Why there are no Michelin-starred restaurants in Texas: an explanation

When you travel to a big city like New York or Los Angeles, trying out incredibly good restaurants is always one of the perks. Checking out food in other cities is always fun, especially when you can book a table at a Michelin-starred restaurant. You already know that the service will be top notch and the food will impress you.

The culinary scene in Texas has been growing steadily, especially in the last 10 years or so, and especially in Houston and the suburbs. A few years ago, a season of Top Chef was filmed here. A lot of chefs and restaurants got recognized. Nevertheless, you will never find a Michelin-starred restaurant in Texas, and it's not because the state lacks the talent to earn such a high honor. There are no Michelin-starred restaurants in Texas because there is no Michelin branch in Texas, according to Click2Houston.

In places like Texas, it's really not that big of a deal, locals say. In any case, James Beard nominations are just as good, and visitors don't really look for Michelin-quality dishes in Texas, and that's mostly because they're just not used to them.

That said, it would be very cool to say you dined at a Michelin restaurant in downtown Houston or a farm-to-table restaurant. There's a certain quality and standard when it comes to the Michelin Guide, and if Texas had that distinction, it would help the state even more with tourism.

As TravelWise previously reported, the popular Michelin guidebook is creating a new distinction for choosing hotels - Michelin Key. It will be useful for travelers from all over the world. As you know, the Michelin Red Guide is the most famous and influential of the modern restaurant ratings published by the Michelin tire company since the beginning of the 20th century.