Asheville remains a culinary destination, according to the Michelin Guide, though its list of honorees has not changed from last year.
On Oct. 21, the Michelin Guide announced the winners and recommended restaurants for its American South guide and honored outstanding hospitality professionals in the region.
The awards ceremony, hosted at The Pinnacle in Nashville, was attended by chefs, restaurateurs and other hospitality industry professionals representing Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Did Asheville restaurants win 2026 Michelin Guide Awards?
Asheville did not receive additional accolades from the 2025 awards season, but these restaurants have maintained their status:
Little Chango, Luminosa and Mother have upheld their Bib Gourmand awards, which are designated
to restaurants that offer the best value for the money, translating to a three-course meal at a reasonable price, considering the area's cost of living.
The 12 restaurants on the Michelin Guide's recommended list have also stayed the same:
- Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant.addissae.com
- All Day Darling. alldaydarlingavl.com
- Cúrate Bar de Tapas.curatetapasbar.com
- Golden Hour. goldenhouravl.com
- Good Hot Fish.goodhotfish.com
- Leo's House of Thirst.leosavl.com
- Soprana Rooftop Cucina. sopranarooftop.com
- Sunny Point Café. sunnypointcafe.com
- Table. tableasheville.com
- Tall John's. talljohns.com
- The Admiral. theadmiralasheville.com
- Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse.ukiahrestaurant.com
Last year, Luminosa also earned the Michelin Guide's Green Star for its visionary commitment to the future of gastronomy. However, the award was not presented in this category in the 2026 program.
What are the Michelin Guide Awards?
More than 125 years ago, in France, Michelin began to assist travelers by providing recommendations on where to dine and stay overnight, eventually introducing the Michelin Guide travel books. Michelin Stars designate high-tier dining destinations, with three Stars being the highest achievement.
Restaurants must use high-quality ingredients, showcase the harmony of flavors, demonstrate a mastery of techniques, express the chef's personality through their food, and maintain consistency in the menu over time.
Last year, in 2025, the Michelin Guide expanded to include the American South.
For more about the Michelin Guide and its award winners, visit guide.michelin.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Co., covering the food and beverage industry, including the James Beard Awards, Michelin Awards, restaurant openings, closings and other hospitality industry news and events. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 2026 Asheville Michelin Guide restaurants announced. See who won
