Thirty-two Houston-area restaurants have been named to the internationally recognized Michelin Guide, announced Oct. 8 in a press release.
The history
The Michelin Guide started in 1889, when two French brothers founded the tire company Michelin, according to the website. The guide was created as a way to connect travelers with places they could eat and stay along their journeys.
The tradition has continued to this day, when restaurant inspectors anonymously visit and review dining establishments and hotels, per the website. Inspectors evaluate food based on:
Michelin awards restaurants one, two or three stars, with three stars being the highest award. Michelin also awards the Bib Gourmand, which goes to restaurants that offer “good quality, good value cooking,” per the website.
Texas’ guide launched in 2024, when six Houston-area restaurants claimed stars. In 2025, six restaurants in the region received star recognition, according to a news release.
Latest update
Here are the 2026 Houston-area Michelin star restaurants, all of which retained their one-star ratings:
BCN Taste & Tradition
The Spanish restaurant specializes in haute cuisine and traditional recipes, according to its website.
CorkScrew BBQ
The Texas barbecue joint serves red oak smoked meat, cooked over live fire, per its website.
Le Jardinier Houston
The “collaborative culinary experience” features a menu that rotates with the seasons, according to its website.
March
The Mediterranean restaurant features a menu that explores the cultures and flavors of the region, per its website.
Musaafer
With a menu inspired by the chef’s 100-day journey through India, the restaurant serves up cuisine that reflects “the original flavors and tastes of India,” according to its website.
Tatemó
The restaurant is a “maiz-driven concept” that began as a tortilleria, per its website.
What’s new
Twenty-six Houston-area restaurants earned the Bib Gourmand recognition, with five new locations added to the list:
Bar Buena
The Mexican restaurant offers tequila and mezcal drinks, in addition to Mexican-inspired meals, per its website.
Khói Barbecue
The eatery serves up Viet-Tex barbecue, combining the owners’ “Vietnamese roots and Texas upbringing,” according to its website.
Kitchen Rumors
The Indian cuisine and fusion restaurant reimagines Indian flavors, per its website.
Murray’s Pizza & Wine
The neighborhood pizza place offers a menu that features “Texas and Southern roots woven throughout,” according to its website.
Xolo
The Mexico City-inspired restaurant offers creative cocktails and soulful dishes, per its website. Owner Angel Bautista also received the Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award.