Arizona Restaurants Now on the Michelin Guide!!
August 27, 2026
August 27, 2026
Arizona’s food scene just reached a major milestone. For the first time, restaurants across the state have been included in the internationally recognized Michelin Guide Southwest, joining standout restaurants in Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
The inaugural guide was announced on August 27, 2026, at a ceremony in Las Vegas, bringing months of anticipation to an end. While no Arizona restaurant received a Michelin Star this year, several Valley restaurants earned prestigious Bib Gourmand distinctions, Michelin Selected recognition, and special awards for local culinary talent.
For anyone who loves discovering great restaurants, this is another reason to keep Arizona on the map as a destination for food, culture, and lifestyle.
The Michelin Guide is one of the world’s most recognizable restaurant guides. Its anonymous inspectors evaluate restaurants based on ingredient quality, mastery of culinary techniques, harmony of flavors, the chef’s personality expressed through the food, and consistency over time.
Restaurants can receive one, two, or three Michelin Stars, while the Bib Gourmand designation recognizes restaurants offering high-quality food at a great value. Michelin also highlights restaurants that inspectors believe are worthy of recognition through its Michelin Selected category.
With the Southwest guide now covering Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, Arizona’s culinary scene is officially part of this international dining conversation.
Seven Arizona restaurants received the coveted Bib Gourmand designation, making them especially worth adding to your dining list.
Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, FnB is known for its seasonal, locally focused cuisine and strong connection to Arizona farmers and producers. Chef Charleen Badman has long been one of the state’s most influential culinary voices, and her restaurant continues to showcase what makes Arizona food so unique.
Huarachis Taqueria brings authentic Mexican flavors to Phoenix and earned recognition for its quality and value. It is one of several Arizona restaurants demonstrating the depth and diversity of the state’s Mexican food scene.
Kid Sister adds another creative option to Phoenix’s growing restaurant landscape and was recognized by Michelin for delivering quality food at an accessible value.
A Phoenix barbecue favorite since opening in 2014, Little Miss BBQ has built a reputation around slow-smoked meats and Texas-style barbecue. Its Michelin recognition is a major achievement for one of the city’s best-known barbecue destinations.
Lom Wong celebrates Thai cuisine while highlighting regional flavors and traditions. The Phoenix restaurant has become a favorite among diners looking for an experience that goes beyond the typical Thai restaurant.
Few Arizona restaurants are as internationally recognized as Pizzeria Bianco. Chris Bianco’s Phoenix pizzeria has been a longtime destination for pizza lovers, and its inclusion in the Michelin Guide adds another accolade to its impressive history.
Valentine combines food, cocktails, coffee, and a distinctly Southwestern sense of place. The Phoenix restaurant’s Bib Gourmand recognition highlights its ability to deliver a memorable dining experience without the price tag associated with fine dining.
Michelin also named 12 Arizona restaurants to its Michelin Selected list. These restaurants were recognized as offering food and experiences that inspectors considered noteworthy, even though they did not receive a Star or Bib Gourmand designation.
The Arizona Michelin Selected restaurants include:
For Scottsdale and Paradise Valley residents, the recognition of restaurants like Hush Public House, Reserve, and Indibar is particularly exciting. It adds to the growing reputation of the Northeast Valley as a destination for exceptional dining.
The Michelin Guide Southwest didn’t just recognize restaurants. Several Arizona culinary professionals received special awards.
Chef Charleen Badman of FnB in Scottsdale was named one of Michelin’s inaugural Mindful Voices, an award recognizing individuals who are pioneering new approaches in gastronomy, hospitality, and wine.
Sommelier John Germain of Reserve in Scottsdale was recognized in the sommelier category, while Rene Andrade of Bacanora and Huarachis Taqueria received the Young Chef award.
These honors showcase the people behind Arizona’s increasingly dynamic food scene.
While Arizona restaurants earned significant recognition, none received a Michelin Star in the inaugural Southwest guide.
Five restaurants across the region received Stars. Restaurant de Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas earned two Stars, while L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Guy Savoy Las Vegas, Monte in Salt Lake City, and é by José Andrés each received one Star.
That doesn’t take away from Arizona’s showing. Being included in the first-ever Michelin Guide for the Southwest is itself a significant milestone for the state’s restaurant industry.
Arizona has become known for far more than desert landscapes and Southwestern staples. From innovative Mexican and Thai cuisine to wood-fired pizza, barbecue, farm-driven restaurants, and contemporary fine dining, the state’s food scene continues to evolve.
The arrival of the Michelin Guide gives that growth an international spotlight.
For locals, it also provides a great excuse to explore restaurants across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and beyond. Whether you are looking for a special night out, a new neighborhood favorite, or a restaurant that offers great food without the fine-dining price tag, Arizona now has an official Michelin-approved list to help guide your next meal.
And if you’re considering a move to Arizona, the food scene is just one more reason to explore what life in the Valley has to offer.
Looking for the best places to eat, live, and explore in Scottsdale and across the Valley? Follow along for more local Arizona recommendations, neighborhood guides, and real estate insights.
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