We'll say it again: Washington, D.C. has an amazing restaurant scene. The Michelin Guide, the food world's premier distinction for fine dining, just announced new star rankings, Bib Gourmand selections, awards, and more at its annual awards ceremony Monday in New York. Two restaurants earned their first stars, which means there are now 26 Michelin-starred restaurants in the DMV.
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Earning a Michelin Star is considered the highest honor in the restaurant world. Every year, anonymous inspectors fan out around the world and evaluate restaurants' food based on five criteria: ingredient quality, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, consistency across menu and time, and "the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine." Service and atmosphere aren't considered. Restaurants that win stars earn between one and three stars; the list can change every year, with new restaurants earning or losing stars.
Two D.C. restaurants just earned their first stars: Mita, the Shaw spot serving a plant-based Latin American tasting menu, and Omakase @ Barracks Row, Chef Yi "Ricky" Wang's sushi omakase experience. Oyster Oyster, a vegetarian restaurant in Shaw that already has one Michelin star, was awarded a "green star" for its sustainability practices.
There were also some shifts in the ranks: longtime two star holder Pineapple & Pearls, lost one star. Maydan, Rose Previte's restaurant known for its massive hearth, lost its sole star this year. Star ratings aren't static because they're assigned every year.
The Inn at Little Washington, the luxe restaurant about 90 minutes' drive from D.C., maintained its three Michelin star rating, which it's held since 2018. It remains the only restaurant in the DMV with this distinction, the highest possible rating. Jônt and minibar by José Andrés maintained two stars each, respectively.
A couple new spots were also added to the Bib Gourmand list, which recognizes more affordable restaurants with great food. This list now includes 27 D.C. restaurants: Mexican spot Amparo Fondita, and L'Ardente, a glamorous Italian restaurant. Four D.C. restaurants were also removed from the list: China Chilcano, Honeymoon Chicken, Sfoglina, and Kaliwa. The D.C. Michelin Guide includes 63 additional recommended restaurants, too.
A bunch of locals won awards, too: Causa's chef Carlos Delgado won the Michelin Young Chef Award, Albi's William Simons won the Sommelier Award, Jill Tyler, who owns Tail Up Goat, won the Outstanding Service Award, and Moon Rabbit's Thi Nguyen took home the Exceptional Cocktails award.
Take a look at the full list of Washington, D.C. restaurants that have Michelin stars in 2024, plus the Bib Gourmand list, below.
Every Washington, D.C. restaurant with Michelin Stars
Three Michelin stars
1. The Inn at Little Washington
Two Michelin stars
2. Jônt
3. minibar by José Andrés
One Michelin star
4. Albi
5. Bresca
6. Causa
7. Elcielo D.C.
8. Fiola
9. Gravitas
10. Imperfecto: The Chef's Table
11. Kinship
12. Little Pearl
13. Masseria
14 Mita (NEW)
15. Métier
16. Omakase @ Barracks Row (NEW)
17. Oyster Oyster
18. Pineapple & Pearls
19. Rania
20. Reverie
21. Rooster & Owl
22. Rose's Luxury
23. Sushia Nakazawa
24. Tail Up Goat
25. The Dabney
26. Xiquet
2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants
1. Oyamel
2. Zaytinya
3. L'Ardente (NEW)
4. Karma Modern Indian
5. Unconventional Diner
6. Dauphine's
7. Cane
8. Laos in Town
9. Stellina Pizzeria
10. Residents Cafe & Bar
11. Astoria DC
12. The Red Hen
13. Toki Underground
14. Amparo Fondita (NEW)
15. Maketto
16. Daru
17. Lapis
18. Ivy City Smokehouse
19. Yellow
20. Makan
21. Queen's English
22. La Tejana
23. Ellē
24. Taqueria Habanero
25. Menya Hosaki
26. Hitching Post
27. Sababa