The World-Class City That's Home To The Most Michelin-Starred Restaurants

Michelin-star restaurants are great, but which city has the most? Paris, London, and Tokyo all fall near the top of the list, while New York City also has its fair share of Michelin cuisine. However, just one city comes out on top. Soaring to the peak of the list with a current count of over 225 starred restaurants is none other than Tokyo, Japan. A bit of a warning: every year restaurants will gain and lose stars so this number fluctuates annually. That said, Tokyo has held onto its crown for 18 years. Tokyo's rich culinary scene is home to plenty of traditional Japanese dishes and diverse restaurants showcasing exceptional quality.

For a restaurant to earn one of these coveted Michelin stars it must demonstrate prestigious quality and service. One-starred restaurants indicate spots that serve consistently excellent and distinctive cuisine. Two-starred Michelin restaurants exhibit particularly refined cuisine crafted creatively by an esteemed chef. The highest award of three stars is reserved for restaurants that serve impeccable and distinguished dishes that are artful, creative, and absolute standouts. It can be difficult to maintain three stars, as it's typically awarded to restaurants when the chefs there are at the absolute height of their careers.

As of 2024, there are just under 150 three-starred Michelin restaurants in the world, accounting for approximately 1% of all Michelin-starred restaurants. Tokyo is home to 13 of those, holding the worldwide record. Michelin Green stars also exist; these are presented to restaurants that offer remarkable food with sustainability in mind. Interestingly, to be recognized by Michelin, restaurants don't have to necessarily earn a star. They can be added to Michelin's list sans star or given a Bib Gourmand award, named after Bibendum, the Michelin man.

These Bib Gourmand awards recognize restaurants that serve noteworthy local cuisine at fair or moderate prices. Tokyo holds a prominent reputation for its renowned and artistic ingredients, culture, and cuisine. This is complemented by the country's abundance of creative and talented chefs, in addition to the high quality of fresh and local ingredients, ranging from produce to seafood. As such, this combination is a major component of what allows the city to reach such acclaimed culinary heights.

With other Japanese cities like Osaka and Kyoto high on the list of cities with the most Michelin-starred restaurants, it's no wonder that Tokyo manages to continuously excel. Among Tokyo's top Michelin-starred establishments is Ginza Kitafuku, known for being the most expensive Michelin-starred restaurant. Being awarded one star, diners can visit Ginza Kitafuku and pay 70,000 Japanese yen (that's about $1,920 USD) for the Kiwami course, which features an Echizen crab championed by Japan's royal family. In contrast, Kyorakutei, with Bib Gourmand status, is a more affordable choice that serves soba noodles both hot and cold.

As for fusion cuisine, Chez Olivier stands out as a one-starred Michelin restaurant serving Japanese-French fusion with colorfully inspiring presentation. For a three-star Michelin experience in Tokyo, visit L'Effervescence for a modern dining encounter that's also worthy of a Michelin Green star (so far, Tokyo's only three-star Michelin experience to be awarded one). The chef, Shinobu Namae, is known for his hands-on approach which ranges from personally visiting producers to diving into the sea to best understand the ingredients he works with.