Earlier this week, the annual guide book that has been going strong for over 100 years announced their star selections for Tokyo, together with Yokohama and the Shonan area.
Although three-star restaurants, the highest rank, were cut by one to 14 total, six new two-star and 15 new one-star restaurants were introduced into the guide. A total of 438 restaurants were given stars, 400 of which were in Tokyo. A notable feat this year, according to the official press release, was the induction of a Korean restaurant with two stars.
This year’s guide also introduced the Bib Gourmand category, a separate award that indicates restaurants providing good cooking at reasonable prices: under ¥5,000 for lunch and/or dinner. “This distinction is really appreciated by our readers,” notes Michael Ellis, International Director of the Michelin guides.
In the 23 countries that the Michelin guide covers, evaluation is based on the same five criteria: the quality and compatibility of the ingredients, the preparation and the flavors of the dish, the chef’s personality as revealed through his or her cuisine, value for money, and consistency over time and across the entire menu.
Earlier this year, a separate guide for Kansai, including Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara, was released with 14 three-star restaurants, totaling 28 in Japan—the most awarded compared to any other country.
The guide officially goes on sale this Friday, December 6, but a digital copy released on Tuesday can be found on Gurunavi.
