Michelin Guide has honored 103 restaurants/food stalls, including 4 prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants, 70 selected restaurants/food stalls for recommendation, and 29 affordable restaurants. 

Representing the honored restaurants by the Michelin Guide are Anăn Saigon, Gia, Hibana by Koki (located in the Capella Hanoi Hotel), and Tam Vi, all recognized for their “high-quality cuisine worthy of stopping to enjoy.”

On the evening of June 6th, the prestigious global food guide Michelin Guide celebrated the aforementioned restaurants while also announcing the list of outstanding Vietnamese restaurants and chefs. The event is considered a significant milestone in marking Vietnamese cuisine and tourism on the international map.

Anăn Saigon is the first restaurant to own one Michelin star. Prior to this, the restaurant located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City was honored at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony held in Singapore on March 28th. The remaining three restaurants are all located in Hanoi.

Prior to this, the Michelin Selected category honored 70 restaurants (32 in Hanoi and 38 in Ho Chi Minh City), including 15 restaurants serving pho, such as Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư, Phở Tiến, and Phở Chào…

Well-known food stalls/establishments like Bún chả Obama (Huong Lien Bun Cha), Chả cá Anh Vũ.. are also included in the list. Some upscale restaurants like T.U.N.G Dining, Lửa, Gia Restaurant… are also named.

The Michelin Guide also awarded the Bib Gourmand certification (a list recommended by judges that includes quality food at affordable prices) to 29 restaurants.

The Michelin Guide Special Awards include the Sommelier Award, which is awarded to Mr. Yu Yamamoto of Lửa Restaurant; the Service Award, which is awarded to chef Nguyen Thi Nu of Vietnam House; and the Young Chef Award, which is awarded to chef Sam Tran of Gia Restaurant.

Mr. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, shared his joy and pride in completing the list of the first restaurants to meet the Michelin Guide standards in Vietnam. This list reflects the clear differences and richness of cuisine between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

“Hanoi always embodies a calm and peaceful atmosphere with small shops and restaurants that you can easily find in the old quarter. This city gathers the rich flavors of Northern Vietnamese cuisine, emphasizing natural freshness, combined with various herbs and spices to create a distinctive combination for each dish,” said Mr. Gwendal Poullennec.

According to Mr. Gwendal Poullennec, Ho Chi Minh City is a lively and rapidly developing city that always brings unique energy to tourists with a diverse culinary scene. “Both modern and traditional cooking techniques are clearly demonstrated. We also saw an excellent combination of experienced chefs and young local chefs through ideas and creativity expressed in dishes,” he said.

Michelin representatives emphasized that there are five criteria used to evaluate restaurants, including product quality, cooking skills, harmony of flavor, the personality of the chef expressed through dishes, and consistency over time and across the menu.

Michelin stars can be “transferred” if a restaurant or chef fails to maintain their standards. The restaurant assessors are Michelin judges who must keep their identity secret to ensure maximum objectivity.

A Michelin star indicates that a restaurant has “high-quality cuisine worthy of stopping to enjoy.” Two Michelin stars indicate that a restaurant has “excellent cuisine worthy of returning to enjoy.” Three Michelin stars indicate that a restaurant has “exceptional cuisine worthy of traveling to enjoy and experience.”

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Source: Vietnamplus