they are able to revel in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PosingPosing post-wins: Executive chef\/owner William Shen; Director of Mixology Josue Villacis; General Manager Austin Joseph; and Head of Hospitality Tracy Tran celebrate Sorekara. The restaurant received two Michelin stars last year and it was announced Thursday, May 28, 2026 that the restaurant held on to them. (Amy Drew Thompson\/Orlando Sentinel file)<\/p>\n

In lieu of a splashy party, which has been the MO since the tire company first started honoring Florida restaurants in 2022, this year\u2019s state selections were announced via livestream on The Michelin Guide\u2019s YouTube Channel<\/a>, which according to a representative, reaches more than 7 million followers globally.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Michelin Guide now spans over 60 destinations worldwide, we have evolved our approach and diversified the formats through which we unveil our annual restaurant selections,\u201d a spokesperson for the company told the Sentinel. \u201cIn some cases, selections are released digitally via press release and our online platforms \u2014 including our social media channels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dramatic music preceded the 2 p.m. ceremony, which was led stateside by Michelin Guide Master of Ceremonies Java Ingram along with International Director of The Michelin Guide, Gwendal Poullennec, live from Paris. They took viewers through this year\u2019s lengthy roster, which included restaurants from every corner of the state \u2014 spanning from Gainesville to Key West.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are now in the company of your peers. You belong here. Welcome to the table of all Chef\u2019s Tables, Welcome to The Michelin Guide,\u201d came the narrator\u2019s voice ahead of the announcements.<\/p>\n

June\u2019s executive chef, Jason Campbell, was pleased with Team Market Group<\/a>\u2018s first-ever inclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing club to be a part of and the recognition of all the hard work and dedication from the back-of-house and front-of-house teams that carry June\u2019s vision and soul to our guests and our community,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

In March, June was named Restaurant of the Year<\/a> in the 2026 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For Johnny Tung\u2019s Omei Restaurant Group \u2014 which boasts 11 Michelin-selected restaurants in both Orlando and Tampa, including two-starred Sorekara in Baldwin Park \u2014 the inclusion of Kappo Tsan, their latest, was indeed a thrill.<\/p>\n

Chef\/Owner Ryan Ratino staffs the counter amid the dance of the culinary team at Winter Park’s \u00d4mo by J\u00f4nt, a contemporary French restaurant influenced by flavors of Japan. Juan Valencia, of the one-starred restaurant, received the Michelin Sommelier Award on Thursday, May 28, 2026. (Photo courtesy \u00d4mo by J\u00f4nt)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been planning Kappo Tsan for the last three years, so receiving Michelin recognition in our very first year honestly came as such a welcome surprise,\u201d Tung said. \u201cEven though the ceremony wasn\u2019t in person this year, we will still celebrate just as hard with our teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re incredibly grateful to retain our awards and never take this recognition for granted. It truly means so much to all of us and we\u2019re deeply thankful for the continued support. Go Orlando!\u201d<\/p>\n

Juan Valencia, from one-starred Omo by Jont in Winter Park, received the Michelin Sommelier Award. The award was also won by Orlando sommelier Benjamin Coutts in 2023. He is now the beverage director at Kappo Tsan.<\/p>\n

Sparrow was named Best New Restaurant in this year\u2019s Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kaya<\/a> in Mills 50 retained its Green Star distinction<\/a> \u2014 awarded to restaurants \u201cat the forefront of sustainable gastronomy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two restaurants received their first star: Emelina<\/a>, a Cuban restaurant in West Palm Beach, and Mutra<\/a>, a Middle Eastern restaurant in North Miami Beach. The Omei-owned Kosen<\/a> in Tampa retained its star and Lilac<\/a> at the Tampa Edition Hotel lost its star but was placed on Michelin\u2019s list of recommendations.<\/p>\n

Inspector notes will be made available on the individual restaurant pages on guide.michelin.com<\/a> and the app.<\/p>\n

The complete Orlando Michelin selection can be found at guide.michelin.com\/us\/en\/florida\/orlando\/restaurants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram\u00a0@amydroo<\/a>\u00a0or on the OSFoodie Instagram account\u00a0@orlando.foodie<\/a>. Email:\u00a0amthompson@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>, For more foodie fun, join the\u00a0Let\u2019s Eat, Orlando Facebook group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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