Michelin arrives in Philippines
Michelin released its first 2026 selection for Manila, Environs and Cebu, marking a new moment for Filipino restaurants on the global guide. (Senator Loren Legarda described the selection as a 'historic moment' tied to Filipino Food Month, and Michelin’s channels also highlighted traditional desserts such as turon and leche flan.) (manilatimes.net) (philstar.com)
Michelin has published its first guide for the Philippines, covering Manila, its nearby dining hubs, and Cebu in the 2026 edition. (michelin.com) The inaugural selection was unveiled on October 30, 2025, at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Newport World Resorts, giving the Philippines its first official place in Michelin’s global restaurant rankings. (michelin.com) Michelin said the first Philippines edition includes 108 establishments: 1 restaurant with two Michelin Stars, 8 with one star, 25 Bib Gourmand picks for good-value cooking, and 74 listed as Michelin Selected. (michelin.com) The guide’s coverage is narrower than the country as a whole. Michelin inspectors evaluated restaurants in Metro Manila cities including Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Taguig, and San Juan, plus nearby areas such as Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite, and the island province of Cebu. (guide.michelin.com) At the top of the list, Toyo Eatery received two Michelin Stars. Eight restaurants earned one star: Helm, Hapag, Gallery by Chele, Metiz, and Tuna in Metro Manila, plus Anzani and Il Primo in Cebu, and Roots in Pampanga. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin also added one Green Star for sustainability, awarded to Toyo Eatery, and handed out three special awards for young chef, service, and exceptional cocktails. (michelin.com) The release landed as the Philippines marked Filipino Food Month in April. Senator Loren Legarda said the Michelin selection was a “historic moment” and tied it to wider efforts to protect culinary heritage and support farmers and fisherfolk. (manilatimes.net) Michelin’s editorial channels have also used the launch to spotlight Filipino dishes beyond tasting-menu restaurants. In April, the guide highlighted traditional desserts including turon and leche flan, and separately featured kakanin, the rice-based snacks and sweets found across the country. (philstar.com) (guide.michelin.com) For diners, the new guide creates a shorthand for navigating restaurants in Manila and Cebu. For Filipino chefs and restaurateurs, it opens a new annual cycle of inspections, awards, and international attention that now runs through the Michelin system. (guide.michelin.com)
