Michelin Rated, Selected and Bib Gourmand Restaurant in the US

This posting is inspired from the Old Apple TV Series Knife Edge, I just starting to watch this Week

According to the official Michelin Guide, there are currently 158 restaurants worldwide holding the coveted three-star distinction, but only fourteen are Michelin Stars in the United States.

The United States currently has 14 restaurants with three Michelin stars.

Restaurant	City	State
Addison	San Diego	California
Providence	Los Angeles	California
Somni	West Hollywood	California
Atelier Crenn	San Francisco	California
Benu	San Francisco	California
The French Laundry	Yountville	California
SingleThread	Healdsburg	California
Alinea	Chicago	Illinois
Smyth	Chicago	Illinois
Jungsik New York	New York City	New York
Le Bernardin	New York City	New York
Masa	New York City	New York
Per Se	New York City	New York
Sushi Sho	New York City	New York

By state

• California: 7
• New York: 5
• Illinois: 2

California remains the center of fine dining in America, especially the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley, and Los Angeles, where many of the country's most celebrated chefs work. 

A remarkable perspective

To appreciate how exclusive this club is:

• There are well over 15 million restaurants worldwide.
• Only 158 have earned three Michelin stars worldwide.
• That means fewer than one in 90,000 restaurants reaches this highest level of culinary excellence.

As the Michelin Guide describes it, three stars mean "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." It is not simply about luxurious ingredients but about extraordinary consistency, technique, creativity, and execution over time. 

Given your interest in Filipino cuisine and your recent posts about Chef Maynard Llera and the Filipina winner of Top Chef, it is exciting to note that Filipino food is increasingly gaining recognition on the world's fine-dining stage. Many culinary observers believe it is only a matter of time before more Filipino-inspired restaurants join the ranks of Michelin's highest honors.

Query: I know there is a Michelin rated Filipino Restaurant in Chicago, Kasama. Do you have other Filipino Michelin or BiB Gourmand rated in the US 

That's a wonderful question, especially given the growing recognition of Filipino cuisine in America.

The short answer is yes. While Kasama remains the highest-profile Filipino restaurant in the U.S. Michelin Guide, and is now a Two-Michelin-Star restaurant, it is no longer the only Filipino restaurant recognized by Michelin. 

Here are some of the notable Filipino restaurants included in the Michelin Guide in the United States:

Restaurant	City	Recognition
Kasama	Chicago	⭐⭐ Two Michelin Stars
Boonie's	New York City	Michelin Selected
Bayan Ko	Chicago	Michelin Selected
Kamayan ATL	Atlanta	Michelin Selected
Estrellita	Los Altos	Michelin Selected
Kaya	Orlando	Michelin Selected
FOB Kitchen	Oakland	Michelin Selected
Naides	New York City	Michelin Selected

These are all listed by Michelin under the Filipino cuisine category. 

What about Bib Gourmand?

Interestingly, Kasama first entered the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand before earning its first Michelin Star and eventually being elevated to two stars. That progression has become an inspiration for many Filipino chefs worldwide. 

At present, there are relatively few Filipino restaurants in the U.S. carrying a current Bib Gourmand designation; most of the prominent Filipino establishments recognized by Michelin are categorized as Michelin Selected, while Kasama has advanced into the starred category. Michelin's selections evolve each year. 

A remarkable milestone

Twenty years ago, Filipino food was largely known in America through family-run neighborhood restaurants serving adobo, pancit, lumpia, and lechon to immigrant communities.

Today, chefs like Tim Flores and Genie Kwon have demonstrated that Filipino flavors and techniques can stand alongside the world's finest cuisines, while restaurants from California to New York are introducing regional Filipino dishes to new audiences. 

The Michelin Guide has several levels of recognition, and the differences can be confusing. Here's a simple way to think about them:

Recognition	Meaning	Prestige
Michelin Selected	A restaurant is recommended by Michelin inspectors because it serves quality food.	★ Good
Bib Gourmand	Excellent food at a good value for the price.	★★ Better
One Michelin Star	Very good cooking, worth a stop.	★★★ Outstanding
Two Michelin Stars	Excellent cooking, worth a detour.	★★★★ Exceptional
Three Michelin Stars	Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.	★★★★★ The highest honor

Michelin Selected

A Michelin Selected restaurant has been inspected and recommended by Michelin. It did not receive a Bib Gourmand or a Michelin Star, but Michelin considers it worthy of inclusion in the guide.

Think of it as making the "honor roll."

Many excellent neighborhood restaurants fall into this category.

Bib Gourmand

The Bib Gourmand designation is named after Bibendum, the Michelin Man.

It recognizes restaurants that offer:

• High-quality cooking
• Generous portions
• Good value for the price

The exact price threshold varies by city, but the idea is that diners can enjoy an exceptional meal without paying luxury prices.

You might think of it as Michelin's "best bargain" award.

Michelin Stars

Stars focus almost entirely on the quality of the cuisine-not luxury décor or expensive ingredients.

• ⭐ One Star: "Very good cooking, worth a stop."
• ⭐⭐ Two Stars: "Excellent cooking, worth a detour."
• ⭐⭐⭐ Three Stars: "Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

Only a tiny fraction of restaurants ever earn even one star.

A helpful analogy

Imagine a university:

• Michelin Selected - You were admitted to an excellent university.
• Bib Gourmand - You graduated with honors for delivering exceptional value.
• One Michelin Star- You graduated magna cum laude.
• Two Michelin Stars- You graduated summa cum laude.
• Three Michelin Stars- You are a world-renowned scholar at the very top of your field.

Finally, Why Kasama's story is so significant

The Filipino restaurant Kasama in Chicago followed a remarkable path:

1. It first earned Bib Gourmand recognition for its outstanding quality and value.
2. It then became the first Filipino restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin Star.
3. It has since advanced to two Michelin Stars, placing it among the finest restaurants in the United States.

For many Filipino Americans, Kasama's success symbolizes more than culinary achievement, it reflects the growing appreciation of Filipino culture and cuisine on the world stage. It shows that dishes inspired by generations of Filipino home cooking can be elevated to the highest levels of fine dining while remaining rooted in their heritage.

That evolution mirrors a broader story of Filipino-American assimilation and recognition: traditions once known mainly within immigrant communities are now celebrated by some of the world's most respected culinary institutions.

AI Overview:

Michelin-recognized restaurants fall into three categories: Starred (1-3 stars for exceptional food), Bib Gourmand (high-quality meals at moderate prices), and Michelin Selected (good quality food that meets inspector standards but hasn't received a star or Bib Gourmand).

Because you are located in Walnut Creek, CA, you have world-class options nearby in the East Bay, across the San Francisco Bay Area, and throughout California.

Top Bib Gourmand Picks (Near Walnut Creek)

Bib Gourmand spots are the inspectors' favorites for value. These high-quality restaurants offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for a reasonable price: 

• Comal (Berkeley): Excellent Oaxacan-inspired Mexican food with a vibrant patio.
• Great China (Berkeley): Known for phenomenal Peking duck and Northern Chinese fare.
• Bombera (Oakland): Wood-fired Mexican cuisine focusing on seasonal, local ingredients.
• Jo's Modern Thai (Oakland): A fresh take on Thai-American classics with a great cocktail program.

Explore All Michelin Restaurants

You can browse the complete, searchable database of every rated, selected, and Bib Gourmand restaurant in the US directly on the MICHELIN Guide Official Website. 

• Walnut Creek / East Bay: To easily find high-quality dining within driving distance, you can filter your location and view reviews on the San Francisco Bib Gourmand MICHELIN Restaurants page.

Lastly, here some of the 24 Michelin Rated Restaurants in Makati, Philippines 

The Michelin Guide for the Philippines recognizes an elite selection of 24 distinguished, Michelin-rated establishments across the city of Makati. This diverse roster spans the city's highest-tier starred fine dining, Bib Gourmand spots known for excellent value, and Michelin-Selected dining destinations. 

⭐⭐ Two-Michelin-Star Restaurants

• Helm: Led by Chef Josh Boutwood, this restaurant located at Ayala Triangle Gardens is celebrated for its creative, seasonal tasting menus. Diners enjoy thematic, highly layered courses ranging from playful street food to film-inspired concepts, all crafted in an intimate chef's counter setting.

⭐ One-Michelin-Star Restaurants

• Celera: An upscale Asian Contemporary dining destination located in the heart of Makati, highly praised by the local community for its stellar food execution and unique juice pairings. 
• Toyo Eatery: Located on Chino Roces Avenue Extension, this celebrated restaurant is lauded for its farm-to-table philosophy and imaginative use of local ingredients. It is known to offer some of the most phenomenal desserts in the local fine-dining scene. 

🏅 Michelin Bib Gourmand (Exceptional Food at Great Value)

• Manam at the Triangle: A fan-favorite flagship located at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Diners praise its elevated takes on Filipino comfort food, including their famous Sinigang na Beef Short Rib and Watermelon.
• Your Local: Tucked away in Legazpi Village, this well-loved spot delivers excellent contemporary cooking that brings together Asian and Western flavor profiles in a hip, casual setting.

🍽️ Michelin-Selected Restaurants

The remaining celebrated establishments in Makati earn their spot in the Michelin Guide for their quality ingredients and impressive execution:

• Blackbird at the Nielson Tower: Situated in a stunning art-deco former airport control tower at Ayala Triangle Gardens, this international mainstay offers beautiful contemporary grilled meats and globally inspired dishes. 
• Ember by Josh Boutwood: Located in Greenbelt, this sleek, upscale contemporary spot focuses on wood-fired cooking and showcases intricate flavors and ingredients.
• Lusso: Situated in Power Plant Mall (Rockwell), this highly-regarded cafe provides salon-style dining with creative, upscale comfort food.
• Additional Michelin-Selected Standouts: 12/10, Antonio's, Aurora, Automat, Ayà Benjarong, BUTCHER BOY, Canton Road, Carmelo's Steakhouse, Cirkulo, Cru Steakhouse, Fong Wei Wu, Fresca Trattoria, Ginza Nagaoka, Goxo, and M Dining.

Finally, here's a list of 100 Restaurants Compiled by the SFO Chronicle in the SFO Bay Area.  

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2026/top-100-best-restaurants-san-francisco-bay-area/?utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=120241740727850033&utm_content=120241740727870033&utm_term=120241740727820033&utm_campaign=120241740727850033&fbclid=IwY2xjawSfFSxleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqy855O49kXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5WAgcv8vGXBmXs_PYA9ftLQPbLSZfKXz5gQymCZqf8F2T4xliWW7oy9xaC3Q_aem_0-uJgYkdaEA3F0QlyAHmBQ