The stars have aligned once again for restaurants and food establishments in the Philippines as the MICHELIN Guide holds its second Restaurant Ceremony.
This year, the guide recognized a total of 86 MICHELIN Selected restaurants, 31 Bib Gourmand awardees, and nine restaurants earning One MICHELIN Star.
Only one restaurant received the prestigious Two MICHELIN Stars distinction—for the second consecutive year.
A Peruvian-Filipino tasting-menu restaurant in Makati City earned its first One MICHELIN Star.
Marvin Agustin's restaurant once again secured a Bib Gourmand distinction.
The MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Ceremony Manila and Environs|Cebu 2027 was held at the Manila Marriott Hotel on October 29, 2026.
A QUICK LOOKBACK
Before becoming an internationally recognized reference for restaurants and hotels, the MICHELIN Guide had humble beginnings as a travel guide.
First published in 1900, it was a small red guidebook that offered motorists maps and travel information.
It was created by brothers André and Édouard Michelin, founders of the now world-famous tire company.
In 1920, the MICHELIN Guide was relaunched with a new focus, featuring hotels in Paris and restaurants classified into specific categories.
WINNERS: RETAINERS AND NEW
The MICHELIN Guide has three star-rating categories, each recognizing a different level of culinary excellence:
One MICHELIN Star: “Worth a stop”
It is awarded to restaurants that use high-quality ingredients and prepare dishes with consistently distinct flavors.
Two MICHELIN Stars: “Worth a detour"
This is given to restaurants where the chef's personality, talent, and skillful, inspired cooking are reflected in the dishes.
Three MICHELIN Stars: “Worth a special journey”
The guide's highest distinction is awarded to restaurants serving exceptional cuisine that is truly worth traveling for.
The lone restaurant to get Two MICHELIN Stars
Just like last year, Helm, a 24-seater fine-dining restaurant in Makati City, was awarded Two MICHELIN Stars.
During the ceremony, it was revealed that Helm's executive chef, Josh Boutwood, had been disheartened when he was not included in the One MICHELIN Star group last year.
Little did he know that he would receive an even higher distinction: Two MICHELIN Stars.
When PEP asked if he expected to retain the distinction, he answered, “No.”
He explained: “As a kitchen, we always have bad services, and who knows if the inspector came one of those days…
“But at the end of the day, I was never expecting to retain the Two Stars.
“As a restaurant and as a team, we maintain our humbleness. We take every day as it comes to ensure that we craft these experiences for our guests that are personal and exciting and memorable.
“And if we continue doing that every single day, I believe that’s probably what I owe the success to.”
He also humbly rejected the suggestion that he was putting the Philippines on the global culinary map.
“I don’t see ourselves as the prominent one to do that. I look at it more collectively as an industry.
“Restaurants are personalities of our country, and if we can all work together to really promote globally that’s what we are gonna do.
"It is not my job alone, it is ours as an industry as a whole.
"And even those who are not present in the room tonight that are not recognized… don’t be disheartened.
"We must be proud of what we do, the food that we serve…
"Even without the recognition, be proud of showcasing it to the world outside.”
ONE MICHELIN STAR RECIPIENTS
Flow restaurant earned its first One MICHELIN Star this year.
Based on its website, the restaurant is a fine-dining concept “shaped by intention, storytelling, and cultural exploration, offering a Peruvian Filipino tasting menu that bridges the worlds of Latin America and Southeast Asia.”
Gabriel Ong, Flow's executive chef, told the media: “It’s a validation [of] our team’s hard work. It’s valuable, it’s recognized...we just keep on doing what we do every day full of our heart.”
His fellow executive chef Kevin Uy interjected: “All the sacrifices we made in the past, going abroad, learning from some of the best people in the world, sacrificing our time like, it’s just all became worth it tonight.”
He added that while the One MICHELIN Star is the icing on the cake, what matters most to them is their commitment to satisfying their customers.
He said: “[We’re] not aiming for anything. We’re here to be authentically ourselves, do what we need to do, and welcome you to our culinary bio.”
When PEP asked what makes their restaurant a standout, Kevin answered: “I think apart from our team, it’s the intentionality that we give to our dishes.
“We work with so many potters and artists outside of food to inspire and to create an experience like no other. So that’s something we are very proud.”
Here are the other eight restaurants who received the same distinction: Inato, Celera, Asador Alfonso, Linamnam, Kasa Palma, Hapag, Toyo Eatery, and Gallery by Chele.
MARVIN AGUSTIN MICHELIN GUIDE BIB GOURMAND
IIt's another year of celebration for actor Marvin Agustin, whose Filipino-Spanish restaurant, COCHI, retained its MICHELIN Bib Gourmand distinction.
The recognition is given to restaurants that serve high-quality food at great value.
“Pag [may] teamwork, things can be done. Kapag kasama mo yung mga taong naniniwala at nirerespeto at minamahal ang trabaho nila, this kind of achievement is possible,” he told PEP after the event.
Did he feel the pressure of retaining such an award?
The actor-businessman confessed: “Mas nakakakaba. Masayang mabigyan ng award pero yung bawiin yung award is something na masakit, but, I guess, you’d learn from that also.
“But as retaining this, is just a testament that the entire team is working hard every day to keep this.”
When asked what he did right, he replied: “Maintaining what we have been doing and trying to be better… give a little bit more to our customers for their time and money tha they spend with us.
“Yun lagi ang nasa isip naming lahat, e. Pasalamatan yung customers with a great service that we can do for them.”
Marvin previously told PEP that he had opened another restaurant, KAEN, and hoped it would also make the list in the future.
Here's the complete list of the 31 restaurants that received Bib Gourmand recognition:
- Abaseria Deli & Cafe
- Apag Marangle
- ATO-AH
- Azela (Manila)
- Balay Dako
- Bawai's Vietnamese Kitchen
- Bolero
- Brick Corner
- BUTCHER BOY
- Cabel
- COCHI
- C.H.E. Bacolod Chicken House Express
- Em Ha Noi
- Esmen
- Kalipay!
- Kumba
- La Pita (Poblacion)
- Lampara
- Lasa
- Los Tacos
- Manam at the Triangle
- Morning Sun Eatery
- Palm Grill (Diliman)
- Pilya's Kitchen
- Sarsa
- Some Thai (Tomas Morato)
- Tatang's Lechon
- Taquería Franco
- Tito Boy
- The Pig & Palm
- The Underbelly
Read: No senior ID? Senior citizens may still avail of discounts
MICHELIN RESTAURANT SELECTION AND SPECIAL AWARDS
Meanwhile, here are the special awardees:
- Cylde Joshua Zafra of Tito Boy – MICHELIN Service Award
- Francis Lacson of Digamo – MICHELIN Young Chef Award
- Ron Job Sanchez of Automat – MICHELIN Exceptional Cocktails Award
- Francis Tariga of Tadhana – MICHELIN Opening of the Year Award
Here is the complete list of restaurants included in the MICHELIN Selected category, which recognizes establishments offering above-average cuisine prepared with quality ingredients.
- 12/10
- Abli
- Aida’s Chicken
- Antonio’s
- Aurora
- Automat
- Aya
- Benjarong
- Blackbird
- Cantabria by Chele Gonzalez
- Canton Road
- Carmelo’s Steakhouse
- Chie Chie’s Panict Batil Patung
- China Blue
- Cirkulo
- COCO
- Cru Steakhouse
- Deo Gracias
- DIP
- El Poco Cantina (Malate)
- Ember
- Enye by Chele Gonzalez
- Fong Wei Wu
- Fresca Trattoria
- Ginza Nagaoka
- Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill
- Goxo
- Halong
- House of Lechon
- Iai
- Juniper
- Kamakura
- Kei
- Kodawari (Salcedo)
- Lantaw (Compostela)
- Locavore (Taguig)
- Lola Helen
- Lore
- Mamacita (Taguig)
- Man Ho
- Maya
- Metiz
- Now Now
- Oak & Smoke
- Offbeat
- Old Manila
- Origine
- Osteria Antica
- Pablo
- Papillon
- People’s Choice
- Ramen Ron (Makati)
- Sala
- Seva
- Sialo
- Socarrat
- Steak & Frice
- Summer Palace
- Super Uncle Claypot (Makati)
- Tandem
- Taupe
- Terraza Martinez
- The Test Kitchen
- Txanton
- Uma Nota
- Umu
- Yamazato
- Your Local
- Abe (Taguig)
- Bombvinos Bodega
- Cyria’s Kandingan
- Digamo
- Elaia by Cyma
- Haliya
- Idalia
- Kokeek’s Manokan
- Kong
- Kumedor
- Liyab
- Makanai
- Marjo’s Pochero
- Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy (San Andres)
- Oyster Bay
- Playa (Gov. M. Cuenca Avenue)
- Souq
- Tadhana