The 2024 Michelin Guide ceremony took place in Toronto on September 18, and four new restaurants in the region received a Michelin star. The restaurants were recognized for their extraordinary offerings and shared a spot alongside other popular Michelin-starred restaurants like Alo, Quetzal, Aburi Hana, and more.
However, unlike previous years, the 2024 Michelin Guide now includes restaurants from surrounding Toronto areas, highlighting the region’s diverse and multicultural cuisine in the best possible way. Here is everything you need to know about the Michelin Ceremony and which restaurants to visit this year.
Pat Olz
Does Toronto have any Michelin restaurants?
In the fall of 2022, the Michelin Guide was introduced in Toronto and totally changed the city’s dining landscape. Now, every September, the Michelin ceremony is hosted in Toronto to announce the restaurants that have gained distinction. As of 2024, Sushi Masaki Saito is the only Toronto restaurant with two Michelin stars for its excellent cooking. There are now a total of 15 Toronto restaurants with one star and 23 bib gourmands.
What is the difference between the Michelin Guide and Michelin Star?
This question is often asked, and it’s important to note the difference when exploring the Michelin Guide. The guide shares information beyond just the star rating; it includes prices, websites, information about the restaurant, type of food, and more. On the other hand, a Michelin Star distinguishes restaurants by offering a fine dining experience. Michelin Guide critics carefully curate a list of exquisite dining experiences from around the world, and they are recognized with stars. Restaurants can receive up to three stars.
Melina Magnatta (Rasa)
What is a Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Michelin Guide?
While these restaurants aren’t at the star level, they still deserve to be recognized for their impressive food. The restaurants in the Bib Gourmand category also have to be more affordable, which is great because it allows more people to check out Michelin Guide restaurants at lower costs.
Related: Canadian Michelin Guide Collabs We Would Like to See in 2024
What Toronto and region restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in 2024?
Four new restaurants received a Michelin Star and one a Michelin Green Star. Additionally, four restaurants were added to the Bib Gourmand category. The distinctions were as follows:
One Michelin Star:
Michelin Green Star:
Bib Gourmand:
Sushi Masaki Saito
How many Michelin Star restaurants are in Toronto and the region?
As of 2024, only one restaurant has ever received and retained its two Michelin stars: Sushi Masaki Saito. It’s the only restaurant in the city that Michelin inspectors believe has excellent food and is worth a detour.
Additionally, 15 Toronto and region restaurants have one Michelin star, and two were awarded a Green Star. Moreover, there are now 23 Bib Gourmand restaurants and 61 recommended restaurants.
Related: A Michelin-Chef’s Ultimate Guide to Kensington Market
How does a restaurant get a Michelin Star?
The process is quite similar to how this guide first started. Anonymous Michelin Inspectors follow a set of criteria to distinguish which restaurants are worth receiving a star or two or even three (which has yet to happen in Canada).
According to the Michelin website, Inspectors are “all full-time employees who are former restaurant and hospitality professionals. Once several inspectors have eaten at a restaurant, they then discuss their experiences as a team in order to make a final decision.”
The best part is that any restaurant can qualify for a Michelin Star; they do not need to be fancy or expensive. So, with another year in Toronto, check out these outstanding restaurants that have now reached a global scale.