TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Michelin Guide Taiwan 2024 on Tuesday (Aug. 27) awarded 10 new restaurants one Michelin star, including one that is the world's first ice cream parlor to receive a Michelin star.
The selections for the 2024 Michelin Guide were announced in a press release on Tuesday. The latest guide comprises 343 eateries, including 157 in Taipei, 66 in Taichung, 59 in Tainan, and 61 in Kaohsiung.
Of these restaurants, 49 garnered one, two, or three Michelin stars, a rise from 44 establishments last year. In addition, six restaurants retained the Michelin Green Star for sustainable practices.
International Director of the Michelin Guide Gwendal Poullennec said this year's listing has over 50 types of international cuisines. Via a pre-recorded video at the awards ceremony, Poullennec said, “This year’s selection embodies the diversity and maturity of the Taiwan market, showcasing its ability to embrace tradition alongside new trends without limitations."
All the restaurants that received two or three stars retained their rankings from last year. The two-star eateries include L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, logy, Molino de Urdániz, Mudan, and RAW, while the three-star establishments are JL Studio, Le Palais, and Taïrroir.
Of the 10 new one-star recipients, three were upgraded from last year, and seven are new to the guide. For the first time in Taiwan, a Bib Gourmand selection has been promoted to a one-star: Taichung's Minimal.
Minimal has the distinction of being the first establishment in the guide to receive a star. Michelin pointed out that the parlor makes a “gustatory and visual splash” with a seven-course menu that changes every season as it offers “frozen treats like gelato and granita are artfully plated to articulate a theme.”
Another upgraded eatery in Taichung is L'Atelier par Yao, which is headed by a chef who was trained in France and “excels in modern French fare with an Asian twist.” Michelin suggested ordering the chargrilled scallop with kombu, peas, and parsley sauce for a “delightful mix of textures.”
The third establishment to be elevated to one star is Taipei's Sens. The restaurant only offers a dinner single-tasting menu that is altered depending on the season, with inspectors highly praising the chef's sauces and use of fresh herbs.
Of the seven eateries directly awarded one star, Taichung has one – Yuen Ji, and Kaohsiung has another — GEN. The remaining five are in Taipei: A, Circum, Eika, NOBUO, and Wok by O’BOND.
As for the 41 other one-star restaurants, 30 are in Taipei, eight are in Taichung, and three are in Kaohsiung.
Michelin's inspectors also listed 168 restaurants they recommend for their high-quality cuisine. This includes 35 new additions, including 13 in Taipei, eight in Taichung, seven in Tainan, and seven in Kaohsiung.
Examples of new entries that feature Taiwanese cuisine include 3927 and Taiwan Rice Dining Hall in Taipei; Chef Ah-Hsi’s Old Time Restaurant and Huist in Taichung; and A Fung’s Harmony Cuisine, Paul’s Canteen, and Three Meals in Kaohsiung.
It also recommended establishments that feature “local small eats,” such as Zai Lai in Taichung; A Hai Taiwanese Oden, Shun Te Beef Soup, and Wenpapa Goose in Tainan; and Three Wheels in Kaohsiung.
Mao Su was listed as a notable new vegetarian eatery in Tainan.
Video shows ceremony announcing Michelin Guide Taiwan 2024 awardees held on Tuesday:
