Charlotte restaurants win big, celebrate Michelin Guide American South honors
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Seeing Michelin Stars in North Carolina
The Michelin Guide expansion included Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh, with tourism groups funding inclusion and spotlighting acclaimed North Carolina restaurants.
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Michelin Guide officials announced selections for the new American South version of the little red book on Monday, with several Charlotte eateries highlighted among the region’s best restaurants.
The shining star of the night — chef Sam Hart’s tasting restaurant Counter- — took home both one Michelin Star and a Green Star.
Michelin Guide’s presentation at Peace Center Concert Hall in Greenville, SC, officially revealed the restaurants honored from North and South Carolina, along with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, plus those in its pre-existing Atlanta Guide. However, earlier in the day, the full list was released early in a “vendor error,” Michelin spokeswoman Carly Grieff confirmed to CharlotteFive on Tuesday.
Recognition levels include Michelin Stars (ranked one through three Stars); Bib Gourmand (which offer good quality food for a good value) and Michelin Green Stars (recognized for sustainability efforts).
Perhaps the biggest sleeper among the award-winners was Lang Van’s Bib Gourmand honor, although Charlotteans have seen the restaurant in the spotlight all year. The Vietnamese restaurant owned by Dan Ngyuen is famous for tempting locals and foodie visitors into return visits, including the famous judges of “Top Chef.”
Recommended restaurants with high quality offerings were also included on the list, along with a few special awards. One of those was Michelin’s Exceptional Cocktails Award, which went to beverage director Colleen Hughes of Supperland.
Hughes — who was recognized this year as a James Beard Award semifinalist for outstanding professional in cocktail service — told CharlotteFive she had “no words.”
Charlotte restaurants recognized in Michelin Guide
Hart, a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Southeast, was among the biggest winners of the night overall. They have also been among the most vocal of champions for Michelin Guide expansion into the Carolinas — especially Charlotte.
They’re well versed in what it takes to make the guide and what recognition means, as they have made it a focus to travel throughout the world and dine at Michelin-starred restaurants.
Even so, Hart remains focused on an even larger mission: Ending food insecurity in Charlotte. Among Counter-’s nonprofit partners is The Bulb, with which it teams up to host free produce markets for those in needs.
“This is a stepping stone dream to get to the bigger dream,” they told CharlotteFive. “And it’s just surreal. It doesn’t even feel like it’s really happening.”
Hello, Sailor in Cornelius and Kindred in Davidson, both co-owned by chef Joe Kindred and his wife, Katy, were also among the Charlotte-area restaurants honored in Greenville for the Michelin Guide ceremony. Each were named recommended.
The well-known restaurants are no stranger to national attention. Joe Kindred has been a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast five times, and Kindred was featured by the New York Times in 2021 in its annual listing of the country’s best restaurants.
Restaurant Constance, where chef/owner Sam Diminich was a James Beard Award semifinalist this year for Best Chef: Southeast, was honored with a recommended recognition, as well. The restaurant works closely with area farmers and serves fresh, seasonal fare in an intimate setting with a focus on non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as wine.
“Congratulations to Charlotte,” Diminich said. “The city’s come a long way. I’m proud to be a part of it. A spoke on the wheel of the new culinary movement.”
Customshop, another restaurant favorite getting widespread attention in Charlotte, was awarded with a Recommended designation, too. So was Little Mama’s, Prime Fish, Omakase Experience by Prime Fish and Rada — which the New York Times deemed among the 50 best restaurants in the United States this year.
Michelin Guide restaurants in the Carolinas
Other standout restaurants in North Carolina named to the guide include James Beard Award-winner Cúrate in Asheville as a Recommended and Luminosa as a Green Star and Bib Gourmand. In Raleigh, Mala Pata and Sam Jones BBQ were named Bib Gourmands, among several others honored in The Triangle.
Since 1900, the Michelin Guides have served as a resource for travelers seeking an outstanding meal with top-notch hospitality. Guides cover countries and cities all over the world, including France.
North Carolina’s tourism entities including Visit NC, Visit Raleigh, Discover Durham, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and Explore Asheville have chipped in tax dollars for inclusion in the guide, teaming up to pay more than $1 million over three years.
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This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Charlotte restaurants win big, celebrate Michelin Guide American South honors."
