Two Austin restaurants earn new Michelin stars
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Two more Austin restaurants — Fabrik in Tarrytown and downtown's Kappo Kappo — have earned coveted Michelin stars, bringing the city's total to seven in the latest Texas dining guide.
Why it matters: A Michelin Guide endorsement brings restaurants international acclaim. Plus, the recognition can be a boon for business.
The big picture: Austin claimed two of the three new Michelin stars awarded statewide this year, further cementing the city's reputation as a dining destination.
- Austin has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in Texas. There are six in the Houston area and three each in San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Zoom in: Fabrik, a plant-based tasting-menu restaurant, was promoted from Michelin-recommended to one star, while Kappo Kappo, a French-Japanese restaurant inside the Austin Proper Hotel, earned a star in its first year of operation.
- Michelin inspectors praised Fabrik chef Je Wallerstein and her husband Silas for "imaginative cooking where the likes of mushrooms, beets and corn are celebrated as main events with refinement, creativity and class."
- At Kappo Kappo, twin brothers Haru and Gohei Kishi earned praise for the restaurant's lively counter-dining experience and dishes.
- North Austin's Din Ho Chinese BBQ joined the guide's recommended restaurants, and Stefan Davis of Barley Swine — which already has a Michelin star — won an award for outstanding service.
Zoom out: Goldee's BBQ in Fort Worth was the only other Texas restaurant to receive a Michelin star for the first time.
How it works: A group of anonymous inspectors judged restaurants on the quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, chef's vision, consistency and value.
- Tourism boards from five Texas cities, plus the state's tourism agency, paid to bring the France-based guide to the state in 2024.
What they're saying: "This year marks another standout year for Texas with three new Michelin stars being awarded," Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said in a statement Thursday.
- "Over the past three years, our anonymous inspectors have watched the culinary talent across Texas flourish and continue to push boundaries, which is evident in this year's restaurant promotions."