The only 14 three-star Michelin restaurants in the U.S. (just one outside NYC and California)

When it comes to dining at the very highest level, few recognitions carry as much prestige as three Michelin stars, the top honor awarded by the Michelin Guide. As of the latest announcements, only 14 restaurants in the United States hold this elite bucket-list-level status.

Three new restaurants came in 2025 (Sushi Sho in NYC and Providence and Somni in LA) while three old favorites lost their third star (Masa in NYC, Alinea in Chicago, and The Inn at Little Washington outside DC).

That leaves just one non-New York City, non-California three-star: Smyth in Chicago.

What it means to have three Michelin stars

Michelin’s three-star rating signifies “exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.” It’s a mark of technical mastery, extraordinary ingredients, consistent excellence, and a chef’s unique culinary vision.

The current 14 three-star Michelin restaurants in the U.S.

Below is the list of all U.S. restaurants with three Michelin stars, plus the year in which each earned its third star.

Restaurant	Location	Year of 3rd star	Highlight
Per Se	New York, NY	2006	Thomas Keller’s Manhattan restaurant with elegant French-American tasting menus.
Le Bernardin	New York, NY	2006	Éric Ripert’s world-class French seafood institution known for refined simplicity.
The French Laundry	Yountville, CA	2007	Thomas Keller’s iconic Napa Valley restaurant rooted in seasonal, garden-driven cuisine.
Eleven Madison Park	New York, NY	2012	Daniel Humm’s plant-forward, modern tasting menu experience.
Benu	San Francisco, CA	2015	Corey Lee’s minimalist, deeply technical take on Asian-American cuisine.
Quince	San Francisco, CA	2017	Michael Tusk’s Italian-influenced Californian fine dining restaurant.
SingleThread	Healdsburg, CA	2019	A farm-driven Japanese-Californian tasting menu rooted in Sonoma’s seasons.
Atelier Crenn	San Francisco, CA	2019	Dominique Crenn’s poetic, nature-focused, French modernist cuisine.
Addison	San Diego, CA	2022	William Bradley’s refined tasting menu; Southern California’s first three-star restaurant.
Smyth	Chicago, IL	2023	John Shields’s intimate, Midwestern-inspired tasting menu.
Jungsik	New York, NY	2024	Jungsik Yim’s elevated, contemporary Korean cuisine.
Sushi Sho	New York, NY	2025	Keiji Nakazawa’s intimate Edomae omakase counter.
Providence	Los Angeles, CA	2025	Michael Cimarusti’s precision-driven, seafood-focused tasting menu.
Somni	West Hollywood, CA	2025	Aitor Zabala’s immersive, counter-driven tasting experience.

Trends and takeaways

• Geographic concentration: The three-star restaurants are clustered in California (8), New York (5), and Chicago (1), showcasing America’s culinary capitals.
• Diverse culinary styles: From Korean (Jungsik) to seafood (Le Bernardin, Providence) to poetic, modernist cuisine (Atelier Crenn), the range is broad.
• New entries: Three in and three out in 2025 underscores Michelin’s evolving elite.
• Longevity and consistency: Per Se, Le Bernardin, and French Laundry remain long-standing pillars with two decades of near perfection.

Why these restaurants matter

These 14 establishments set the standard for culinary excellence in the U.S. They are:

• Benchmarks for innovation, pushing the boundaries of technique and flavor.
• Tourism magnets, drawing food-minded travelers worldwide.
• Leaders in sustainability and sourcing, emphasizing local ingredients and ethical practices.

Final thoughts

If you’re exploring America’s finest dining, this list of 14 U.S. restaurants with three Michelin stars represents a curated map of extraordinary gastronomic experiences. Each restaurant has earned its place not only through flawless execution but through a philosophy and consistency that elevate dining into an art form.

If you’ve been lucky enough to eat at one of these rare birds, tell us about it in the comments section!

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