The opinionated French tire company came to Texas and crowned several Austin restaurants with stars and accolades for their latest guide covering the state. They awarded Austin the most stars in the Lone Star State, along with several Bib Gourmands, recommendations and two of their new rank, green star. The food scene had been buzzing since it was revealed that their inspectors were leaving no plate units, and now that the list is out, there are plenty of opinions on who still deserves to be recognized by Michelin. With a guide coming next year, there’s a chance these perceived “snubs” could come back and claim their place in the coveted guide that has long been considered the world's tastemaker.
While we do our research, we are not wizards and can’t promise they’d ever make it on the guide. But we think these places deserve recognition, and people should hit the road to try them out for themselves.
Countering the classic cuisines of Tex-Mex and barbecue and one of the most beloved recent additions to the Austin food scene, Canje delivers a modern taste of the Caribbean in a former post office. Since its debut, Canje has cemented itself in the pantheon of must-do’s. For what you pay, you get a comprehensive taste of the islands, considering you can sample Oxtail Beef Patties, Haitian Griot, and Jerk Chicken without having to leave Texas. Canje should easily conjure up a Bib Gourmand award, at the very least, in upcoming guides for Texas.
An institution for decades, Fonda San Miguel, changed the perception of what authenticity means in Mexican cuisine. Instead of American beef and cheese-filled taco dishes, Chef Miguel Ravago replaced them with highlights of interior Mexico like traditional Yucatecan, slow-braised pork covered in banana leaves. Even with newcomers bringing in new flavors from Mexican food powerhouse regions like Oaxaca, Fonda has stood next to them without faltering in its excellence. While others might get lost in the crowd if uprooted and put down in Mexico City or Monterrey, Fonda could easily move in, stand out, and snag an award from Michelin.
If anyone could claim a star and win it, it’s Fabrik. Austin’s long been a health-conscious, diet-alternative destination (Paleo started here), and with veganism on the rise, it only makes sense that an all-vegan chef's table would find a home here. Even for those adverse to ever living without whole milk in their lattes and meat for dinner, Fabrik wins over carnivores with multiple courses of plant-forward dishes, such as butternut squash agnolotti, roasted carrot chowder, and spiced apple compote.
Despite being over three hours from the Gulf, Austin prides itself on the sushi scene here, and Otoko leads the pack for having one of the best Omakases in the city, and dare we say in the country? It consistently impresses guests and remains at the top of the list when anyone asks where to go for a great experience in Austin, period. While only one sushi spot was on the guide this year, Otoko and chef Yoshi Okai’s consistent excellence could secure a second spot.
Italian food in Texas faces a complex stereotype of mediocrity for whatever reason, but if any restaurant in the state is changing that perception, it's the team at Intero. Farm-to-table with a focus on being a zero-waste space, there is a freshness to Intero that is often missing elsewhere. They manage to excel and overcome doubts about how talented Texan chefs can be, and it continues to be a gold standard for Italian in Austin as more take up the challenge to serve more of the classic cuisine. Put it next to any other Italian spot on the guides for New York or LA, and it will find a place next to them in any ranking.
Admittedly, a bakery faces an uphill battle to be on any guide as only five are recognized by Michelin in the entire country, but if anyone could be the sixth, it’s Comadre. Another example of the culinary exchange still happening between Texas and Mexico, Mariela Camacho’s baked goods translate that elusive taste of heritage to every taste bud they come in contact with. With playful takes on classics but with a precise adherence to tradition, Comadre’s conchas alone deserve every award in the game. An absolute candidate for a Bib Gourmand, at the least, as their take on pink cake with heirloom corn and prickly pear frosting tastes like a million bucks but costs only $6.
Sharing a home at Radio with Michelin-recommended Briscuits, Dee Dee is THE recommendation when anyone new to town asks for fantastic Thai food. With a focus on northeastern Thai cuisine, Dee Dee rarely goes a night without selling out early. Everyone knows you have to be proactive and order hours ahead of time to get a chance to taste their Pad KaPow, spicy minced pork and a Thai fried egg atop a bed of Jasmine rice; it’s just that good. Dee Dee’s another excellent choice for a Bib Gourmand award, even if it does cost some time to plan ahead and beat the ever-consistent crowds selling out their kitchen every day they’re open.
Calling El Naranjo a hidden gem when it continues to sweep awards feels backward, yet it continues to be overlooked as one of the best dining experiences in Austin. For reasons unknown, James Beard Best Chef Texas winner chef Iliana de la Vega continues to deliver some of the best Oaxacan cuisine in the country while not always being in the headlines. While it might have gone overlooked as it’s far from flashy, maybe this round, Michelin will see the star it is and award it with one.
Wee’s has come a long way from the Shell gas station kitchen it started in. It started inside and continues to grow as a destination inside the Royal Blue Grocer on Congress. Chef Weefong’s Malaysian cooking has that warmth of a home-cooked meal with mountains of coconut rice and beef rendang stuffed inside those white styrofoam to-go boxes. Amid today’s focus on reinvention and fusion, it’s increasingly rare that an outfit like Wee’s receives the acclaim it rightfully deserves. Still, there’s something undeniable about how each meal here tastes nostalgic, even for those who have never tried Malaysian food before. For that reason, it should absolutely be recommended, at the very least.
A staple of 12:30 pm “mornings” on the weekends, Paperboy is continually an excellent idea for brunch in Austin. Its brick-and-mortar on the site of its former food truck is only proof that the concept is getting better with age, and that’s shown in how well-prepared each dish is now that they’re not constrained by the limitations of a trailer. With hints of Southern comfort staples like pimento cheese and combining fried chicken and biscuits, Paperboy represents that soulful decadence on its brunch menu, complete with a bite of their rice crispy treat with the bill. Paperboy well deserves to be recommended for anyone looking for the pinnacle of breakfast in the afternoon.