The Michelin Guide revealed its 2025 "Northeast Cities" edition Tuesday night, and for the first time ever it spotlighted restaurants in the Boston area. The list included a Japanese restaurant in Boston's South End, which became the first ever business in the city to receive a Michelin star rating.

Earlier this year, the Meet Boston tourism agency announced it had partnered with the Michelin Guide to bring the guide to "all 23 Boston neighborhoods, plus the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and beyond." 

The prestigious guide book has been awarding its coveted stars to restaurants for nearly a century. Earning a star can bring instant, global notoriety to a restaurant. Michelin says one star indicates "high quality," two is for "excellent cooking" and three is for "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey!"

Boston's first Michelin star restaurant

Just one Boston restaurant received a Michelin star rating. Located in the city's South End neighborhood, 311 Omakase was among nine restaurants from the northeast to receive a one-star rating. 

Kasama in Chicago and Joo OK in New York received two Michelin stars, while Sushi Sho in New York was the only restaurant to receive the top rating of three stars.

According to their website, 311 Omakase is a 10-seat restaurant that offers an 18-course menu starting at $250 per person. 

Travis Chou lives in the South End and has eaten at the now Michelin-rated restaurant.

"It's pretty small in there. It's catered toward you and nine other people who are sitting around the sushi counter. It's a very detailed experience," said Chou, who was excited to hear about the Michelin rating. "I think it is awesome. The food scene here in Boston is really good so it is great to see the food is being recognized here." 

Michelin Guide recognizes Boston restaurants

In addition to star ratings, Michelin honored other northeast restaurants.

Several businesses in the Boston area were named Bib Gourmand restaurants. According to Michelin, "The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value – often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time."

The following Boston area restaurants received Bib Gourmand designation:

• Bar Volpe - 170 W. Broadway, Boston
• Fox & The Knife - 28 W. Broadway, Boston
• Jahunger -  272 Brookline St., Cambridge
• Mahaniyom - 236 Washington St., Brookline
• Pagu - 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - 270 Third St., Cambridge

Michelin also listed several several establishments as "recommended." 

• Asta - 47 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
• Carmelina's - 307 Hanover St., Boston
• Giulia - 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• La Padrona - 38 Trinity Pl., Boston
• Lenox Sophia - 87 A St., Boston
• Moëca - 1 Shepard St., Cambridge
• Mooncusser - 304 Stuart St., Boston
• Neptune Oyster - 63 Salem St., #1, Boston
• Nightshade Noodle Bar - 73 Exchange St., Lynn
• Oleana - 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge
• Pammy's - 928 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• Select Oyster Bar - 50 Gloucester St., Boston
• Somaek - 11 Temple Pl., Boston
• Thistle & Leek - 105 Union St., Newton Centre
• Toro - 1704 Washington St., Boston
• Urban Hearth - 2263 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
• Wa Shin - 222 Stuart St., Boston
• Woods Hill Pier 4 - 300 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston
• Zhi Wei Cafe - 104 South St., Boston

Abby Taylor is the manager at Urban Hearth. Taylor said the business is "over the moon" to be recommended.

"We are so thrilled to be recognized in this way, for the very first time in Boston by Michelin. We are astounded," Taylor said. "I think that the food scene here is world class and it is great to finally see some recognition for that on an international playing field. It's about time." 

How does Michelin rate restaurants?

Restaurant owners and chefs told WBZ-TV back in May that they were excited about Boston's inclusion.

"The Michelin Guide coming is something we've all been looking forward to for a very long time," said Mitchell Randall, who runs the Mediterranean restaurant Ostra in the Back Bay. "Great for the city and I think there's many restaurants in the city that deserve this exposure on the global level."  

In 2023, CBS Sunday Morning reported on how Michelin rates its restaurants. Gwendal Poullennec, the Michelin Guide's international director, said earning a star is all about the quality of the food, not the service or setting.

"The quality of the products, the mastery of cooking techniques, the harmony and balance in flavors, the personality of the chef as expressed on the plate, and last but not least, the consistency both over time and throughout the menu as a whole," Poullennec said.

Michelin's announcement happened during a ceremony in Philadelphia.  

"This new guide reflects our work to spotlight the culinary excellence of Boston, Cambridge, and the surrounding region," Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston said in a statement. "Our efforts have ranged from building robust digital content around our restaurant, farm, seafood and beverage partners, to bringing local chefs on global trade missions in key international markets. We know that visitors will travel here specifically to experience our MICHELIN-recognized restaurants, and while here, they will discover that Boston's culinary culture extends far beyond these selections.