The Michelin Guide American South announced the restaurants in its 2026 guide Wednesday, offering diners a tool for finding good meals with exceptionally consistent quality and service.
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Now in its second year, the guide covers North and South Carolina, along with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia.
Here, we’re zooming in for a look at all the restaurants in the Carolinas listed by city, what type of cuisine you can expect to eat there and which recognition they have received.
A Michelin Star means you’ll find outstanding cooking at the highest level, while a Bib Gourmand designation means you’ll find a more simple, satisfying style of food. Restaurants marked Recommend means you can expect an above-average meal with quality ingredients.
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Last year, North Carolina’s only one-star honoree was Counter- in Charlotte, a tasting menu restaurant that also got a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. (The designation has since been retired.)
Throughout the entire South, the only two-star restaurant was Emeril’s in New Orleans, and no restaurant earned higher honors.
Cuisine Ethiopian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Global, American, seasonal
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Spanish tapas
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Southern, fried fish
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Wine bar
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Latin American
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: American, cafe, wine
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Pizza, seasonal
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American, comfort food
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: New American, seasonal
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American, seasonal
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Japanese smokehouse
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Barbecue
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Tasting menu, small plates
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Tasting menu
Recognition: One Star
Cuisine: American, European-inspired
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Southern
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Southern, seafood
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal fine dining
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Omakase sushi
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Sushi
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal American, European-inspired
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Latin
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Southern steakhouse
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Sandwiches
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Sandwiches
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Pocho, Mexican-American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Greek
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Louisiana-inspired, Cajun, Creole
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Elevated modern
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Barbecue
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Chinese, dim sum
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian/Adriatic
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: French
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Mexican/Latin American
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Barbecue
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American, comfort food
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Barbecue
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Seafood
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: New American, small plates
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Modern Indian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seasonal New American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Pizza
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: West African
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seafood
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: International
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Seafood
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Barbecue
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Contemporary
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Spanish
Recognition: One Star
Cuisine: Bistro
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Barbecue
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Indian
Recognition: Bib Gourmand
Cuisine: Contemporary
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: One Star
Cuisine: Contemporary
Recognition: One Star
Cuisine: Asian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Contemporary farm-to-table
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: French
Recognition: One Star
Cuisine: American, Southern
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Italian American
Recognition: Recommended
Cuisine: Contemporary, farm-to-table
Recognition: Recommended
This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 11:03 PM with the headline “Here are all the restaurants in NC & SC that earned 2026 Michelin Guide honors.”
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