TUNGKOL SA EPISODE NA ITO
There's a fresh slate of Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City.
Sushi Sho earned its third Michelin star, the highest possible honor, at an award ceremony in Philadelphia Tuesday night. Sushi Sho was the only restaurant to earn a third star for the first time this year. The omakase restaurant is the product of chef Keiji Nakazawa and opened in early 2024 at 3 E. 41st St.
In its award of Sushi Sho, Michelin wrote, "Nakazawa exemplifies mastery of the highest order. His omakase is utterly unique … In total, the pace, breadth and persistence of excellence that unfolds here will impress even the most experienced sushi enthusiasts."
Joo Ok in Koreatown from chef Chang-ho Shin earned a second star. The restaurant previously had one Michelin star.
"Chef Shin Chang-ho offers a Korean tasting menu that feels both traditional and contemporary and exudes calm, collected refinement," Michelin wrote of Joo Ok.
Meanwhile, four New York City restaurants earned singular Michelin stars.
Bridges, a Chinatown restaurant led by chef Sam Lawrence, earned one Michelin star. Lawrence, previously the chef at Estela, opened Bridges in 2024.
Muku, a Japanese tasting menu that opened earlier this fall in Tribeca, also earned one star. Muku is the product of chef Manabu Asanuma.
Chef Buddaha Lo's Hiso, another Tribeca restaurant, earned one star.
And Yamada, a chef's counter kaiseki restaurant in Chinatown by Isao Yamada, also earned one star.
Among Michelin's other special recognitions, India Doris of Markette in Chelsea took home the young chef award. Meanwhile, Anie Shi of Lei, a wine bar in Chinatown, earned the distinction of top sommelier.
While the new stars were awarded Tuesday night, perhaps the biggest New York-related Michelin news of the year came before the ceremony began. The guide announced Nov. 12 that it was downgrading Masa, the prestigious Columbus Circle Japanese and sushi restaurant, to two stars. Michelin also docked stars from two other three-star restaurants: Alinea in Chicago and The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va.
Masa's downgrade left Eleven Madison Park, Jungsik, Le Bernardin and Per Se as the only other three-star restaurants in the city. Jungsik earned its third star last year.
The Michelin guides were created more than a century ago by French tire manufacturers. The coveted stars are considered the crown jewels of the restaurant industry.
The New York awards were announced at a glitzy ceremony in Philadelphia. Restaurants from Boston, Chicago and Washington D.C. were also honored at the ceremony.
In Michelin's definition of the honors, it says one star "recognizes restaurants that use top-quality ingredients and prepare dishes with distinct flavors to a consistently high standard."
Two-star honors are awarded to "restaurants where the team's personalities and talents shine through in expertly crafted dishes, with food that is both refined and inspired." Such restaurants feature "excellent cooking and are worth a detour."
The third star "is our highest award, given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics." It's "exceptional cuisine worth a special journey."
As for how the guide is determined, Michelin says their inspectors always dine anonymously, pay for their own meals and rate their experience on the quality of the products, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, personality of the chef in his or her cuisine, value and consistency between visits.
