Filipino Flavors Shine: The Inaugural Michelin Guide Philippines List is Here!

The culinary world has turned its eyes to the Philippines! After years of anticipation, the prestigious Michelin Guide has officially unveiled its inaugural selection for the Philippines—a monumental event that places Filipino gastronomy firmly on the global map. This debut edition, titled the MICHELIN Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026, celebrates the nation’s diverse, soulful, and innovative dining scene.

A Brief History of the Iconic Michelin Guide

Before diving into the local stars, it's worth a look back at the origins of this guide. The Michelin Guide's story is an unexpected one, tied not to gastronomy, but to tires.

• The Beginning (1900): French brothers André and Édouard Michelin, founders of the Michelin tire company, published the first guide. Their initial goal was simple: to encourage more motorists to drive—and thus, buy more tires! The free, small red book included maps, instructions for tire repair, and lists of mechanics, hotels, and restaurants along popular routes in France.
• The Shift (1920s): The guide began to be sold for a small fee, acknowledging the principle that "man only truly respects what he pays for." It eliminated advertisements and, crucially, started sending anonymous inspectors to review restaurants.
• The Stars are Born (1926): The star rating system was introduced, initially with just a single star for "fine dining establishments."
• The Three-Star Hierarchy (1931): The current three-star system was established:

One Star: A very good restaurant in its category.
Two Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
Three Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

Today, the Michelin Guide continues its tradition of rigorous, anonymous evaluation based solely on the quality of the food on the plate, making its recognition the gold standard in fine dining.

🇵🇭 The Philippine Culinary Excellence Recognized

The first edition for the Philippines is a comprehensive selection featuring 108 establishments across Manila, its surrounding regions, and Cebu, highlighting everything from innovative fine dining to exceptional good-value eats.

Michelin Stars

Nine restaurants made history by receiving the country's first-ever Michelin Stars, a testament to their exceptional cooking, mastery of flavor, and consistency.

Star Rating	Restaurant	Location/Focus
Two Stars	Helm	Contemporary tasting menu with British-Filipino heritage and Spanish influences (Manila)
One Star	Asador Alfonso	Spanish-inspired dishes with rustic elegance (Cavite)
One Star	Celera	Contemporary Asian fusion with a global flair (Makati)
One Star	Gallery by Chele	Modern Filipino/Spanish, also recognized for sustainability (Taguig)
One Star	Hapag	Modern, sophisticated take on traditional Filipino dishes (Makati)
One Star	Inatô	Reimagining Filipino classics with finesse in an intimate setting (Makati)
One Star	Kasa Palma	Globally influenced, refined dishes using local seafood and French technique (Makati)
One Star	Linamnam	Innovative Filipino dishes in an intimate, chef-driven setting (Parañaque)
One Star	Toyo Eatery	Precise, inventive Filipino cuisine that elevates local ingredients (Makati)

Special Distinctions

Michelin Green Star: Gallery by Chele was honored for its exceptional commitment to sustainable gastronomy, from community sourcing to waste reduction.

Bib Gourmand: 25 establishments were recognized with the Bib Gourmand, a highly-coveted distinction for restaurants offering "good food at a moderate price," proving world-class quality isn't just for fine dining. This list includes both Manila favorites and six establishments from Cebu.

Michelin Selected: 74 restaurants were included in the selection for their overall quality and consistency, rounding out the guide's comprehensive coverage.

MICHELIN GREEN STAR (1 Establishment)

This award recognizes restaurants with outstanding commitments to sustainable gastronomy.

• Gallery by Chele (Taguig)

BIB GOURMAND (25 Establishments)

This highly-prized distinction highlights restaurants offering "good food at a moderate price" (value for money).

Restaurant Name	Location/Area Focus	Cuisine
Abaseria Deli & Cafe	Cebu	Filipino
Bolero	BGC, Taguig	Spanish, Mediterranean
Brick Corner	Taguig	North Indian
Cabel	Manila	Filipino (Southern Mindanao focus)
COCHI	BGC, Taguig	Filipino
CUR8	Cebu	Asian
Em Hà Nội	BGC, Taguig	Vietnamese
Esmen	Cebu	Filipino (Linarang)
Hálong	Makati	Latin American/Asian Fusion
Kumba	Parañaque	Asian (China, Philippines, Japan)
La Pita	Makati	Middle Eastern
Lampara	Makati	Filipino, French Technique
Lasa	Cebu	Filipino
Los Tacos	Taguig	Mexican
Manam at the Triangle	Makati	Filipino
Morning Sun Eatery	Quezon City	Filipino (Ilocano)
Palm Grill (Diliman)	Quezon City	Southern Mindanao Cuisine
Pares Batchoy Food House	Cebu	Filipino (Pares Batchoy)
Pilya's Kitchen	Manila	Filipino (Noodles)
Sarsa	Makati	Filipino
SOME THAI	Taguig	Thai
Taquería Franco	Taguig	French/Mexican Tacos
The Pig & Palm	Cebu	Modern European (Pork-focused)
The Underbelly	Taguig	Japanese (Ramen)
Your Local	Makati	Asian Contemporary

MICHELIN SELECTED (74 Establishments)

The Selected category recognizes restaurants that consistently offer high-quality cooking and a noteworthy dining experience, showcasing the full range of the region's culinary vitality. (List includes establishments from Manila & Environs and Cebu)

• 12/10
• Abli (Cebu)
• Aida's Chicken
• Antonio's
• ATO-AH (Cebu)
• Aurora
• Automat
• Ayà
• Benjarong
• Blackbird
• Butcher Boy
• Cantabria by Chele Gonzalez
• Canton Road
• Carmelo's Steakhouse
• Chie Chie's Pancit Batil Patung
• China Blue
• Cirkulo
• COCO (Cebu)
• Cru Steakhouse
• Deo Gracias
• DIP (Cebu)
• El Poco Cantina (Malate)
• Ember
• Enye by Chele Gonzalez (Cebu)
• Esmeralda Kitchen
• Fong Wei Wu
• Fresca Trattoria
• Ginza Nagaoka
• Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill
• Goxo
• House of Lechon (Cebu)
• Iai
• Juniper
• Kamakura (Cebu)
• Kei
• Kodawari (Salcedo)
• Lantaw (Compostela) (Cebu)
• Locavore (Taguig)
• Lola Helen
• Lore
• Lusso (Legazpi)
• Mamacita
• Man Ho
• Maya (Cebu)
• Metiz
• Mirèio
• MŌDAN
• Now Now
• Oak & Smoke
• Offbeat
• Old Manila
• Origine
• Osteria Antica
• Pablo
• Papillon
• Pares Pares (N. Escario St) (Cebu)
• People's Palace
• Ramen Ron
• Sala
• Seva
• Sialo (Cebu)
• Socarrat (Cebu)
• Spices
• Steak & Frice
• Summer Palace
• Super Uncle Claypot
• Tandem
• Taupe
• Terraza Martinez
• The Test Kitchen
• Txanton
• Uma Nota
• Umu
• Yamazato

A Defining Moment for Filipino Food Business

This is more than just a list of great restaurants—it’s a watershed moment for the entire Filipino food business community and the nation's tourism sector.

Global Validation: The Michelin Guide’s stamp of approval provides instant, world-class validation to Filipino cuisine and hospitality, raising its profile from an emerging trend to a global gastronomic destination.

Boosted Culinary Tourism: The selection will undoubtedly drive culinary tourism, as food lovers from around the world plan "special journeys" and "detours" to experience the recognized establishments. This influx of high-value tourism benefits the entire local economy.

Empowerment of Local Ingredients and Heritage: The recognition given to restaurants that champion local ingredients, regional techniques, and Filipino heritage encourages more chefs to explore, preserve, and innovate with the country's rich culinary traditions.

Inspiring the Next Generation: The achievement inspires a new generation of Filipino chefs, restaurateurs, and food entrepreneurs to strive for global excellence, knowing that local passion and product can compete on the world stage.

Congratulations to the Trailblazers!

To all the chefs, teams, and owners who made it to the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026 selection—from the two-star winner Helm, to the one-star trailblazers, the Green Star recipient Gallery by Chele, and all the fantastic Bib Gourmand and Selected restaurants—we offer our heartfelt congratulations!

You have not only earned a prestigious global honor but have also successfully placed the heart, history, and incredible flavors of the Philippines on the world's culinary canvas. Mabuhay and may your success continue to inspire!