The world’s governing body for good food is finally coming to the Philippines!
Photo by Grigorii Shcheglov on Unsplash
The guide to outstanding cooking from around the world is coming to the Queen City of the South!
The MICHELIN Guide will be expanding to the Philippines in 2025 to select restaurants and local eateries that are deserving of the prestigious Michelin Star.
Awardees will debut in the 2026 iteration of the travel guide, which has been a leading source of travel information for over a century. This is the first time it has reached the country, marking an important milestone for the Philippine tourism industry.
According to an article published on the MICHELIN Guide website, they have been following the evolution of the Filipino culinary scene, noting its time-honored traditions and openness to global influences that create a uniquely diverse dining culture. (2025)
Cebu was chosen because of its reputation as a leading tourist destination, offering an impressive range of dining experiences with world-class hospitality.
The guide will also feature Manila and its diverse set of talented chefs, aiming to elevate Filipino cuisine to new heights. It will feature locations around Manila like Tagaytay, Cavite, and Pampanga as well.
Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco welcomed the MICHELIN Guide, sharing that their arrival is a testament to the country’s culinary excellence and a significant leap forward for Filipino tourism.
WHAT IS A MICHELIN STAR?
The official MICHELIN Guide website defines the Michelin Star as “an award given to restaurants that offer outstanding cooking”. (2022) It is judged purely on the taste and preparation of the food and nothing else.
The simplified definition of a Michelin Star-awarded establishment is that it is a place travelers or motorists should check out for a delectable meal.
The five universal criteria for the Michelin Star according to the website are:
- Quality of ingredients
- Harmony of flavors
- Mastery of techniques
- Chef’s personality expressed through the food
- Consistency over time
It is often mistaken that the Michelin Guide is only for formal or fine dining restaurants, but that is not true. Any restaurant, no matter what style of cuisine, can qualify for a Michelin Star.
Each awardee may be given up to three stars, with each number coinciding with the quality of its dishes and services.
One Star – “high quality cooking that is worth a stop”
Two Stars – “excellent cooking that is worth a detour”
Three Stars – “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey”
Aside from this, the Michelin Guide may also give the Bib Gourmand to affordable restaurants offering full course meals at competitive prices.
The budget to be considered for the award depends on the local cost of living. The award was first presented in 1997 as a way to highlight establishments with value-for-money dining.
All awards will be decided upon by anonymous reviewers known as “inspectors” who visit each selected restaurant throughout the year to judge the consistency of their food over time.
The service style and decoration style of the restaurant is NOT a factor in the awarding of a Michelin Star.
WHAT IS THE MICHELIN GUIDE?
The MICHELIN Guide is one of the world’s oldest travel guides, starting off as a small red pamphlet developed by the French tire company of the same name in 1900.
An article in CNN Business mentioned that the guide provides “all the necessary information for traveling in France”. (2024) Early editions mostly consisted of maps to areas for refueling and repairing cars, as well as places to stay or eat.
During this time, there were less than 3,000 cars in France, and traveling by car was difficult because of the lack of extensive roads and the scarcity of gasoline.
To help drivers plan their trips better, the Michelin Guide was given for free. The owners of the tire company sought to encourage travelers to drive more, and consequently purchase their tires.
In 1920, a new MICHELIN Guide was created. This new pocketbook (now sold for seven francs) included a list of restaurants divided into specific categories for travelers to try out.
This section inspired the company’s owners to recruit mystery diners and have them visit restaurants anonymously to review and rate their dishes. After convening, they would then list the establishments that they deemed deserved the Michelin Star.
1926 was the first year MICHELIN awarded fine dining restaurants, starting with a one-star review system. Five years later, the 1 to 3 star review hierarchy was introduced. The criteria for these rankings were officially published in 1936.
Today, the Michelin Guide covers over 30,000 establishments across three continents, with over 30 million guides sold worldwide.
The guide is an important part of tourism and the culinary industry of a country, as it provides the necessary information for travelers to create the perfect itinerary.
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For many years, Cebuanos and tourists have only known about must-visit establishments in the city through newspapers, bloggers, and word-of-mouth. The entry of the MICHELIN Guide in Cebu offers a definitive blueprint for everyone to follow.
You may have your own personal picks of places to be awarded a Michelin Star, but we’ll have to wait until 2026 to see if the inspectors agree. Soon, we can be proud of our favorite restaurants that were mentioned, as well as enjoy the newly discovered places featured on the guide.
So, what Cebuano establishment do you think deserves a Michelin Star? Let us know in the comments or message us on our social media channels!
REFERENCES
The MICHELIN Guide. 2025. “The MICHELIN Guide’s Journey into the Philippines Begins.” The MICHELIN Guide Magazine.
https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/news-and-views/the-michelin-guide-arrives-in-the-philippines?fbclid=IwY2xjawIscXVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVkjg7DltP6hUjeNEA0p4Og9Z1W0eQYNInsXF5CZo8kiaymIGbsDNsVvbw_aem_WLsUULf80OkaYq3H5WoHrw
The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team. 2022. “What is a Michelin Star?” The MICHELIN Guide.
https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/what-is-a-michelin-star
Buchwald, Elisabeth. 2024. “Michelin Guide history: How did a tire company become an elite restaurant rating guide?” CNN Business.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/10/business/michelin-guide-history/index.html
