Photo credit: dc.eater.com
The Michelin Guide has revealed its latest selections, introducing two new culinary hotspots in Washington, D.C. These establishments—an intimate omakase counter and a chic vegetarian venue—have quickly gained recognition since their openings within the past year, earning their place among the city’s elite dining options.
Among the newly rated establishments is Omakase @ Barracks Row, where chef Ricky Wang, previously associated with Sushi Nakazawa, presents exquisite Japanese cuisine through curated prix fixe menus. The other, Mita, showcases a focus on vegetables within a Latin-inspired tasting experience, crafted by seasoned chefs from El Cielo.
Michelin inspectors highlighted the complex flavors at Omakase @ Barracks Row, noting standout dishes such as the Boston surf clam enhanced with kumquat kosho and the unique hay-smoked Spanish mackerel.
The Michelin Guide’s 2023 ceremony introduced a fresh structure alongside similar events in New York and Chicago. The event took place at the Glasshouse in Hell’s Kitchen and marked a significant achievement for Mita, whose co-chefs Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora have made history—Guerra as the youngest Venezuelan chef to earn a Michelin star, and Mora as the first female from Venezuela to be recognized with this honor. Mita originated as a pop-up in Union Market and Guerra called the journey “crazy” as they achieved this milestone.
A broader array of recognitions was presented, including a green star for sustainability, awarded to Oyster Oyster—a one-star restaurant in Shaw known for its vegan-centric offerings. In addition, William Simons of Albi was named Sommelier of the Year, and Thi Nguyen from Moon Rabbit received the Exceptional Cocktails Award. The accolade for Young Chef of the Year went to Carlos Delgado from one-star Causa, while Jill Tyler from one-star Tail Up Goat was honored with Outstanding Service.
The announcement was facilitated by TV host Java Ingram, who has been involved with the Texas Michelin Awards.
The Michelin Guide began evaluating D.C. restaurants in 2017, adding the city to its roster, which includes markets such as New York and Chicago since their respective introductions in 2005 and 2011. Currently, the Michelin Guide covers eight American cities and extends to regions in Canada and Mexico.
With the most recent selection, the D.C. region now boasts 26 Michelin-starred restaurants. Among them, only the Inn at Little Washington retains the prestigious three-star accolade, under the leadership of chef Patrick O’Connell. Notably, the two-starred restaurant Pineapple & Pearls has been downgraded to one star this year, making Jônt and Minibar the only remaining establishments with two stars in D.C.
One restaurant that did not rise in the ratings this year is Maydan, which has maintained its one-star designation since 2019. This is relatively uncommon, as previous losses include Penn Quarter’s Cranes in 2023, Sushi Taro in 2022, and Blue Duck Tavern in 2019.
Additionally, two new entries were welcomed to the Bib Gourmand category: Amparo Fondita, recognized for its Mexican cuisine, and L’Ardente, known for its Italian offerings. However, four establishments lost their Bib Gourmand status—China Chilcano, Kaliwa, Honeymoon Chicken, and Sfoglina—bringing the total number of Bib Gourmand restaurants in the area down to 27.
At the ceremony, the spotlight shifted to New York as Jungsik was declared the first three-starred Korean restaurant in the U.S., a milestone not seen in over a decade in the city.
The Michelin star system denotes three stars for “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,” two stars for “excellent cooking, worth a detour,” and one star for “high-quality cooking, worth a stop.”
Below is a complete list of Michelin-starred establishments in Washington, D.C., along with Bib Gourmand restaurants.
*Denotes new for 2024
Three Stars
The Inn at Little Washington
Two Stars
Jônt
Minibar
One Star
Albi
Bresca
Causa
El Cielo D.C.
Fiola
Gravitas
Imperfecto: The Chef’s Table
Kinship
Little Pearl
Masseria
Métier
*Mita
*Omakase @ Barracks Row
Oyster Oyster
Pineapple and Pearls
Rania
Reverie
Rooster & Owl
Rose’s Luxury
Sushi Nakazawa
Tail Up Goat
The Dabney
Xiquet
*Denotes new for 2024
*Amparo Fondita
Astoria DC
Cane
Daru
Dauphine’s
Ellē
Hitching Post
Ivy City Smokehouse
Karma Modern Indian
*L’Ardente
La Tejana
Laos in Town
Lapis
Makan
Maketto
Menya Hosaki
Oyamel
Queen’s English
Residents Cafe & Bar
Sababa
Stellina Pizzeria
Taqueria Habanero
The Red Hen
Toki Underground
Unconventional Diner
Yellow
Zaytinya
Source
dc.eater.com